Make your bed.
Admiral William McRaven is a retired United States Navy four-star admiral who served as the ninth commander of the United States Special Operations Command from August 8, 2011 to August 28, 2014. From 2015 to 2018, he was the chancellor of The University of Texas System. In 37 years of military service, Admiral McCraven’s accomplishments speak for themselves and you can see all of those here.
In popular culture, what he is most well known for is his #1 selling book Make your Bed and viral video of him speaking at the University of Texas Austin’s graduation commencement address.
In military basic training, regardless of branch of service, making your bed is a task accompanied by many others. But it is usually the first one of the day, and every new soldier is expected to complete it immaculately. There is obvious reasoning for this. Military training is about discipline, and being disciplined is about performing tasks at regular intervals, being attentive to detail, which brings some sort of order to what is oftentimes a chaotic existence.
McRaven says "In battle soldiers die, families grieve, your days are long and filled with anxious moments. You search for something that can give you solace, that can motivate you to begin your day, that can be a sense of pride in an oftentimes ugly world. It is daily life that needs this same sense of structure. Nothing can replace the strength and comfort of one's faith, but sometimes the simple act of making your bed can give you the lift you need to start your day and provide you the satisfaction to end it right."
I have taken this to heart. A task completed, no matter how small, or seemingly insignificant, is still a task completed. We are always thinking big picture, but in reality, it is the small things done with integrity, selflessness, and compassion that create a wave of momentum to make significant change and impact.
Two years ago, I realized that I was so caught up in thinking that I was too busy for the small things, that life was literally passing me by. I would imagine, my experience is the same as many others. My go-to statement would be “I would, and wish I could, but I don’t have time to do ________”. This excuse emanated my existence.
Here is how it would go.
My kids wanted to play with me and make a connection but there was work to be done around the house.
I would, and wish I could, but I don’t have time to play.
I was asked to be more civically engaged in my community through different non-profit organizations.
I would, and wish I could, but I don’t have time to volunteer with everything else on my plate.
I was told I had a knack for connecting with others and teaching, and that it would be a good time to start a consulting business.
I would, and wish I could, but I don’t have time to create a business from the ground up outside of work hours.
Here is what I realized.
My kids want to play with me and make a connection but there is work to be done around the house.
I will never get an hour with my kids back, but the dishes will be waiting for me.
I am asked to be more civically engaged in my community through different non-profit organizations.
Making an impact by serving others does not take a lot of time. I spend one hour a week during my lunch mentoring an awesome kid from the Big Brothers Big Sisters Program, and one more hour per week serving in our local Rotary Club.
I was told I had a knack for connecting with others and teaching, and that it would be a good time to start a consulting business.
The extra time outside of my day-to-day job developing the talents God gave me is way better than watching Netflix.
