Admiral McRaven Leaves the Audience SPEECHLESS | One of the Best Motivational Speeches

Summary

This inspiring video script shares ten life lessons from a former Navy SEAL's basic training, emphasizing the importance of starting each day with a completed task, teamwork, perseverance, and courage. It highlights the significance of overcoming failures, taking risks, and never giving up, even in the face of adversity. The narrative encourages viewers to believe in their ability to change the world by focusing on small victories and maintaining hope in challenging times.

Takeaways

• 🛏️ Start Your Day with a Completed Task: Making your bed every morning sets a positive tone for the day and reinforces the importance of doing the little things right.
• 🚣‍♂️ Teamwork is Essential: Success in challenging situations requires the synchronized effort of everyone involved, emphasizing the need for collaboration to achieve goals.
• 🌐 Embrace Diversity: The 'Munchkin crew' story illustrates that success is not determined by physical attributes but by determination and unity among diverse individuals.
• 👔 Accept Imperfections: The 'sugar-cookie' drill teaches that despite best efforts, things may not always go as planned, and resilience in the face of failure is crucial.
• 🏋️‍♂️ Overcome Challenges with Strength: The 'circus' of additional physical training symbolizes the need to build inner strength and resilience through overcoming hardships.
• 🤺 Take Risks: The story of breaking the obstacle course record by sliding headfirst shows the importance of taking calculated risks to achieve success.
• 🦈 Face Your Fears: The shark encounter narrative highlights the necessity to confront and deal with fears or challenges head-on to achieve one's goals.
• 🌌 Stay Calm in the Darkest Moments: The underwater mission analogy emphasizes the importance of calmness and focus during the most difficult times.
• 🌃 Persevere Through Hell Week: The collective singing during the grueling mud flats experience illustrates the power of unity and hope in the face of adversity.
• 🎤 Use Your Voice: The act of singing together in the mud demonstrates the impact one person can have in inspiring and uniting others.
• 🔔 Never Give Up: The presence of the bell in SEAL training is a constant reminder of the option to quit, but the message is clear—perseverance is key to changing the world.

Q & A

What is the significance of making your bed every morning according to the speaker?

Making your bed every morning is a simple act that sets the tone for the day, providing a sense of accomplishment and encouraging the completion of further tasks. It also reinforces the importance of attention to detail and the belief that the little things in life matter.

Why are SEAL trainees required to paddle through the surf as a team?

Paddling through the surf as a team teaches the importance of teamwork and synchronization. It emphasizes that individual effort is not enough to achieve a goal and that everyone must contribute equally for the team to succeed.

What does the 'Munchkin crew' represent in the context of SEAL training?

The 'Munchkin crew' represents the idea that success is not determined by physical size or appearance but by determination, teamwork, and the collective effort of diverse individuals.

How does the uniform inspection in SEAL training serve as a metaphor for life's challenges?

The uniform inspection is a metaphor for life's challenges because no matter how well one prepares, there may still be setbacks or perceived failures. It teaches trainees to accept that not all efforts will be appreciated and to continue moving forward despite them.

What is the purpose of the 'circus' in SEAL training?

The 'circus' serves as a test of resilience and determination. It is designed to push trainees to their limits, building inner strength and physical endurance through additional calisthenics, despite the pain and fatigue.

Why is the 'Slide for Life' considered the most challenging obstacle in the SEAL training course?

The 'Slide for Life' is considered the most challenging due to its physical demands and the element of risk involved. It requires courage and determination to slide down headfirst, showcasing the ability to take risks and innovate to achieve success.

How does the night swim with sharks during SEAL training reflect the concept of facing fears?

The night swim with sharks is a literal and metaphorical representation of facing fears head-on. It teaches trainees to confront their fears, stand their ground, and not back down from intimidating challenges.

What does the experience of swimming under the ship during a SEAL mission symbolize?

