make your bed speech analysis

Notes and Takeaways from Make Your Bed

Source: Google

When I read it: November 2020

Why I read it: “Make Your Bed“ is the name of both a book and a speech by Admiral William H. McRaven. The book is based on the speech of the same name, which was given at the University-wide Commencement at The University of Texas at Austin on May 17, 2014. I reviewed the speech transcript recently and wanted more. So, I read the book too. Here are my combined notes and takeaways from both the book and the speech, Make Your Bed.

Go to the amazon listing for the book, review the speech , or scroll down for my notes.

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About Admiral William H. McRaven Admiral McRaven (“Bill”) is the author of Make Your Bed and Sea Stories: My Life in Special Operations. In his thirty-seven years as a Navy SEAL, he commanded at nearly every level. He’s now retired.

About Make Your Bed

In the speech, Bill walks through 10 lessons he learned from basic SEAL training on how to change the world / deal with life. In the book, he builds on these 10 lessons in each chapter.

10 lessons for changing the world / dealing with life

If you want to change the world:

Start off by making your bed

Find someone to help you paddle.

Measure a person by the size of their heart, not the size of their flippers.

Get over being a sugar cookie and keep moving forward.

Don’t be afraid of the circuses.

Sometimes you have to slide down the obstacle head first.

Don’t back down from the sharks.

You must be your very best in the darkest moment.

Start singing when you’re up to your neck in mud.

Don’t ever, ever ring the bell.

1. Start off by making your bed.

Translation: Start your day with a completed task.

Life is hard ⇒ days are long and filled with anxious moments ⇒ sometimes it seems that there is little you can do to affect the outcome of your day.

Daily life requires a sense of structure ⇒ the simple act of completing a task can give you the extra pride / motivation you need to seize the day.

“Making my bed correctly was not going to be an opportunity for praise. It was expected of me. It was my first task of the day, and doing it right was important. It demonstrated my discipline. It showed my attention to detail, and at the end of the day it would be a reminder that I had done something well, something to be proud of, no matter how small the task. Throughout my life in the Navy, making my bed was the one constant that I could count on every day.”

2. Find someone to help you paddle.

Translation: Don’t go it alone.

In life, you will face difficult tasks that require you to rely on others ⇒ this requires teamwork.

It takes a team of good people to get you to your destination ⇒ Find someone to share your life with ⇒ Make as many friends as possible ⇒ Never forget that your success depends on others.

“I had numerous setbacks, and in each case, someone came forward to help me: someone who had faith in my abilities; someone who saw potential in me where others might not; someone who risked their own reputation to advance my career. I have never forgotten those people and I know that anything I achieved in my life was a result of others who have helped me along the way.”

3. Measure a person by the size of their heart, not the size of their flippers.

Translation: Grit and determination trump talent.

The size of your heart is all that matters.

“SEAL training was always about proving something. Proving that size didn’t matter. Proving that the color of your skin wasn’t important. Proving that money didn’t make you better. Proving that determination and grit were always more important than talent.”

4. Get over being a sugar cookie and keep moving forward.

Translation: Life is not fair; get over it.

You will not always be rewarded for your hard work / performance.

It’s easy to give up / stop trying when you think life is unfair ⇒ But life isn’t fair and the sooner you learn that the better off you will be ⇒ sometimes no matter how hard you try / how good you are, you will fail.

When something isn’t fair, don’t complain ⇒ The common people and the great men and women are all defined by how they deal with life’s unfairness ⇒ Examples: Helen Keller, Nelson Mandela, Stephen Hawking, and Malala Yousafzai.

“In all of SEAL training there was nothing more uncomfortable than being a sugar cookie… Not just because you spent the rest of the day with sand down your neck, under your arms, and between your legs, but because the act of becoming a sugar cookie was completely indiscriminate. There was no rhyme or reason.” 

5. Don’t be afraid of The Circus.

Translation: Don’t fear failure; embrace it.

Noone is immune ⇒ In life, you will face failure ⇒ and that failure will spiral ⇒ initial failures often compound into additional failures.

Embrace this failure ⇒ it will make you stronger ⇒ for every failure, there will be hundreds of successes.

“What made The Circus so feared by the students was not just the additional pain but also the knowledge that the day after The Circus you would be exhausted from the extra workout and so fatigued that you would fail to meet the standards again. Another Circus would follow, then another and another. It was a death spiral, a cycle of failure that caused many students to quit training… But as The Circuses continued a funny thing happened. Our swims got better, and Marc and I began to move up in the pack. The Circus, which had started as a punishment for failure, was making us stronger, faster, and more confident in the water.”

6. Sometimes you have to slide down the obstacle head first.

Translation: Take calculated risks.

To make change, you will have to assume risk that is calculated, thoughtful, and well planned ⇒ this requires you to overcome your anxieties / trust your abilities ⇒ know your limits, but trust yourself enough to try.

“Life is a struggle and the potential for failure is ever present, but those who live in fear of failure, or hardship, or embarrassment will never achieve their potential. Without pushing your limits, without occasionally sliding down the rope headfirst, without daring greatly, you will never know what is truly possible in your life.”

7. Don’t back down from the sharks.

Translation: Stand up to bullies.

Bullies are all the same in all phases of life (school, workplace, government) ⇒ they rule on terror; they thrive on fear and intimidation. 

Bullies gain their strength through the timid and faint of heart ⇒ like sharks that sense fear in the water and circle to see if their prey is struggling ⇒ they will probe to see if their victim is weak. 

Don’t show weakness to bullies ⇒ find the courage to stand your ground ⇒ it is within you.

“In December 2003, U.S. forces captured Saddam Hussein… Saddam Hussein, the now former president of Iraq, sat on the edge of an old Army cot clad only in an orange jumpsuit. Having been captured by U.S. forces twenty-four hours earlier, he was now a prisoner of the United States. As I opened the door to allow the new Iraqi government leaders into the room, Saddam remained seated....Although I was positive Saddam would no longer be a threat to the other men in the room, the Iraqi leaders were not so certain. The fear in their eyes was unmistakable. This man, the Butcher of Baghdad, had for decades terrorized an entire nation. His cult of personality had drawn to him followers of the worst sort. His murderous thugs had brutalized the innocent and forced thousands to flee the country. No one in Iraq had mustered the courage to challenge the tyrant. There was no doubt in my mind that these new leaders were still terrified of what Saddam might be able to do—even from behind bars.”

8. You must be your very best in the darkest moment.

Translation: Rise to the occasion when life gets hard.

