What Does It Take to Change the World?
A Different Time Management Philosophy – Part 7
We will use the ten Navy SEAL life lessons that Admiral William H. McRaven is best known for discussing the next lesson in Planning and Time Management. To bring us back into focus, recall that time management and planning is our way of getting the things done we wish most to get done. We often feel as if there’s not enough time or hours in the day, but these ten life lessons will give us what we need to make the most of the time we’ve been given. It’s said that “every decision affects everything else” and these ideas boil down to the decisions that we make daily.
I recently shared with Pamela that everything comes down to what’s in our heart.
“As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he.” [1]
If you think you’re not organized, you’re not.
If you think you’re running out of time, you are.
If you think you can’t go on, you can’t.
It’s all a matter of what’s in your heart. Therefore we dedicate this lesson to help change what you have in your heart.
Get started with your day.
“If you want to change the world, start off by making your bed.” – Admiral William H. McRaven
When you start your day, start your day. Don’t let the day linger away without you ever getting going. Focus on the things that make you desire to get out of bed and get going. Make your bed and get your day on the way.
Find the help you need.
“If you want to change the world, find someone to help you paddle.” – Admiral William H. McRaven
Ordinary thinking would have you believe that you can go at it alone. While you can do a lot alone, you can’t become your best alone. It’s like a person who works out, when you have a partner you can achieve more than you ever thought you could with the motivation of that person to the left or right of you. They have a way of adding to what’s in your heart. They give you a little extra drive. Find those persons and the environment that gives you the energy to go further than you would alone.
Do what you are.
“If you want to change the world, measure a person by the size of their heart, not the size of their flippers.” – Admiral William H. McRaven
As I mentioned above, who you are can be found by what’s in your heart. Do what you are. If you want to maximize your time, then do what you are. You see you have more desire to be what you want to be. Desire or heart produces more results in the end. When you have no desire or heart, the results diminish. There’s an old saying by Shakespeare that goes like this, “to thine own self be true.” The reason this statement is so powerful is that the average person is not true to himself or herself. Once you get beyond this, accomplishing your dreams becomes your daily work.
See the better day ahead.
“If you want to change the world, get over being a sugar cookie and keep moving forward.” – Admiral William H. McRaven
When life throws its curve-balls at you, it’s easy to focus on the challenges. Pamela and I like to say it like this, what’s your focus when life comes at you fast? Life’s going to happen no matter what, but you must find a way to see beyond the challenges in view of the better day ahead.
Put in the practice.
“But if you want to change the world, don’t be afraid of the circuses.” – Admiral William H. McRaven
To get good at any skill or talent takes practice. That circus performance had to be flawless for your entertainment. Don’t skip your practice. Learn to see practice as you getting better and closer to the goal you have set. In order to be the best, you will have to put the work in. In order to get accomplished what you’ve dreamt of accomplishing, you’ll need to get the bad reps out of the way so that you’re only left with the good ones.
Be courageous.
“If you want to change the world sometimes you have to slide down the obstacle head first.” – Admiral William H. McRaven
As you know fear can be paralyzing, therefore, you will need to be courageous. That simply means, you will have to do it scared sometimes. Courage isn’t the absence of fear, it’s continuing in the midst of it. Don’t allow fear to paralyze you while you’re facing that next action. Be courageous. In fact, the scripture says over and over again to be strong and courageous. [2] In order to get done what you desire to get done, you’ll need to be strong, behold, and courageous.
Slay your giant.
“So, if you want to change the world, don’t back down from the sharks.” – Admiral William H. McRaven
Each person has what I call their giant. It’s something that everyone else will cower down to, but not you. In order for you to reach your destiny, that giant will have to be slain. To add to this thought, most people will believe that their giant is unbeatable and unavoidable and thusly will not continue. That’s why they cower down. They’ve already lost to the giant in their heart. If you’re going to be defeated by the giant, don’t let it be because you lost in your heart and never took the field. If you’re going to back down to the sharks, don’t let it be because you never got into the water. Slay your sharks; slay your giants.
Always be your best.
“If you want to change the world, you must be your very best in the darkest moment.” – Admiral William H. McRaven
My remedy to being my best in the darkest moment is to simply always be my best. No matter what, be at your best. As I mentioned before, every decision matters. You must always be your best because you never know when this opportunity is the one that opens the door to your destiny. When you look at your time and how you plan for it, think of it in terms of how you can be your best in this moment, this day, or this period. Always be at your best.
Do not lose hope.
“So, if you want to change the world, start singing when you’re up to your neck in mud.” – Admiral William H. McRaven
The only time a person truly dies or gives up is when he or she runs out of hope. A marriage won’t end until someone loses hope. A job won’t end until someone loses hope. Pursuit of that education won’t die until someone loses hope. Therefore if you don’t want it to end, if you don’t want it to die, then you can not whatsoever, lose hope.
Never give up.
“If you want to change the world don’t ever, ever ring the bell.” – Admiral William H. McRaven
If you’re like me and I know that you are, you are after something that’s important to you. That’s all that matters. So don’t ever give up. If you’re going to achieve it, then giving up can no longer be an option. It may take all that you’ve got and sometimes more, but you still can’t give up. Never, I say, never give up.
After viewing Admiral McRaven’s life lessons, I noticed how these ten apply to every area of our lives. Therefore, it applies to how we will use the skill of managing our time, activities to change the world. Focusing on these ten uncommon practices will do but only one thing for you. That makes you, unlike the person next to you who doesn’t use the ideas, uncommon. In other words, a person who practices these daily habits is living life to the next level.
Question: which of the ten ideas listed here are areas you could make some improvement?
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[1] Proverbs 23:7 KJV, Bible.com, accessed July 19, 2022, https://www.bible.com/bible/1/PRO.23.7.KJV
[2] Joshua 1:9 NLT, Bible.com, accessed July 19, 2022, https://www.bible.com/bible/116/JOS.1.9.NLT
All Scripture references used by permission, see our Scripture copyrights.
