The following are my favorite quotes from Brett Crozier's Surf When You Can: Lessons in Life, Loyalty, and Leadership from a Maverick Navy Captain.
- I think we're better people when we open our hearts and minds to others. Whether it's a neighbor, a stranger on the street, or perhaps even a mildly annoying colonel who seems infatuated with your call sign, relationships can be unexpected gifts, but ones that can change our lives in profound ways.
- It's okay to fail and to be less than perfect, as long as you don't give up and you continue to push your own limits. What's more important is that we are honest with ourselves to recognize our deficiencies, and be willing to address them.
- The only person on earth who dictates how you will react in any given situation is you. Being a jerk is easy. It takes zero strength of character to shoot someone down, belittle them, or make them feel small. Kindness, understanding, compassion, patience...those are the hallmarks of true strength.
- One of the key aspects of leadership, no matter what the circumstance or scenario, boils down to this: understand the importance of each and every person to the team, make sure they know it, then delegate to them the power to perform to their fullest potential.
- Master the fundamentals, and you'll find it much easier to navigate the path to success. Because in the end, we practice not until we get it right, but so we never get it wrong.
- Empowering people to communicate freely is vital to the success of any organization. But giving people the freedom to communicate fearlessly--even when others may not necessarily be expecting or wanting their opinion--is what distinguishes a good organization from a great one.
- That's the great lesson from my time in the Navy. We can move through life on the path of least resistance, hoping others will take the lead when tough decisions need to be made. But by standing up for what you believe in, standing up for the well-being of others regardless of the personal consequence...that's where true character can be forged.