Swimming under the ship symbolizes the need to be at one's best during the darkest and most challenging moments. It represents the importance of calmness, focus, and the application of skills and strength in high-pressure situations.

What is the significance of 'Hell Week' in SEAL training?

Hell Week' is a test of mental and physical endurance, designed to push trainees to their limits. It is a period of intense hardship that teaches resilience, the ability to endure extreme conditions, and the power of unity and camaraderie in overcoming adversity.

What message does the 'singing in the mud' convey about the power of one person to change the world?

The 'singing in the mud' conveys the message that even in the most challenging circumstances, one person's action can inspire others, creating a collective strength that can change the atmosphere and outcome of a situation. It emphasizes the power of hope and unity.

Why is the brass bell in SEAL training a symbol of giving up, and what does it represent?

The brass bell is a symbol of giving up because ringing it signifies quitting the training. It represents the ultimate choice to abandon the challenge, and the message is to never give up, no matter how difficult the situation, to achieve the goal of changing the world for the better.

Outlines

00:00

🛏️ The Power of Making Your Bed

This paragraph emphasizes the importance of starting each day with a completed task, using the example of making one's bed to perfection every morning. The author, drawing from his experience in Seal training, explains how this simple act can instill a sense of pride and motivate further action. It also underlines the significance of paying attention to the small details in life, as they are foundational to achieving larger goals. The made bed serves as a metaphor for hope and a fresh start, suggesting that even on bad days, one can find solace and encouragement in the knowledge that they have accomplished something, no matter how small.

05:02

🚣‍♂️ Teamwork and Perseverance in Training

The second paragraph discusses the value of teamwork and collective effort during Seal training. It describes how trainees are organized into boat crews and must work in unison to paddle through challenging surf conditions. The narrative highlights the story of the 'Munchkin crew,' a diverse group of smaller individuals who, despite initial skepticism, outperformed others through their unity and determination. The paragraph reinforces the idea that success in life, like in Seal training, requires the support of others and that one's background should not be a determinant of their ability to contribute meaningfully to a team effort.

10:04

👔 Overcoming Challenges and Embracing Failure

This paragraph illustrates the harsh realities of Seal training, where even the most meticulously prepared uniform can fail inspection, leading to a grueling punishment known as 'sugar-cookie.' It conveys the message that life is full of such moments where one's best efforts may not be recognized or may still result in failure. The author encourages the reader to accept and move past these setbacks, using them as a driving force to continue striving for progress, rather than allowing them to deter their pursuit of changing the world.

15:08

🤸‍♂️ Strength Through Adversity and Innovation

The fourth paragraph delves into the physical and mental challenges faced during Seal training, such as the 'circus,' a form of punishment for not meeting performance standards, which paradoxically builds strength and resilience in those who endure it. It also recounts the story of a trainee who broke the obstacle course record by taking a daring and unconventional approach, demonstrating that sometimes, innovation and risk-taking are necessary to overcome obstacles and achieve success. The author urges the reader to embrace challenges and to innovate, as these are the qualities that can lead to significant change in the world.

🦈 Facing Fears and Overcoming Obstacles

In this paragraph, the author recounts the fear-inducing experience of swimming in shark-infested waters during Seal training, emphasizing the importance of standing one's ground against perceived threats. It serves as a metaphor for facing fears and overcoming obstacles in life, suggesting that courage and determination are essential for personal growth and for making a difference in the world.

🌑 The Importance of Calmness in Darkness

The sixth paragraph describes the psychological and physical demands of conducting underwater attacks during Seal training, particularly the challenge of navigating under a ship in complete darkness. It highlights the need for calmness, focus, and the application of one's skills during the most challenging moments. The author draws a parallel to life, where being at one's best in the darkest times is crucial for success and for making a positive impact on the world.

