How to Get More Done Every Day, From a Navy Seal and Retired Navy Admiral

Whether you’re in an active job search or working diligently in your dream job, everyone wants to find ways to add time to their day. Sure, you can wake up early and go to bed late, but simple time stretching doesn’t necessarily make you more productive. In many cases it’s all in your head, and with many companies, studies have shown that employees work harder in 5 focused hours than in 8 hours (a typical work day). But what can you do to feel better, get more focused, and accomplish more with virtually the same effort?

article continues after ad…

 

Look no further than Admiral William McRaven, retired commander of the United States Special Operations Command, and former Navy SEAL. At a commencement speech at Admiral McRaven’s alma mater, University of Texas, he addressed 10 things that he learned in SEAL training. One that stuck out most notably that can be applied to almost any business person, job seeker, or for that matter human being, was his inspirational way of connecting the making of one’s bed every morning to the feeling of accomplishment it brings and how that can directly translate into getting more done each and every day.

Admiral McRaven’s advice, is that if you want to start your day off with a successful task completed, then make your bed, every day without fail.

“If you make your bed every morning you will have accomplished the first task of the day. It will give you a small sense of pride, and it will encourage you to do another task and another and another. By the end of the day, that one task completed will have turned into many tasks completed. Making your bed will also reinforce the fact that little things in life matter. If you can’t do the little things right, you will never do the big things right.”    – Admiral William McRaven

“And, if by chance you have a miserable day, you will come home to a bed that is made — that you made — and a made bed gives you encouragement that tomorrow will be better.”  – Admiral William McRaven

How you start your day can make all the difference in the success you have. While these may sound like little things, don’t forget that the little things add up to big things. Over time Admiral McRaven’s advice might just help you get to the top!


Get Expert Career Advice!