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Grit in Leadership

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Recently, I’ve been exploring the dynamics of masculine and feminine energy in leadership, alongside the importance of acknowledging emotions. If you’ve been following my journey, you know that I’m committed to building a strong foundation for mental health. And at the core of that foundation lies grit.

Grit is what keeps us going when faced with life’s toughest challenges. It’s the resilience to persevere, even when the urge to give up is strong. Grit isn’t just about toughness; it’s about being honest with ourselves and tapping into both masculine and feminine energies.

I recently took on the challenge of co-authoring a 200-page book. It was a daunting task, considering I had no prior experience. Wrestling with imposter syndrome and moments of doubt, I contributed to half of the book’s content. Through this process, I learned that grit and emotions are deeply intertwined.

In our inaugural Mission Ready podcast episode, my co-author Brenda and I shared how we met at a funeral. Brenda exemplifies grit in action. Despite life’s challenges, she keeps moving forward, rarely showing vulnerability. Witnessing her resilience over the years has been inspiring.

Leadership requires a balance of masculine and feminine energies. Strong women often draw upon masculine energy to navigate challenges while embracing their emotional depth. On the other hand, men are often conditioned to suppress emotions, relying solely on masculine energy to power through tough times.

However, this imbalance can lead to discomfort when faced with emotional displays, especially from women, in professional settings. Men, burdened by societal expectations, may struggle to relate to or empathize with these expressions.

Embracing grit isn’t about conforming to rigid gender norms; it’s about embracing the full spectrum of human experience. True grit requires vulnerability, strength, and authenticity. By acknowledging and balancing both masculine and feminine energies, we unlock our true potential as leaders.

As we navigate the complexities of leadership, let’s remember that true strength lies in embracing our humanity fully. By nurturing grit and emotional intelligence, we can cultivate resilient leaders who inspire positive change.

From SEAL to CEO: Mastering Business with Military Precision

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As a retired US Navy SEAL, transitioning from the discipline and rigor of military operations to the dynamic world of entrepreneurship, I’ve observed a parallel in the importance of strategic planning, delegation, and leadership in both arenas. To my fellow entrepreneurs and business leaders, I offer insights grounded in my experience, emphasizing the necessity of taking your business seriously for it to thrive and grow. If you’re not taking your business seriously, it’s just a hobby.

The Importance of a Cost Matrix

Firstly, understanding and managing your operational costs through a detailed cost matrix is akin to planning a mission with precision. This matrix is your blueprint for financial health, enabling you to:

  • Navigate Financial Waters: Just as in navigation, knowing every detail of your financial landscape allows for informed decision-making and strategic planning.
  • Ensure Mission Viability: Assessing costs ensures your business operations are sustainable, allowing you to set prices that cover costs while generating a profit.
  • Optimize Resource Allocation: Identifying areas of excess expenditure and reallocating resources effectively is crucial, much like managing limited resources in a mission scenario.

Neglecting this financial foresight is like embarking on a mission without a clear map, leading to potential pitfalls and resource depletion.

The Art of Delegation

In the SEALs, trust in your team’s abilities and effective delegation are paramount. This principle holds true in business as well:

  • Maximize Operational Efficiency: Delegate tasks to those with the specialized skills to execute them, enhancing productivity and quality of output.
  • Focus on Strategic Leadership: Free yourself from the weeds of daily operations to concentrate on growth strategies, innovation, and exploring new markets.
  • Build a Scalable Structure: A business, much like a SEAL team, must operate efficiently at any scale. Effective delegation ensures that your operation can expand without compromising performance.

Failure to delegate is a critical bottleneck that can stunt growth and limit your business’s potential.

Evolving Leadership Responsibilities

As your business grows, so too must your role evolve. My experience in the field has taught me that leadership is not static; it demands adaptation:

  • Strategic Vision and Guidance: Moving from hands-on operations to a role focused on the strategic direction and long-term objectives of your business is essential.
  • Inspire and Lead Your Team: Leadership involves guiding your team towards achieving collective goals, fostering a culture of excellence, and mentoring future leaders.
  • Manage Risks and Challenges: Identifying and mitigating risks becomes increasingly complex as your business grows. A proactive approach to risk management is crucial for sustainability.