❄️ Unity and Endurance in Hell Week

This paragraph recounts the grueling experience of 'Hell Week,' a pivotal part of Seal training that tests the limits of endurance and willpower. It tells the story of a group of trainees who, faced with the prospect of quitting, instead find unity and strength in singing together amidst the harsh conditions of the mud flats. The narrative illustrates the power of collective resilience and the human spirit to overcome extreme adversity.

🔔 The Choice to Never Give Up

The final paragraph concludes the script with a powerful message about the choice to never give up, symbolized by the act of ringing a bell to quit Seal training. It emphasizes the importance of perseverance, taking risks, standing up against bullies, and lifting up the downtrodden. The author inspires the reader to contribute to creating a better world for future generations by embodying these values and refusing to give in to the challenges that life presents.

🙏 Closing Remarks

The closing paragraph offers a simple yet heartfelt thank you, acknowledging the audience and wrapping up the speech on a positive and grateful note.

Keywords

💡Change the World

The phrase 'change the world' is a central theme of the video, encapsulating the idea that individual actions and attitudes can have a profound impact on society and the environment. It is used to inspire the audience to take initiative and make a difference, no matter how small the action may seem. For example, the video suggests starting with making one's bed to build momentum for accomplishing greater tasks.

💡Seal Training

Seal training refers to the rigorous and demanding process that aspiring Navy SEALs undergo to become elite special operations forces. The video uses lessons learned from this training to illustrate broader life principles. For instance, the discipline of making one's bed every morning is highlighted as a foundational habit for achieving success in more significant endeavors.

💡Discipline

Discipline is the practice of training oneself to follow a pattern of behavior or a specific way of acting. In the context of the video, it is portrayed as essential for personal growth and achieving goals. The script mentions making one's bed as a daily discipline that sets the tone for further accomplishments.

💡Teamwork

Teamwork is the collaborative effort of a group to achieve a common goal or to complete a task in the most effective and efficient way. The video emphasizes the importance of teamwork through the example of boat crews in SEAL training, where synchronized paddling is necessary to overcome the challenges of high surf.

💡Resilience

Resilience is the ability to recover quickly from difficulties or to withstand hardships. The video describes how SEAL trainees develop resilience through physically and mentally demanding tasks, such as the 'circus' of additional calisthenics, which ultimately strengthens them.

💡Overcoming Adversity

Overcoming adversity refers to the act of prevailing against or dealing successfully with challenges, difficulties, or misfortune. The video script provides multiple examples, such as the 'sugar-cookie' drill and the obstacle course, where trainees must persevere despite setbacks to succeed.

💡Innovation

Innovation is the process of translating an idea or invention into a good or service that creates value or for which customers will pay. In the video, the concept of innovation is exemplified by a SEAL trainee who breaks the obstacle course record by taking a risk and sliding down the 'slide for life' headfirst, a novel approach to the challenge.

💡Fearlessness

Fearlessness is the state of being unafraid of danger or difficulties. The video encourages viewers to face challenges head-on, as demonstrated by the trainee tackling the obstacle course, and by the advice to not back down from 'sharks' or daunting situations.

💡Perseverance

Perseverance is the continuous effort to achieve a goal despite difficulties, failure, or opposition. The video script highlights the importance of perseverance through the story of 'Hell Week,' where SEAL trainees endure extreme conditions and the temptation to quit, choosing instead to sing and support each other.

💡Unity

Unity is the state of being united or joined as a whole. In the context of the video, unity is demonstrated by the SEAL trainees singing together in the mud flats, showing that collective strength and morale can be a powerful force against adversity.

💡Self-Improvement

Self-improvement refers to the process of enhancing one's knowledge, skills, and abilities to become a better person. The video script suggests that self-improvement is a lifelong journey, starting with small tasks like making one's bed and extending to facing life's bigger challenges with courage and determination.

Highlights

The importance of making your bed every morning as a metaphor for accomplishing the first task of the day and setting a positive tone for the rest of the day.

