Lessons from Make Your Bed by Admiral William H. McRaven(U.S. Navy Retired)
Little things that can change your life and maybe the world
It was apt(my favourite new word lol) that I rediscovered this book this week especially because…perfect synchronicity struck again. It always does nowadays. I need to get used to this by now. The deja vu-ness of it all.
Today we take inspiration and revisit Admiral William H. McRaven and his best selling book, Make Your Bed. I just finished this short but powerfully grounded book on the life lessons he learned from Navy SEAL training. From the simple discipline of starting each day with a well-made bed to the deeper ethos of resilience, teamwork, and moral courage, every chapter offers practical and inspiring insights. It’s a book that reminds us that small actions can shape our mindset, and that perseverance in the face of adversity is what ultimately defines us. A must-read for anyone seeking clarity, structure, and purpose in both their personal and professional life.
In Make Your Bed, Admiral William H. McRaven expands on the ten life lessons he first shared during a 2014 commencement speech at the University of Texas. Rooted in the rigorous trials of Navy SEAL training, these simple yet powerful principles resonate far beyond the military. In this book, McRaven shares the stories and people that shaped his journey, offering timeless advice on resilience, discipline, and courage for anyone facing life’s challenges. 72 pages that will change your life in ten simple chapters. I summarise them below short and cute a la Kenyan Style:
Start your day with a task completed
Make that bed like it’s the State House is coming to inspect. Order your space, command your day. Small wins turn into big boss energy by 10 a.m. You’ve got to start somewhere. Start with your sheets.
You can’t go it alone
Even the lion needs the pride. Solo missions may look cool on IG, but in real life? Teamwork is the tea. Call your people. Hold your circle tight. This life thing? It’s a relay, not a solo sprint.
Only the size of your heart matters
Forget six packs; do you have a heart that lifts others? That’s the real flex. In this Nairobi heat, kindness is the shade we all need. Lead with heart, and you’ll never lack purpose.
Life is not fair…drive on
Aki life will test you without revision notes. Things will fall apart, even when you’ve done “all the right things.” Don’t whine. Don’t wait. Keep moving. Vaa ngozi ya tembo and drive on like a matatu with no brakes.
Failure can make you stronger
Flopping is part of the formula. Don’t fear the L’s, they’re just Learning disguised as Loss. Get up, dust off, and say, “Siwezi nyamaza”(I won’t be silenced) by setbacks.
You must dare greatly
Weka uoga kwa mfuko. Play safe and you’ll stay stuck. Shoot your shot, whether it’s a pitch or a proposal. Fortune favours the fearless and the slightly unhinged.
Stand up to the bullies
Fear is just a thug with a loud mouth. Whether it’s toxic bosses, inner doubt, or Twitter trolls; face them like a Nairobi auntie with receipts. Calm, collected, and completely unbothered.
Rise to the occasion
Don’t wait to “feel ready”; readiness is a scam. When duty calls, jipange and show up like a boda rider in traffic: fast, focused, and slightly dangerous. You were born for this.
Give people hope
Sometimes all someone needs is a word, a smile, a “you’ve got this.” Be the reason someone tries again. Hope is the real hustle. Spread it generously like Blueband on hot toast.
Never ever quit
Even if the vibes are vibing low and the odds are odd-ing…stay in the game. Rest if you must, but don’t retire. You’re not a quitter, you’re Kenyan: wired for wahala and still winning.
The University of Texas Commencement Speech
Some inspiration to round this off from the master himself. Below are the remarks that birthed this book by Naval Adm. William H. McRaven, BJ '77, ninth commander of U.S.Special Operations Command, Texas Exes Life Member, and Distinguished Alumnus in 2014 where he addressed the graduating class of the University of Texas on his expertise; the importance of doing the little things. He said it best!
Watched over 20 million times and probably even more in the online realm of multiplier effects that is the quantum leap of social media. Enjoy! and Implement!
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