Clinging to the operational roles of your early days can prevent you from seeing the bigger picture and seizing opportunities for growth.

The transition from a Navy SEAL to an entrepreneur has reinforced my belief in the importance of rigorous planning, effective delegation, and adaptive leadership in business. These principles are not only the backbone of successful military operations but also the foundation of thriving businesses. By embracing these strategies, entrepreneurs and business leaders can navigate the challenges of the business world with the precision and effectiveness of a SEAL mission.

Forging Ahead: Embracing Resilience and Determination for Success in 2024

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As December marches on, marking the end of another year, it’s not unusual for many of us to feel a bit caught off guard. We often reflect on the year gone by and realize there were goals we set out to achieve but didn’t quite reach. I’m here to tell you that this feeling, while common, doesn’t define your capacity for success in the coming year.

Let’s start with a change in perspective. It’s easy to see unmet goals as failures, but I urge you to view them as stepping stones. Each attempt, each effort, is a lesson in resilience and a testament to your willingness to strive for excellence. This is not about what you haven’t achieved; it’s about the journey you’ve embarked on and the growth you’ve experienced along the way.

I want to share a principle that has always guided me: the importance of starting with what you have, where you are. There was a time when I faced a seemingly insurmountable challenge. The odds were stacked against me, and the path to success was unclear. But instead of focusing on the enormity of the task, I focused on the first step I could take. That first step led to another, and then another. Before I knew it, I had built a momentum that carried me through to success. This principle applies to every aspect of life, whether it’s personal development, career goals, or relationships.

As we look forward to 2024, remember that it’s never too late to start. Don’t wait for the perfect moment; create it. Every day is an opportunity to take a small step towards your goals. It’s about consistent effort, not grand gestures. Set realistic, achievable targets for yourself, and celebrate each milestone, no matter how small.

Embrace the mindset of continuous improvement. It’s not about being the best; it’s about being better than you were yesterday. Challenge yourself to learn something new, to step out of your comfort zone. The only limits that exist are the ones you place on yourself.

As you plan for the new year, remember that success is not a destination but a journey. It’s about the resilience to keep going, the courage to face your fears, and the determination to keep pushing, even when the odds seem against you. You have the power to shape your future, one step at a time. Let’s make 2024 a year of relentless pursuit of our goals and dreams. Let’s forge our path with determination and grace. Remember, the only way to achieve the impossible is to believe it’s possible.

Slow is smooth, smooth is fast

Victory’s Blueprint: The Unseen Grind Beyond Trends

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In the relentless pursuit of success, it’s easy to get swept away by the prevailing winds of trends and shiny shortcuts. There’s a natural inclination to look for the next big thing, that magic bullet which promises to catapult us towards our goals at warp speed. We look for those templates that will get us there faster with greater impact, eagerly hoping to circumvent the gritty grind that success often demands. Yet, in chasing after these fleeting certainties, we tend to overlook a cardinal truth: slow is smooth, and smooth is fast when you stack wins.

In my realm of extreme discipline and unyielding commitment, this principle isn’t merely a catchy phrase; it’s a lived reality. The unforgiving crucible of challenges I faced honed a clarity of focus that sifted through the noise, prioritizing consistent, deliberate action over fleeting novelties. Each day demanded an unwavering dedication to the fundamentals, to the unglamorous routine of tireless practice and perpetual learning.

Each sunrise brought with it a new set of trials, a fresh chance to hone the blade of competence, to stack those modest wins that gradually forge the alloy of mastery. The magic wasn’t found in trendy tactics or flashy strategies, but in the silent creed of doing simple things savagely well. The path to success was rarely a sprint, but a marathon of resilience, a relentless cadence of inching forward, irrespective of the clamor echoing the next shortcut to glory.

Trends come and go with the tide, yet the ancient virtues of discipline, patience, and relentless forward progress remain immutable. The allure of rapid success often beckons, promising to alleviate the arduous journey. Yet, it’s the commitment to mastering the basics, to celebrating the small wins, and to embracing the grind, that paves the road to enduring victory.

It’s a long game, a stoic dance with patience that gradually compiles the humble wins into towering monuments of achievement. The world often fixates on the swift, yet overlooks the steady. But, through the lens of relentless pursuit, it’s crystal clear that slow is smooth, smooth is fast, and stacking wins, no matter how small, is the blueprint to a legacy of success.