The significance of teamwork in achieving goals, illustrated by the boat crews' experiences in SEAL training.

The value of perseverance and not giving up, even when faced with seemingly insurmountable challenges like paddling through high surf.

The story of the 'Munchkin crew' as an example of overcoming size and physical limitations through determination and teamwork.

The lesson that success is not about physical appearance or background, but about the will to succeed, as demonstrated by the SEAL training experience.

The concept of dealing with failure and the 'sugar-cookie' drill, which teaches resilience in the face of constant challenges.

The idea that failure can lead to growth, as shown by the students who repeatedly faced the 'circus' and became stronger over time.

The importance of innovation and taking risks, as exemplified by the student who broke the obstacle course record by going down the slide for life headfirst.

The analogy of facing 'sharks' in life and the necessity to stand your ground rather than back down from challenges.

The importance of calmness and focus during the darkest and most challenging moments, as illustrated by the underwater ship attack missions.

The experience of 'Hell Week' in SEAL training, which tests the limits of physical and mental endurance.

The power of unity and camaraderie in overcoming adversity, as shown by the singing in the mud flats during Hell Week.

The story of the brass bell in SEAL training, symbolizing the option to quit at any time, and the importance of never ringing it.

The call to action for individuals to change the world by starting with small tasks, finding support, respecting others, taking risks, and never giving up.

The potential impact of individual actions on future generations, emphasizing that what starts with one person can change the world for the better.

The closing message that encourages listeners to embody the principles learned in SEAL training to create a better world for all.

Transcripts

What starts here changes the world

I have a few suggestions that may help you on your way to a better world

and while these lessons were learned during my time in the military,

I can assure you that it matters not, whether you ever served a day in uniform, it matters

not your gender your ethnic or religious background, your orientation or your social status.

Our struggles in this world are similar and the lessons to overcome those struggles and to move forward

Changing ourselves and changing the world around us will apply equally to all

So here are the ten lessons I learned from basic Seal training that hopefully will be of value to you as you move forward in life

Every morning in seal training my instructors who at the time were all Vietnam veterans

Would show up in my barracks room. And the first thing they'd do is inspect my bed if you did it right,

the corners would be square, the covers would be pulled tight,

the pillows centered just under the headboard and the extra blanket folded neatly at the foot of the rack.

It was a simple task

mundane at best but every morning we were required to

Make our bed to perfection

It seemed a little ridiculous at the time particularly light of the fact that we were aspiring to be real warriors tough battle-hardened seals

But the wisdom of this simple act has been proven to me many times over.

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 and by the end of the day that one task completed will have turned into many task completed

Making your bed will also reinforce the fact that the little things in life matter

If you can't do the little things, right

You'll never be able to do the big things right 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

So if you want to change the world

Start off by making your bed

[Music]

During seal training the students

During training the students are all broken down into boat crews

Each crew is seven students three on each side of a small rubber boat and one Coxon to help guide the dinghy

every day your boat crew forms up on the beach and

Is instructed to get through the surf zone and paddle several miles down the coast in the winter

The surf off San Diego can get to be eight to ten feet high and it is exceedingly difficult

The paddle hook through the plunging surf unless everyone digs in

Every paddle must be synchronized to the stroke count of the Coxon

Everyone must exert equal effort or the boat will turn against the wave and be unceremoniously dumped back on the beach

For the boat to make it to its destination

Everyone must paddle

You can't change the world alone

You will need some help and to truly get from your starting point to your destination takes friends colleagues

The good will of strangers and a strong Coxen to guide you if you want to change the world

Find someone to help you paddle over

A few weeks of difficult training my seal class which started with 150 men

Was down to just 42 there were now six boat crews of seven men each. I

Was in the boat with the tall guys

but the best boat crew we had

Was made up of little guys the Munchkin crew. We called them. No one was over five foot five

The Munchkin boat crew had one american-indian

One african-american one Polish American one Greek American one Italian American and two tough kids from the Midwest