We all confront dark moments from time to time ⇒ when this happens, reach deep inside yourself and be your best.

“There is no darker moment in life than losing someone you love, and yet I watched time and again as families, as military units, as towns, as cities, and as a nation, how we came together to be our best during those tragic times.”

9. Start singing when you’re up to your neck in mud.

Translation: Give people hope when times are tough.

Hope is the most powerful force in the universe ⇒ it only takes one person to inspire it in others.

Hope is contagious == when times get hard, infect others with hope.

“Once again, we had learned an important lesson: the power of one person to unite the group, the power of one person to inspire those around him, to give them hope.”

10. Don’t ever, ever ring the bell.

Translation: Never quit.

Life is full of difficult times ⇒ but someone out there always has it worse than you do.

Refuse to give up on your dreams. 

“If you fill your days with pity, sorrowful for the way you have been treated, bemoaning your lot in life, blaming your circumstances on someone or something else, then life will be long and hard.”

The 10 lessons, translated

Start your day with a completed task.

Don’t go it alone.

Grit and determination trump talent.

Life is not fair; get over it.

Don’t fear failure; embrace it.

Take calculated risks.

Stand up to bullies.

Rise to the occasion when life gets hard.

Give people hope when times are tough.

Never quit.

Make Your Bed Speech: Summary and 5 Lessons

One thing that every 2014 graduate of the University of Texas has in common is that they were able to witness one of the most empowering and inspirational commencement speeches of our time.

Given by former Navy SEAL, Admiral William H. McRaven, this inspiring 20-minute speech offers timeless lessons that anyone can apply to their own life to overcome challenges, be more successful, and change the world.

Table of Contents

What Did Admiral McRaven Say in His Famous Speech?

In his speech, McRaven recognizes that while every person may be different, all of our struggles as humans are similar to each other. So while listeners may not be able to relate specifically to Admiral McRaven’s career in the Navy, his message is universal.

McRaven starts by focusing on the schools motto, “What starts here changes the world.” The motto in itself relays the message that graduating from the University of Texas is just the beginning of what’s to come.

Students graduate with the knowledge they have gained from their professors and peers, but once they leave, they have to apply those lessons to the real world.

No matter what career path you have chosen, you are sure to face challenges. You may decide that some are too big to overcome or too complicated to deal with.

However, McRaven uses UT’s motto to call people to action. Don’t settle for how things are or how they have always been if they can be improved. Make an effort today to create a change in the world.

Throughout the rest of his speech, McRaven recounts his life as a Navy SEAL following his own graduation from the University of Texas and the ten most important lessons that he learned from his initial six months of basic training.

You can view the full speech here:

This speech touched so many people that it led to the publishing of McRaven’s #1 New York Times Best Seller, Make Your Bed .

Make Your Bed: Little Things That Can Change Your Life…And Maybe the World

But what insight did Admiral McRaven gain during his time in the Navy and how can those lessons be implemented into everyone else’s life?

In this article, I will delve into the five biggest lessons that you can take away from this commencement speech to help you change the world, and I will reveal what Admiral McRaven is really telling people when he says to make your bed .

Lesson #1: Make Your Bed Every Morning

Starting your day off by completing a task will initiate your momentum to do the next task, and then the next, and so on. It will give you a sense of accomplishment that you will want to continue to feel throughout the day.

If you can’t complete a small and mundane task each morning such as making your bed, you can’t expect yourself to be able to complete more complicated tasks moving forward.

If you end up having an unproductive or otherwise negligible day, you will still come home and be reminded that you completed that one task, which can instill hope that you will have a better or more productive day tomorrow.

In your life, the small task that jumpstarts your day may not literally be making your bed. But the point is to find one task that you can make into a habit that will slowly start to get to the root of a problem you’re facing or inch toward a goal for which you’re reaching.

As long as you accomplish this task every day, you will be starting off on the right foot. Set this task up as a routine, so no matter what, this one thing gets completed every day.

Make sure the task you choose is meaningful to you and your team. While tucking in sheets may not feel meaningful to you, as a Navy SEAL heading to bed after a long day of training, a neatly made bed would provide meaningful comfort and a sense of reward.

What task do you do every day that provides value when all is said and done? Identify a task that you derive a clear value from when you look back at your previous state.

Lesson #2: You Can’t Change the World Alone

In McRaven’s speech, he describes rafting through the tall waves of the sea at night with three rowers on each side of the boat and one guide at the bow.

Apply this idea of team work to your life. You will always work with people who have various talents, but you need a balance of skills and abilities in order to succeed. Like Admiral McRaven, you want to be able to balance out those who can work at a faster pace with those who take more time, but produce high-quality work.

In order to make a difference, you also need to have the support of friends, family, co-workers, and others who share your vision. You need a strong team of people behind you to help you along your way.

This means it is important to nurture as many relationships as you can throughout life to ultimately be successful and to always recognize the role that other people played in your triumphs.

In turn, be willing to help out others who are on your team. Don’t prevent other people from learning or growing by keeping a task to yourself. Instead, be a leader and help your team along by encouraging everyone to grow and preventing just one person from taking on the entire load.

Consider your strengths and the progress your team could make together if you shared your expertise with them.

Lesson #3: Perfection Doesn’t Exist

While in training, Admiral McRaven underwent uniform inspections by his instructors, which he (and his fellow students) would fail on every occasion, no matter how hard they tried to prepare for it.

The instructors would always find something wrong with the students’ efforts, which would result in them having to endure a grueling run into the water, fully clothed, and a roll through the sand before spending the rest of the day in their dirty uniform.

Those who couldn’t accept the fact that their labor went unappreciated were the ones who didn’t make it through training. They were trying to reach a level of perfection that doesn’t exist.

People who focus on perfection hold unattainable standards for themselves and are overly concerned with how others perceive them. They don’t see mistakes as being an opportunity for growth , but rather a sign of failure.

Because of this, perfectionists rarely realize their full potential. Admiral McRaven’s advice here is to get over your failures and move on.

Lesson #4: Don’t Be Afraid of the Challenges That You Face

Whether it is a failure of some sort, an obstacle that you have to overcome, or an unexpected turn of events, don’t be afraid to face the things that try to break you down on your path to success.

Realize that these hurdles are most often opportunities to gain strength and resilience, which will make success more likely in the end.

Everyone will face challenges at times that may even make you want to quit. However, recognizing your ability to fight through these tough times will help you advance past subsequent barriers as your strength continues to multiply.