William Branum US Navy SEAL

Unlock Growth by Stepping into Discomfort

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Pushing boundaries, seeking discomfort, and constantly testing limits – these aren’t just buzzwords for me. They’re a way of life. In the realm of the SEALs, this principle holds a sacred place. The reason? Because being uncomfortable is where true growth happens.

Every day, we’re set up to face challenges that many would deem insurmountable. The very nature of our training pushes us to the brink, designed not just to test our limits, but to go beyond them. Why? Because it’s in those moments of pure discomfort, when the odds seem stacked against us, that we discover who we really are.

It’s easy to navigate a smooth sea; any sailor will tell you that. But navigating stormy waters, braving the unforgiving waves, and keeping your ship steady? That’s where skill, endurance, and true grit are tested. Much like those stormy seas, we too face rigorous physical and mental challenges. These challenges aren’t there just to break us down, but to build us up stronger than before.

Forcing myself into these situations of discomfort has done more for me than any comfortable day ever could. It’s easy to relax when things are going your way, but it’s the resistance, the fight, and the push against obstacles that carve out a resilient soul.

This is precisely why I don’t shy away from physical endurance challenges. The burning in my muscles, the weight of exhaustion, the mental battle of pushing just one step further – these sensations, as uncomfortable as they are, have become my allies. They teach me about my own strength and the power of the human spirit. They remind me that discomfort is temporary, but the strength and character it builds? That’s permanent.

Being uncomfortable also teaches one of the most vital lessons: adaptability. When faced with unknown terrains and unexpected hurdles, we quickly learn to adjust, improvise, and overcome. This isn’t just a physical lesson; it’s a mental and emotional one too. Embracing the unfamiliar, and learning to thrive in it, is a skill that serves well not just in the harshest terrains of combat, but in the challenging terrains of life.

So, the next time you find yourself shying away from something that makes you uncomfortable, remember that growth isn’t found in the ease and comfort of the familiar. It’s found in the gritty, rough edges of challenges. Dive into those moments headfirst. Embrace the discomfort. Grow through it. And remember, every challenge faced and overcome is another testament to your strength and resilience.

Unleashing Independence: Entrepreneurial Lessons Through the Eyes of a Navy SEAL

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Entrepreneurship and personal freedom share a profound connection. Building your own business becomes a pathway to independence, providing an avenue for individuals to shape their destinies, exercise autonomy, and create opportunities for personal and financial growth. Here are key points highlighting this connection through the lens of an entrepreneurial Navy SEAL:

  1. Pursuit of Purpose: Just as a Navy SEAL finds purpose in serving their country, entrepreneurship allows for the pursuit of a different kind of purpose. By building a business, you can follow your passion, leveraging your unique skills and experiences to create something meaningful. This pursuit of purpose for us extends beyond the battlefield and brings a sense of fulfillment to our renewed civilian life – something you can experience as well.
  2. Tactical Decision-Making: In our careers, we make strategic decisions in high-pressure situations, SEALs are entrepreneurial by nature, and we embrace the challenge of decision-making in business. With the ability to adapt and make calculated choices, we navigate the competitive landscape, set goals, and determine the direction of our venture. This independence you have the ability to adopt in decision-making mirrors the same autonomy we experience on the battlefield.
  3. Agile Adaptability: The training of a Navy SEAL fosters adaptability and resourcefulness, which seamlessly translate to entrepreneurship. An entrepreneurial Navy SEAL can quickly adjust to market dynamics, identify opportunities, and pivot when necessary. This flexibility ensures we stay ahead of the curve, responding to challenges with resilience and maintaining a strong sense of independence. This is a pinnacle lesson and skill anyone pursuing a business should take to heart and implement.
  4. Leadership and Team Building: A Navy SEAL understands the power of effective leadership and teamwork. When becoming an entrepreneur, carry these invaluable skills, and build a business with a strong foundation. By assembling and leading a team, delegating responsibilities, fostering a collaborative environment, and creating a culture that values autonomy, initiative, and personal growth, you’ll progress to new levels of success.
  5. Overcoming Adversity: Both in the military and in entrepreneurship, adversity is a constant companion. As Navy SEALs, we draw upon our training and experience, embracing challenges as opportunities for growth. The ability to face adversity head-on, persevere, and adapt is ingrained in our character, empowering us to overcome obstacles and maintain independence in the face of adversity – something you can develop as well, and I strongly suggest you do to thrive and become prosperous.
  6. Impact and Legacy: Just as Navy SEALs strive to make a lasting impact in their service, entrepreneurial Navy SEALs seek to create a legacy through their business. By introducing innovative solutions, driving change, and making a positive difference in the lives of others, they leave their mark on the entrepreneurial landscape. This pursuit of impact and legacy further enhances our sense of independence.