They out paddled out ran and out swam all the other boat crews the big men and the other boat crews

will always make good-natured fun of

The tiny little flippers the munchkins put on their tiny little feet prior to every swim

But somehow these little guys from every corner of the nation in the world always had the last laugh

Swimming faster than everyone and reaching the shore long before the rest of us

SEAL training was a great equalizer

Nothing mattered, but your will to succeed not your color. Not your ethnic background, not your education, not your social status

If you want to change the world

measure a person by the size of their heart

not by the size of their flippers

Several times a week

The instructors would line up the class and do a uniform inspection

It was exceptionally thorough

Your hat had to be perfectly starched your uniform immaculately pressed your belt buckle shiny and void of any smudges

But it seemed that no matter how much effort you put into starching your hat or pressing your uniform or polishing your belt buckle

It just wasn't good enough

The instructors would find something wrong

For failing the uniform inspection the student had to run fully clothed into the surf zone

Then wet from head to toe roll around on the beach until every part of your body was covered with sand

the effect was known as

sugar-cookie

You stayed in the uniform the rest of the day cold wet and Sandy

There were many a student who just couldn't accept the fact that

All their efforts were in vain that no matter how hard they tried to get the uniform right,

It went unappreciated those students didn't make it through training those students didn't understand the purpose of the drill

You were never going to succeed you were never going to have a perfect uniform the instructors weren't going to allow it

Sometimes no matter how well you prepare

Or how well you perform you still end up as a sugar cookie

It's just the way life is sometimes

If you want to change the world

Get over being a sugar cookie and keep moving forward

Every day during training you were challenged with multiple physical events long runs long swims obstacle courses hours of calisthenics

Something designed to test your mettle every event had standards times you had to meet if you fail to meet those times

Those standards your name was posted on a list and at the end of the day

Those on the list

were invited to a circus a

Circus was two hours of additional calisthenics designed to wear you down to break your spirit to force you to quit

No one wanted a circus a circus meant that for that day

You didn't measure up a circus meant more fatigue and more fatigue

Meant that the following day would be more difficult and more circuses were likely

But at some time during seal training everyone

Everyone made the circus list

But an interesting thing happened to those who were constantly on the list

Over time those students who did two hours of extra calisthenics got stronger and stronger

The pain of the circuses built inner strength and physical resiliency

Life is filled with circuses

You will fail

You will likely fail often it will be painful. It will be discouraging at times. It will test you to your very core

but if you want to change the world

Don't be afraid of the circuses

At least twice a week, the trainees were required to run the obstacle course

the obstacle course contained 25 obstacles including the 10-foot wall a

30-foot cargo net a barbed wire crawl to name a few but the most challenging obstacle

Was the slide for life

It had a three level 30-foot tower at one end and a one level Tower at the other in between was a 200-foot long rope

You had to climb the three tiered Tower and once at the top you grabbed the Rope

swung underneath the rope and

Pulled yourself hand over hand until you got to the other end

The record for the obstacle course had stood for years when my class began in 1977. The record seemed unbeatable

Until one day a student decided to go down the slide for life

headfirst

Instead of swinging his body underneath the rope and inching his way down. He bravely mounted the top of the rope and

Thrust himself forward it was a dangerous move

Seemingly foolish and fraught with risk

Failure could be an injury and being dropped from the course without hesitation

the students slid down the Rope perilously fast

Instead of several minutes. It only took him half that time and by the end of the course

He had broken the record

If you want to change the world

Sometimes you have to slide down the obstacles headfirst

During the land warfare phase of training the students are flown out to San Clemente Island which lies off the coast of San Diego

the waters off San Clemente are a breeding ground for the great white sharks to

Pass seal training. They're a series of long swims that must be completed

One is the night swim

Before the swim the instructors. Joyfully brief the students on all the species of sharks