Furthermore, prepare yourself for the possible challenges you may face by doing small things each day that will make challenges in the future seem less intimidating.

For example, if you have a personal goal of reducing expenses , how often are you taking the time to review your spending ? How are you preparing yourself to face an unexpected bill? You have to take little steps to help make any potential challenges more approachable, no matter what line of work you’re in.

Lesson #5: Be Your Best In Your Darkest Moments

One thing that is certain is that you will face dark moments during your life. You will experience the death of a loved one and other events that leave you questioning the future. It is often difficult to imagine your life improving during these testing times.

While you may feel like you’ve lost the hope of deriving joy from life again, it is during these most difficult times that you dig deep inside yourself and bring out your best self.

Moving forward despite your feelings of helplessness will give you the necessary chance to come out on the other side and begin your journey of healing.

During these times, focus on the things you have rather than the things that you need. Capitalize on your strengths to help you get through these dark moments and remember that you have more inner strength than you will probably ever realize.

Final Thoughts on the Make Your Bed Speech

While few people have first-hand experience enduring the infamously difficult training that is required to become a Navy SEAL, Admiral McRaven offers lessons in his commencement speech that are universally applicable.

Everyone can relate to his message that even if you work as hard as you possibly can, you will still face failure at times. The key to being successful and changing the world, however, is to keep getting back up.

You have a choice each time you fail to either quit or find a lesson from the failure and move on. In order to change the world, you have to never, ever give up .

And if you're looking for more small habits that can change your life forever that only take five minutes or less to complete, watch the video below:

Connie Mathers is a professional editor and freelance writer. She holds a Bachelor's Degree in Marketing and a Master’s Degree in Social Work. When she is not writing, Connie is either spending time with her daughter and two dogs, running, or working at her full-time job as a social worker in Richmond, VA.

Finally, if you want to take your goal-setting efforts to the next level, check out this FREE printable worksheet and a step-by-step process that will help you set effective SMART goals .

Elijah Cruz Got Something to Say

Rhetorical Analysis

I will be rhetorically analyzing Admiral William H. McRaven speech that he gave at the commencement ceremony to the 2014 class at the University of Texas. He is a retired Navy soldier after 36 years of service. In his speech he is targeting and effectively motivating young adults such as myself and my fellow colleagues. His speech was moving. He spoke of how we should all work towards changing the world by affecting someone else’s life, he tells us how we can positively change the world. He speaks with such authority and conveys his message through great teaching experiences that he experienced himself in Navy training. In this analysis I will dive deep into how Admiral Mcraven used ethos, pathos, and logos; As well as defining these terms. The audience I will be addressing in this ana;lasers will be very similar to his, a young adult age group from 18-26 but not excluding anyone. Admiral McRaven doesn’t use persuasion but rather motivation and desire, he implants in our mind how we can make this world a better world. He makes us crave this, then gives us all the answers to the questions we were just asking. He gives us 10 rules to live by that if doing so would make us better people and enable us to help impact someone else’s life for the better, so then they can go on to impact someone’s life and so on and so forth. Hi speech empowers us and motivates us to want to better ourselves, our neighbor, and our society. 

Outline/Rough Draft

Introduction 

• “Good Job” quote from barack obama 
• Retired Admiral William H. McRaven uses great rhetoric and aristolean proofs to inspire to go out and change the world, starting today

Historical context 

• Admiral William H. McRaven
• 2014 University of Texas commencement ceremony 

Theoretical framework

• Aristalean techniques 
• Ethos- credibility 
• Pathos- appeal to emotions 
• Logos- appeal to logic 
• Me – our age from 18- college graduates ( young adults) but not excluding of anyone 
• McRaven- everyone His  call to action is not for just a Navy SEAL or graduates or any target audience that he assures you that no matter your…… 3:30 these tasks better ourselves enabling us to help all no matter who your are apply to all 

The power of Rhetoric 

• Rhetoric- the art of persuasive writing especially through the use of figures of speech and other compositional techniques such as ethos pathos and logos 
• Persuasive writing  appealing to all the way that we think 
• Significance 

Argument 1 

• Shows he’s human 
• 37 years retired navy seal 
• Went through 6 months of training designed to weed out the weak and find students that can lead through any obstacle 
• Class started with 150 men down to 42 after just 6 weeks 
• Telle 10 stories of SEAL training 
• Talks with deep diction and authority demanding the room to pay him his respects 
• He is very dispritive 
• #6 as well as teaching us to face obstacles head his story of telling how the record for the “slide of Life ” is a 200 foot rope stretch of water that you must pull yourself across.  shows his credibility because the record was broken in his year of 1977 where he witnessed with his own eyes the man break the record by sliding head first down the slide of life 
• #9 mud flaps, after breaking the rules on the last night his blatton was forced in the mud neck deepin bone chilling cold and wet. They started ining making the sunrise seem not to far the wind tamer and the mud a little warmer, the power of hope is life changing so always have and give hope, 

Outside source 

• Obama quotes 
• The power of war background 
• Rank and significant accomplishments 
• Average american meets 10,000 people in their lifetime 
• Generations were changed by the acts of 1 person 
• #1 Make your bed every morning,  by completing the first task of the day you feel a small sense of pride and are enabled to complete another task and so on and so forth. Also emphasizes the attention to details, the little things in life matter, because if you can’t do the little things in life then you will never be able to do the big things in life, the little things matter 
• #4 one of the first lessons we learn is that life is not perfect I don’t think there is anything as flat out as that he tells about how no matter how perfect you thought you prepared your uniform you efforts went unnoticed and still ended up having to run into the surf and roll around in the sand covered from head to toe then go about your day, called a sugar cookie. You have to get over being a sugar cookie and keep pressing forward because things don’t always go as planned 
• #5 (included with ^^^^^^) he also goes into to tell of how everything has standards and if you failed to meet these standards you will be invited to the circus, byt people frequently invited to the circus began to get stronger and build inner strength, so never back down from circus you will fail but these failure will only make you stronger 
• #7 shows his logic to punch the shark in the snout and do not be afraid, real tactic to face shark attack
• #1 Tyler says “but then realize that they need to break their life down into little actions and thoughts so that they can build a better version of themselves.” 