Your entrepreneurial journey can take on new levels of success by embracing the lessons a Navy SEAL offers as a unique perspective on the connection between entrepreneurship and personal freedom. Through the pursuit of purpose, tactical decision-making, adaptability, leadership, resilience, and the desire to create a lasting impact, if you adopt these as an entrepreneur, you’ll forge your own path to independence. Apply the values and skills acquired to build a business that aligns with their passion, allowing you to shape your own destiny and embrace the freedom that entrepreneurship provides.

How CBD Has Helped Me After Leaving the SEAL Teams

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As a retired US Navy SEAL veteran, I know all too well the physical and emotional toll that serving our country can take on a person. When I left the service, I had a litany of issues to deal with, including the emotional decompression I experienced and the effects of physical injuries I acquired during my years of service working within special operations forces. After trying various treatments and therapies, I had another SEAL brother share some CBD with me, and I started to learn more about its potential to help alleviate what I was experiencing.

I haven’t been shy about my post SEAL team life and especially the first year and a half after my retirement. I started using alcohol to self-medicate in an attempt to tone down the anger I was feeling. I also experienced physical pain throughout my body, and I wasn’t willing to commit to a life of prescription medicine that would likely harm me in the long haul rather than address my problems.

A SEAL brother of mine shared with me a bag of his CBD gummies, and I started to take them. I noticed that my pain was lessening, and I wasn’t as angry as I had been in the past. Eventually, I found myself becoming more even-tempered inside and less angry. Then I ran out of gummies, and the anger started to build again. I bought another bag of gummies, and the anger started to diminish again, and I thought, “Hey there’s something to this.”

So I started a CBD company.

CBD, or cannabidiol, is a compound found in the cannabis plant that has been shown to have a variety of potential health benefits. Unlike its cousin THC, which is the psychoactive compound responsible for the “high” associated with marijuana use, CBD does not produce any psychoactive effects. Instead, it interacts with the body’s endocannabinoid system, which plays a role in regulating a variety of physiological processes, including pain perception, mood, and sleep.

I wanted to create a product that was not only effective but also trustworthy and transparent. The Navy SEAL ethos is one I don’t take lightly and resonates with my personal and professional core values. I know firsthand the importance of integrity and honesty, and I wanted my company to reflect those values.

One of the main reasons I started a CBD company was to provide other veterans with an alternative to traditional pharmaceutical treatments for conditions like chronic pain, anxiety, and PTSD. Many veterans are prescribed a metric shit ton of prescription meds, including opioids for chronic pain, which can be highly addictive and have dangerous side effects. CBD, on the other hand, has been shown to have few side effects and a low risk of addiction.

In addition to providing veterans with an alternative to traditional pharmaceuticals, I wanted to create a company that supported the effort to educate and prevent veteran service members suicide, which is climbing at an alarming rate. It’s something I speak of when I travel and address business leaders across the country.

Starting a CBD company, not only as a retired Navy SEAL veteran from Naval Special Warfare but as a small business owner, has not been without its challenges. There is still a lot of stigma surrounding cannabis and CBD, and it can sometimes be difficult to navigate the complex legal landscape. However, I believe that the potential benefits of CBD are worth the effort, and it’s an established alternate form of treatment for many. I think we’re still at the beginning of really understanding what CBD oil can do for the active service members of our armed forces as well as our veterans. In my opinion, this is our new mission – to combat the individual forces that separate us from living our best life and focus on post-career care. Negligence, ignorance, and stagnation for treatment is our new enemy.

If you want to learn more about how I cultivate a strong mindset and apply the use of CBD in my life, check out a recent podcast I was a guest on as I talk about all of this.