That inhabit the waters off, San Clemente

They assure you however that no student has

Ever been eaten by a shark at least not that they can remember

But you are also taught that if a shark begins to circle your position

Stand your ground

Do not swim away

Do not act afraid

and if the shark hungry for a midnight snack darts towards you then summons up all your strength and

Punch him in the snout and he will turn and swim away

There are a lot of sharks in the world

If you hope to complete the swim you will have to deal with them

So if you want to change the world

Don't back down from the sharpest

As Navy SEALS, one of our jobs is to conduct underwater attacks against the enemy's shipping

we practice this technique extensively during training the

Ship attack mission is where a pair of SEAL divers is dropped off outside an enemy harbor and then swims well over two miles

Underwater using nothing, but a depth gauge and a compass to get to the target

During the entire swim even well below the surface. There is some light

That comes through

It is comforting to know that there is open water above you

But as you approach the ship which is tied to appear the light begins to fade

The steel structure of the ship blocks the moonlight. It blocks the surrounding streetlamps. It blocks all

ambient light

to be successful in your mission

You have to swim under the ship and find the keel the centerline and the deepest part of the ship. This is your objective

But the keel is also the darkest part of the show

where you cannot see your hand in front of your face where the noise from the ship's machinery is deafening and

Where it gets to be easily disoriented and you can fail

every SEAL knows

that under the keel at that darkest moment of the mission is a time when you need to be calm when

You must be called when you must be composed when all your tactical skills your physical power and your inner strength

Must be brought to bear

If you want to change the world

You must be your very best in the darkest moments

The ninth week of training is referred to as hell week

It is six days of no sleep

Constant physical and mental harassment and one special day at the mud flats

the mud flats are an area between San Diego and Tijuana where the rough water runs off and creates the Tijuana sloughs a

Swampy patch of terrain where the mud will engulf you

It is on Wednesday of hell week

that you paddle down in the mud flats and spend the next 15 hours trying to survive this freezing cold the

Howling wind and the incessant pressure to quit from the instructors

As the Sun began to set that Wednesday evening

My training class having committed some egregious infraction of the rules

Was ordered into the mud

The mud consumed each man till there was nothing visible but our heads

The instructors told us we could leave the mud if only five men would quit

Only five minutes just five men and we could get out of the oppressive cold

Looking around the mud flat it was apparent that some students were about to give up

it was still over eight hours till the Sun came up eight more hours of

Bone-chilling cold a chattering teeth and the shivering moans of the trainees were so loud

it was hard to hear anything and

Then one voice began to echo through the night

one voice raised in song

The song was terribly out of tune, but sung with great enthusiasm

One voice became two and two became three and before long everyone in the class was singing

the instructors threatened us with more time in the mud if we kept up the singing but the singing persisted and

Somehow the mud seemed a little warmer and the wind a little tamer and the dawn not so far away

if I have learned anything in my time traveling the world it is the power of

the power of one person

The Washington a Lincoln King Mandela and even a young girl from Pakistan Malala one person can change the world

By giving people hope so if you want to change the world

Start singing when you're up to your neck in mud

Finally a SEAL training there's a bell a

brass bell that hangs in the center of the compound for all the students to see

All you have to do quit. All you have to do to quit is ring the bell

ring the bell and you no longer have to wake up at 5 o'clock ring the bell and you

No longer have to be in the freezing cold swims

Ring the bell and you no longer have to do the runs the obstacle course the PT and you no longer have to endure

the hardships of training

All you have to do is ring the bell to get out

If you want to change the world don't ever ever

Ring the bell

It will not be easy

Start each day with a task completed

Find someone to help you through life

Respect everyone know the life is not fair that you will fail often

but if you take some risks

Step up on the time through the toughest

Face down the bullies lift up the downtrodden and never ever give up. If you do these things the next generation and the

Generations that follow will live in a world far better than the one we have today

And what started here will indeed have changed the world for the better?

Thank you very much