Argument 3 

• He uses pathos in his storytelling give exact examples both relevant in the life of a soldier and the everyday life of a civilian, or a normal person 
• #1 sense of pride making bed, and gives you hope for a better day if you had a bad day 
• #2 He uses the story of the boat crew to humble people and cheek their egos. You can not change the world all by yourself. You will meet thousands of people in your lifetime, many of which will teach you many life lessons as well as guide you, and ride with you on your journey of changing the world. You need help and there’s nothing wrong with needing it. In fact , ask for it. Find someone to help you paddle through life. 
• #3 nothing matters but your will to succeed, a boat crew of 7 men  all short and all different backgrounds. Smallest crew but always had the last life be winning in every competition being the best crew. Nothing mattered not your color, education,ethinic background, not your social status only your will to succeed 
• #7 face the bully shark 
• #8 you must be your best at your darkest, swim well below the surface in the dark to the lowest part of the ship where it is darkest after a 2 mile swim, at this time is where you must be calm and composed, all your inner power must shine through for you to complete the mission
• Pathos #1 

Acknowledge arguments 

• People may think its extreme 

Conclusion 

• Never ring the bell 
• Restate thesis statement 

“ Whats starts here change the world”

Final Draft

Rhetorical Analysis on Retired Admiral William H. McRaven 

“Good job,” on a plaque featuring a tape measure. A simple phrase we have all heard before, but this Phrase was a lot more prestigious than a ten year old hitting his first home run, but rather words, from former President Barack Obama, to one of the greatest Navy SEAL’s to ever live, after he led SEAL Team Six to the assasination of world terrorist Osama Bin Laden. That was the first article to pop up when searching Ret. Admiral McRaven name. Yet after all he has achieved he says his most notable work is his 2014 commencement speech given at his alma mater, Texas University. In this 19 minute speech he uses stories from his SEAL training to give us ten life lessons  to help better ourselves and others. Retired Admiral William H. McRaven uses great rhetoric and aristotelian proofs to inspire to go out and change the world, starting today

Retired Admiral William H. McRaven,  after over 37 years of service was called to give a commencement speech to the 2014 graduating class at the University of Texas. It has been almost 37 years to the day that he himself sat in those chairs as he graduated from UT. He says it was his honor to be there tonight to give his short speech to well over eight thousand graduates and their families. He then went on to give one of the most viral speeches ever amassing over 3.3 million views on youtube and later using parts of his speech in his New York Times Best Seller book titled, “Make Your Bed.” 

Before you can understand how Ret. Admiral McRaven uses aristotelian proofs you must understand what they are. Aristotle says there are three proofs that you must need for an effective piece of persuasion. These being Ethos, Pathos, and Logos. These are three ways to appeal to a person, the first being ethos, where a writer or presentor would try to build up as much credibility as possible. The speaker would give the audience reasons to trust him, answering the question of, “why should I listen to YOU?” This can be done in ways such as stating someone’s education levels, or speaking on events that happened to the speaker personally. All humans have the capability to feel emotions such as  happiness or sadness and motivation or even resentment. That is when pathos comes in, the appeal to emotions. The speaker would appeal to the audience’s feelings, for example if the speaker tells of his struggles growing up both with abuse and abandonment, then he is pulling us in appealing to our feelings of loneliness, pain or even pity. The third proof is logos or logic. If the speaker is persuading people in an urban city to ditch their car and go green with bikes. He/she would then go on to say that like his intended audience that the speaker himself lives in the city, where he can walk or ride to all of his necessary locations such as the supermarket, his job, his gym, his local bar, and even friends in the neighborhood. Therefore he doesn’t need a car saving him money in parking expenses, gas, insurance and even helping the earth. The speaker clearly shows how it makes sense logically to ditch their cars, saving money and the environment. 

The aristotelian proofs, along with other factors such as diction, strong descriptive words and other persuasive techniques make the art of rhetoric very powerful. Rhetoric is the art of persuasive writing. If a person has great rhetoric then this person has the power of growing a following and calling people to action. Exceptional rhetoric can also be used as a weapon. Adolf Hitler giving many war and political speeches and even writing his own manifesto persuading the entire non-jewish population of Germany to follow him in his outrageous beliefs of any human being less then another. He himself used aristotelian proofs. Yet rhetoric is more often than not used for good such as a passionate pregame speech from the captain of the football team or even address to congress to help change or a bill or Dr. Martin Luther King inspiring a country to dream. 

Another important factor of rhetoric that is crucial is the identification of the speakers audience. When you identify your audience then you can really tone in on a specific group or even expand so far as to catch all people under your intended audience. When you know who your audience is then you can find specific ways to appeal to them, similar to the urban living speaker talking to fellow urbaniners. But also when you choose to not exclude anyone and speak to the masses you reach another level of connection with the speaker and audience. When you can’t motivate anyone such as an average middle class person or a young ignorant child or a college graduate or anyone sitting on the other side of the podium like Ret Admiral McRaven did in his speech, then you have truly mastered the art of rhetoric. 

“Introducing Admiral William H. McRaven,” as he walks on the stage you would notice is perfectly pressed all white Navy suit, with 4 stars on his shoulders representing his accomplishment of service, numerous medals on his hard and the seal of the Navy on his white sailors cap. Before the Admiral even says a word he develops his credibility. An accomplished vetersn, something that less the 1% of the world can achieve. His attire only scratches the surface of the credibility The Admiral built for himself in this speech. Yet after his opening address he says “ I remember having a throbbing headache, from a party the night before” as he sat in those same chairs 37 years ago. Although this may seem to damage his character, he is rather adding another layer of ethos, because he is building the case that anyone can change the world, so by him saying he was 

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Rhetorical Analysis Of Make Your Bed By Admiral Mcraven

In his speech “Make Your Bed”, a commencement address to the graduates of The University of Texas on May 17, 2014, Admiral William H. McRaven utilizes didactic tone, imagery, and anaphora in order to highlight the importance of tasks to usher change. Throughout the speech, Admiral McRaven employs a didactic tone by acting like an instructor aiming to provide lessons to his mentees through instruction and anecdotes. For instance, McRaven provides direct suggestions when he encourages graduates to make their bed in the morning: “If you make your bed every morning you will have accomplished the first task of the day”. By giving these directions, McRaven enhances the credibility of further directions by leveraging his background as a former Navy …show more content…

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Within the second section of Herbert’s letter to Seaver, he is informing the book advertiser that there could be possible confusion between both companies due to the use of a similar slogan. For instance in lines 10-11, the Coca-Cola executive states, “There will always be a likelihood of confusion as to the source or sponsorship if the goods.” This is to say that the consumers of these products, whether it be the book or the soda, would probably be confused on what item they want to purchase. This evidence highlights that if both companies keep utilizing the slogan of “it’s the real thing” then it would cause a decrease in the effectiveness. On the other hand, Seaver had a more persuasive argument because of his sarcastic tone especially

Rhetorical Analysis Of Stephon Clark

In the CNN article titled Sacramento “Police Shot Man Holding Cellphone in his Grandmother's Yard”, the authors target was an audience from a broad spectrum of political ideologies to inform them about the current police shooting of Stephon Clark. The rhetoric pathos was effectively utilized with various media and even the title to evoke certain emotions from the readers. Logos along with ethos supported information and gave the article added credibility like body camera, audio, and direct quotes from the officers on scene. However, the authors’ view on the issue was not clearly stated rather highlights the different perspectives.

Night Rhetorical Analysis

The tone the is what the author puts in the story in order to help you get a mood from the story. The tone that the author puts in this whole book in mainly pain,sadness,depressed, and a lot fear. Even though they have all of these there are many more tones that the author puts out in this story.

Rhetorical Strategies In Frank Schaeffer's Speech Military Families

The American government does not understand its people. Members of the government vote for war and try to persuade the public to join the military. However, they rarely encourage their children to volunteer for the military. In the speech Military Families, Frank Schaeffer explains that because of this, the government does not understand the feelings of the people whose children are in harm's way. Schaeffer uses rhetorical strategies such as historical allusions and repetition in order to persuade the audience that the government is not capable of representing the people because their children are not serving in the military.

Patton's Speech To The Third Army Rhetorical Analysis

In 1944, the United States war effort in Europe was just starting to pick up. Even though the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor occurred just three years prior, the growing power of the Third Reich could not be ignored. During this time, France was already occupied by Nazi Germany and Hitler's war machine was on the path of conquering all of Eurasia. In an attempt to combat this immense threat, the U.S. formulated a plan to engage the German forces through an invasion of Normandy. This bloody offensive would be remembered in infamy as D-Day. Shortly before this violent clash of U.S. and German forces, the inexperienced men of the United States Third Army was given an encouraging and inspiring speech by the four star general George S. Patton.

Mckinnely: A Rhetorical Analysis

A report from the American Academy of Pediatrics found that children from military families have a higher risk of social, emotional and behavioral problems such as anxiety, depression and suicide ideation. Other reports have shown that military families also have a high rates of domestic violence, child abuse and spousal abuse. The immense strains and pressures of the military lifestyle create inconsistencies in the lives of military families that are often overlooked by those considering joining the military. Over the years the U.S government and other organizations have been doing ample research into family health in the military and effectively identifying and addressing critical issues that are faced by military families. Speaking from

Rhetorical Analysis Of Lost In America By Douglas Mcgray

In his article “Lost in America,” Douglas McGray focuses heavily on the problem of isolationism in the U.S education system in order to prove that changes in the education of young Americans must be taken. “Lost in America” was issued by Foreign Policy magazine in 2006, which reveals that McGray’s audience includes American legislators involved in the elaboration of the American curriculum policies. McGray, who is the Editor in Chief of The California Sunday Magazine and Pop-Up Magazine, discusses that America has an isolationist education system that fails to embrace worldwide perspectives. To support his argument in the article “Lost in America,” McGray builds credibility through the use of anecdotes that surprises and shocks his audience,

In “Lost in America” by Douglas McGray, he writes about the need to improve the foreign language policies in schools across America and for students to gain knowledge about counties outside of America in the magazine, Foreign Policy. The author’s intentions are not to attack Americas educational system but to persuade the readers about the problems of the educational system used in America today. He wants the readers to realize that there is a change that needs to take place in the classrooms across America. He does this effectively by using the rhetorical choices antidotes, formal diction, and tone. His audience is geared towards American readers interested on political and cultural issues. I don’t think it’s geared towards students because,

Rhetorical Analysis Of The Atlantic

Vann, who is a staff writer at The Atlantic, covers politics and policy. Over a decade long career, he has covered issues such as; policy, race, health care, and politics. The Atlantic is a well-known magazine, it is critically acclaimed for its writing and coverage. The audience of this essay was anyone who read the magazine, and anyone who wants to learn of the intertwined of The Civil Rights movement and the fight for healthcare for all in America. Mr. Newkirk tries to convince his audience that the fight for healthcare in this country is like the struggles faced by those who were fight for civil rights. He brings up the ‘plight’ Civil Rights leaders encountered to pass bills such as; Medicaid and Medicare. Additionally, he discussed how,

Rhetorical Analysis Of Tonight While We Sleep By Florence Kelley

Florence Kelley was a social worker who fought for child labor and working conditions for women. On July 22, 1905 she delivered a speech to the National American Suffrage Association to address her opposing argument against children working. She conveys her message through rhetorical strategies such as emotional appeals, logical appeals, and by creating an ethos. Ms. Kelley is strategical with her words and imagery to make her audience feel a certain way about the subject. She says, “Tonight while we sleep, several thousand little girls will be working… skills and ribbons for us to buy.”

Rhetorical Analysis Of 'Operation Red Wings-Lone Survivor'

In this analysis, one will be able to see the correct and incorrect actions that speakers may commit. More specifically, the speech, “Marcus Luttrell, speaker New York, 1 of 2 / Operation Red Wings - Lone Survivor” and “Marcus Luttrell, speaker New York, 2 of 2 / Operation Red Wings - Lone Survivor” will be analyzed to understand the difficulties and the triumphs that speakers commonly have. This paper will examine Marcus Luttrell’s speech mechanics, structure, development, and influence over the audience.

What Is The Rhetorical Analysis Of William Mcraven's Speech

Admiral William H. Mcraven addressed the 2014 graduating class at the University of Austin, Texas with more than eight thousand students in attendance. Adm. Mcraven’s address touched the hearts of millions all around the world with his inspirational message of how one person can change the world by following a simple set of rules. I chose this speech for my rhetorical analysis because of the important message it portrays, by how helping a few can eventually help many. Adm. Mcraven’s address was especially effective for his audience, much due to how he relates to the students by reminiscing of the day he graduated from UT while providing advice to his audience of college graduates preparing to begin their adult lives.

Make Your Bed by William McRaven | Book Summary

On May 17, 2014, Admiral William H. McRaven gave the “Make Your Bed” commencement speech at his alma mater, the University of Texas at Austin. He discussed the ten significant lessons he learned from his difficult Navy SEAL training.

Since then, he has encountered many people who wanted to know more. Thus, Admiral William McRaven was inspired to write the book, Make Your Bed: Little Things That Can Change Your Life…And Maybe the World , to detail the ten vital lessons:

Buy Make Your Bed on Amazon

Make Your Bed by William McRaven

Small Things That Can Change Your Life… And Maybe the World

Just like in other habit books , these lessons about consistency in actions helped Admiral William McRaven overcome SEAL training and life’s challenges. Each chapter of Make Your Bed provides more context and stories for each lesson from the original speech.

Download the PDF Book Summary for Make Your Bed

Chapter 1 – start your day with a task completed.

“If you want to change the world…start off by making your bed.”

Every day during basic SEAL training, William McRaven would wake up and make his bed properly. It was not an opportunity for praise but was expected by the training instructors. Making the bed right was important as this habit showed discipline and attention to detail. Throughout his Naval career, William McRaven could count on making his bed consistently every day.

When you make your bed first thing correctly, you eat that frog and start your day off right with a small task completed. It shows you that the small wins matter and will encourage you to endure the work that you have ahead of you throughout the day. By the end of the day, you will have accomplished many tasks. And when you return to the made bed, you will be reminded of the importance of this small task.

Chapter 2 – You Can’t Go It Alone

“If you want to change the world…find someone to help you paddle.”

During SEAL training, the sailors are divided into boat crews of seven. The trainees have to work together to carry their raft on land or paddle it in the water to their destination. When someone often becomes sick or injured, the other teammates take on a greater share of the task. Like training, combat is so challenging that no one can endure it alone.

Later, William McRaven shares his story of a horrible parachute accident, which leaves him hospitalized for months. His boss helps him keep his career by finding a way to sidestep the required medical readiness evaluation. Throughout his career, William McRaven discusses the help received from those who had faith in him, saw his potential, and put their reputation on the line.

In life, you will deal with many obstacles and will need help to get over them. Thus, you build many strong relationships with friends, family, coworkers, mentors, etc. And always remember that your success depends on the help and guidance received from others along the way.

Chapter 3 – Only the Size of Your Heart Matters

“If you want to change the world…measure a person by the size of their heart.”

In Make Your Bed, William McRaven discussed that Navy “SEAL training was always about proving something. Proving that size didn’t matter. Proving that the color of your skin wasn’t important. Proving that money didn’t make you better. Proving that determination and grit were always more important than talent.”

A year before his training, William McRaven recounts visiting the basic SEAL training facility in Coronado. While talking with someone about SEAL training, he saw a thin, quiet, reserved man looking at photos. This sight clouded McRaven with judgment of feeling better, stronger, and more prepared for SEAL training than this man. However, he found out that the man was Tommy Norris, who was one of the most decorated and toughest SEALs ever.

Your will to succeed depends on how much heart you have. Nothing else matters, including your size, race, ethnicity, educational level, or social status.

Chapter 4 – Life’s Not Fair—Drive On!

“If you want to change the world…get over being a sugar cookie and keep moving forward.”

In SEAL training, one of the most painful punishments is being a sugar cookie. Instructors would punish trainees at whim, and they would have to get wet and then roll around in the sand. As many trainees strived for excellence, being punished was tough to accept, especially with no specific reason.

In Make Your Bed, William McRaven shares a story about Moki Martin, a SEAL instructor from his training days. Martin enjoyed long bike rides, but one day, he accidentally collided with another biker and was paralyzed from the waist down. Afterward, he did not complain and let his disability stop him. He drove on to live a full life.

“It is easy to blame your lot in life on some outside force, to stop trying because you believe fate is against you.” Sometimes, life’s not fair, and you will be a sugar cookie despite how much work you have done. Define yourself by how you overcome life’s unfairness. Do not complain or blame someone and move forward.

Chapter 5 – Failure Can Make You Stronger

“If you want to change the world… don’t be afraid of The Circus.”

One day during SEAL training, McRaven and his swim buddy finished last in a swim. Their punishment was enduring the Circus, which is an additional two hours of exercise that day. A Circus would cause more fatigue, making the next day harder with more Circuses likely to follow. Reoccurring Circuses forced many trainees to quit; however, McRaven and his buddy became much better swimmers and placed first in their final swim.

In July of 1983, William McRaven got fired from his squadron, leaving with a tarnished reputation. Fortunately, he was given another opportunity as the Officer in Charge of a SEAL platoon. McRaven used his previous failure as fuel to work hard and earn the respect of his men, which led him to succeed in the successive roles in his SEAL career.

In life, you will have failures and face Circuses. You will have to deal with the consequences, but you can overcome the failures. Your failures can educate, motivate, and strengthen you to be able to handle the difficult decisions to come.

Chapter 6 – You Must Dare Greatly

“If you want to change the world…slide down the obstacle headfirst.”

During SEAL training, the students had to run the obstacle course twice a week, with the most challenging obstacle being the “Slide for Life.” This step rope slide could be done either controllably slow by swinging underneath the rope or riskily fast by going headfirst on top. One day, William McRaven took the risk and went headfirst, finishing with a personal best time.

In Make Your Bed, William McRaven realized that risks were necessary to be a successful special operator. In 2004, William McRaven approved a risky hostage rescue mission that occurred during the day. The special forces team rescued the hostages, and the mission resulted in success.

Life will be difficult, and if you take risks, you may fail and deal with obstacles. You have to trust your abilities and overcome your fears to complete your work. Without daring greatly and getting out of your comfort zone, you will never achieve your full potential.

Chapter 7 – Stand Up to the Bullies

“If you want to change the world… don’t back down from the sharks.”

In SEAL training, students have to complete a four-mile night swim with the threat of many species of sharks. The instructors brief the trainees to deal with sharks by standing their grand and fighting them off if they try to attack. Since he wanted to be a SEAL so severely, William McRaven recalls that he gathered the courage to fight if necessary.

In Make Your Bed, William McRaven recounts his interactions with Saddam Hussein, the former Iraqi president that was now a U.S. prisoner. Even as a prisoner, Hussein would instill fear in and intimidate. Iraqis that came to the room. However, McRaven felt that he had to stand up to Saddam and show him that he did not have power anymore.

Without clarity, other people will dictate your choices and path forward. Without courage, the bullies will take over and prey on the victims. Thus, you need to have a clear vision or goal for what you want to accomplish. Your vision will give you the courage to be a leader , overcome the obstacles, and stand up to the people in your way.

Chapter 8 – Rise to the Occasion

 “If you want to change the world…be your very best in the darkest moments.”

Towards the end of SEAL training, students have to swim underwater to a ship, plant a practice mine, and return to the beach without being detected. William McRaven recalls the instructors seeming as nervous as the trainees, because the dark, deafening sea significantly increased the risk of injury or death. In the darkest hour, the SEALs are trained to remain calm and maintain composure to complete their mission.

In Make Your Bed, William McRaven recounts the many sad moments of loss: “There is no darker moment in life than losing someone you love, and yet I watched time and again as families, as military units, as towns, as cities, and as a nation, how we came together to be our best during those tragic times.”

You will have dark moments in life, whether it is the death of a loved one or an intense tragedy. When these moments occur, you need to look deep within yourself and bring out your best. “You must rise above your fears, your doubts, and your fatigue. No matter how dark it gets, you must complete the mission. This is what separates you from everyone else.”

Chapter 9 – Give People Hope

“If you want to change the world…start singing when you’re up to your neck in mud.”

The most challenging week of SEAL training or Hell Week is six days of no sleep, physical exercise, and harassment. On Wednesday of Hell Week, trainees spend all day in the freezing cold mudflats, being pressured by the instructors to quit.

During McRaven’s Hell Week, the class sang together to inspire and give each other hope. Later, he recalls a story of General John Kelley, who comforted and gave hope to the families of the fallen troops in a horrific helicopter firefight.

Hope is very powerful as it can inspire people and nations to greatness. In life, you will deal with loss and tragedy. And you can be the one to give hope that tomorrow will be better to ease the pain to lift yourself and those around you.

Chapter 10 – Never, Ever Quit!

“If you want to change the world… don’t ever, ever ring the bell.”

SEAL training ends when you either complete it or quit by ringing the bell in the middle of the training compound. If you cannot endure the pain, harassment, and exercise, you can ring the bell, and it’s over. However, William McRaven never rang the bell and graduated.

In Make Your Bed, he states that this lesson of never quitting was the most important. Throughout his career, William McRaven would be inspired by individuals who would not give up. One story involves a severely injured soldier from a bomb blast who did not complain and eventually overcame the injuries.

You will have difficult moments in life; however, do not give up and trust the process . You can choose to fall prey to pity, discrimination, or sorrow. Or you can never give up on your dreams and yourself and overcome the obstacles.

“Remember… start each day with a task completed. Find someone to help you through life. Respect everyone. Know that life is not fair and that you will fail often. But if you take some risks, step up when times are toughest, face down the bullies, lift up the downtrodden, and never, ever give up—if you do these things, then you can change your life for the better… and maybe the world!

In his book, Make Your Bed , Admiral William McRaven provides ten powerful lessons from his SEAL training that will help you change the world. It encourages readers to take on life’s challenges and be willing to do even small things that can have a big impact.

As McRaven poignantly writes, “If you want to change the world, start off by making your bed.” McRaven gives the readers a good dose of motivation to get out there and cultivate success within our lives.

His thought-provoking book calls us to action – so get a copy of Make Your Bed now! If you need more inspiration or motivation, check out our post on productivity quotes or the best self-help books .

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Book notes: Make Your Bed by William McRaven

Make Your Bed by William McRaven book summary review and key ideas.

Make Your Bed: Little Things That Can Change Your Life…and Maybe the World by William H. McRaven

“On May 21, 2014, Admiral William H. McRaven addressed the graduating class of the University of Texas at Austin on their Commencement day. Taking inspiration from the university’s slogan, “What starts here changes the world,” he shared the 10 principles he learned during Navy Seal training that helped him overcome challenges not only in his training and long Naval career, but also throughout his life; and he explained how anyone can use these basic lessons to change themselves – and the world – for the better.

Admiral McRaven’s original speech went viral with over 10 million views. Building on the core tenets laid out in his speech, McRaven now recounts tales from his own life and from those of people he encountered during his military service who dealt with hardship and made tough decisions with determination, compassion, honor, and courage. Told with great humility and optimism, this timeless book provides simple wisdom, practical advice, and words of encouragement that will inspire listeners to achieve  more , even in life’s darkest moments.” -Audible

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Opening thoughts:

I think I first heard of this book from one of the guests of Tim Ferriss’ podcast. I’ve been putting it off because it’s such a short listen, but I chose it for this month because I needed to choose short books. If I didn’t, I probably wouldn’t finish on time and be behind my monthly reading schedule.

Reader’s note : I bet the main idea of the book, based on the title and sub- title is how the little things add up to the big things, and maybe that how you start your day has a cascading domino effect on the rest of your day and probably life. 

Chapter 1: Start Your Day with a Task Completed

If you want to change the world, start off by making your bed

• Making his bed was a reminder that at the end of the day he had done something well , something to be proud of no matter how small the task

Reader’s note : He mentions that making your bed also shows to everyone else that your world is in order , at least internally. Examples of working in the sick bay to give patients confidence in them, or after his injury to show others he conquered it in the hospital.

Chapter 2: You Can’t Go It Alone

• If you want to change the world, find someone to help you paddle
• You need people in life to help you through the difficult times
• He realized that anything he achieved in life was a result of others helping him along the way
• You cannot paddle the boat alone
• Find someone to share your life with
• Make as many friends as possible
• Never forget that your success depends on others

Chapter 3: Only the Size of Your Heart Matters

If you want to change the world, measure a person by the size of their heart.

• Seal training was always about proving something
• Proving that size didn’t matter, that the color of your skin wasn’t important, that money didn’t make you better, that determination and grit were always more important than talent

Reader’s note : such a great story about this frail, humble looking man being lieutenant Tom Norris who was a Vietnam vet and Medal of Honor recipient.

Chapter 4: Life’s Not Fair. Drive On.

• If you want to change the world, get over being a sugar cookie and keep moving forward
• The common people and the great men and women are all defined by how they deal with life’s unfairness

Chapter 5: Failure Can Make You Stronger

• If you want to change the world, don’t be afraid of the circuses
• It made him and his buddy Mark gradually improve their performance above the rest of the class
• They went from being last to being first in the pack
• But if you persevere, if you’ll let those failures teach you and strengthen you , then you’ll be prepared to handle life’s toughest moments

Chapter 6: You Must Dare Greatly

If you want to change the world, slide down the obstacle headfirst

• Those who live in fear of failure, hardship, or embarrassment will never achieve their potential
• Without pushing your limits , without daring greatly , you will never know what is truly possible in your life

Chapter 7: Stand Up to the Bullies

If you want to change the world, don’t back down from the sharks

Chapter 8: Rise to the Occasion

If you want to change the world, be your very best in the darkest moments

Chapter 9: Give People Hope

• If you want to change the world, start singing when you are up to your neck in mud
• He learned of the power of one person to lead and inspire a group , to give them hope

Chapter 10: Never Ever Quit

If you want to change the world, don’t ever, ever ring the bell

• In SEAL training, the drill instructor told everyone that if they quit, they will regret it for the rest of their lives
• If you fill your days with pity, blaming your circumstances on someone or something else, then life will be long and hard
• If, on the other hand, you refuse to give up on your dreams, stand tall and strong against the odds, then life will be what you make of it
• You can make it great

Themes / Main ideas:

• Making your bed will also reinforce the fact that little things matter
• If you can’t do the little things right, you will never do the big things right
• Nothing mattered but your will to succeed
• If you want to change the world, measure a person by the size of their heart , not the size of their flippers
• The pain of the circuses built inner strength and physical resilience
• If you want to change the world, sometimes you have to slide down the obstacle headfirst
• If you want to change the world, don’t back down from the sharks 
• If you want to change the world, you must be your very best in the darkest moment
• If you want to change the world, don’t ever, ever ring the bell

If you want to change the world:

• Start each day with a task completed
• Find someone to help you through life
• Respect everyone
• Know that life is not fair
• You will fail often
• Take some risks
• Step up when the times are toughest
• Facedown the bullies
• Lift up the downtrodden
• Never, ever give up
• The next generations that follow will live in a world far better than the one today

Closing thoughts:

I absolutely loved this book. Such a short and concise book, but very powerful and profound principles. I also loved that it weaved these principles both into stories during his SEAL training, but also as a commanding officer in the U.S. Navy.

My criteria for great books are usually:

• Solid/valuable principles
• Woven into a story or narrative
• Actionable for the reader
• Little to no “fluff”

This book checked all of the boxes for a great book in my opinion.

A couple of other books written by military people that I highly recommend if you enjoyed this book:

• Extreme Ownership by Jocko Willink and Leif Babin
• Tribe by Sebastian Junger

10 principles to adopt if you want to change the world given by retired U.S. Navy SEAL Admiral.

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9 thoughts on “book notes: make your bed by william mcraven”.

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Analyze the following quote from chapter 7, “Without courage, others will define your path forward…Without it, you are at the mercy of life’s temptations. Without courage, no great society can flourish.” a. What does this quote mean to you?

b. Give an example in U.S. or world history of when courage helped strengthen a nation.

c. Give an example in U.S. or world history of when a lack of courage destroyed a nation.

Provide textual evidence that people still feared Saddam Hussein even after he was behind bars (jailed).

How does McRaven compare sharks to bullies?

ACTION STEP: Describe a time in your life when you were either courageous or lacked courage when faced with a bully.

What can you learn from that experience that can help you make positive changes this week?

What can you learn from that experience that can help you make positive changes this week? Help pls

Summary of chapter 7 and 8 ASAP

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The Full Admiral McRaven Speech Transcript

O n May 17, 2014, Former Admiral William. H. McRaven advised the graduates of the class of 2014 at the University of Texas. He served in the Navy for many years.

The former Admiral McRaven’s speech is very motivational, and the whole purpose of the speech is to show that anyone can change the world. In his speech, he gives ten suggestions on how anyone can see the world.

Article Topics

What is the theme of admiral mcraven speech.

The general theme of his ‘make your bed speech’ is that anyone can change the world; all you need is the courage to do it. He also explains how giving up isn’t an option no matter what you’re going through. Eventually, it will pass, and you will win.

Admiral McRaven also explains how it isn’t necessary to change everyone’s lives for the world to change. All you need is to change the lives of only a few people, and the generations to come will feel the effect. You would have changed their entire lineage’s lives.

Watch and Listen to this motivational video of the Admiral McRaven Speech on YouTube

What advice did navy admiral william.h.mcraven give in his commencement address and well known 'make your bed speech'.

• Make your bed . Making your bed means that you’d have accomplished the first task of the day. It might seem small and mundane, but even after a long miserable day, at least you’ll come back to a made bed.
• Find someone to help you paddle . You can’t change the world on your own; you need a support team, people to cheer you up and help you change the world. We all need help.
• Measure a person by the size of their heart, not their flippers’ size . The physical aspects of who someone is don’t necessarily make up for a lot. What’s on the inside is what matters the most.
• Get over being a sugar cookie and keep moving forward . Sometimes the universe just doesn’t recognize your efforts no matter how much you’ve put in. This shouldn’t make you lose hope, get over it and keep pushing.
• Don’t be afraid of the circuses . Some situations will wear us down, but they are meant to strengthen your resolve by the end of the day.
• Sometimes you have to slide down the obstacle head first . Even in the hardest of situations, you have to take a risk and face your problems head first. Sometimes that’s the only way to win.
• Don’t back down from the sharks . Sharks are obstacles that you might face in your journey. Even when those obstacles show up, don’t back down. That’s the only way you’ll win.
• If you want to change the world, you must be the very best in your darkest moment . During the darkest moments, it gets hard to see what lies ahead, but be hopeful because, after that darkness, there can only be light.
• Start singing when you’re up to your neck in mud . In your darkest moments, be the person who stands up and gives others hope. Giving others hope will mean preventing them from giving up during those difficult moments.
• Don’t ever ring the bell . Ringing the bell is the easiest thing to do. But for you to succeed in life, you will have to assume that giving up isn’t an option, and that’s when you can concentrate on winning.

The Full Admiral McRaven Speech

It’s been almost 37 years to the day that I graduated from UT. I remember a lot of things about that day. I remember I had a throbbing headache from a party the night before. I remember I had a serious girlfriend, whom I later married (that’s important to remember, by the way), and I remember that I was getting commissioned in the Navy that day.

But of all the things I remember, I don’t have a clue who the commencement speaker was, and I certainly don’t remember anything they said. So, acknowledging that fact, if I can’t make this commencement speech memorable, I will at least try to make it short.

The University’s slogan is, “What starts here changes the world.” I’ve got to admit. I kind of like it. “What starts here changes the world.”

Tonight there are almost 8,000 students (there are more than 8000) graduating from UT. So, that great paragon of analytical rigor, Ask.Com, says that the average American will meet 10,000 people in their lifetime. That’s a lot of folks. But, if every one of you changed the lives of just ten people and each one of those people changed the lives of another ten people,(just ten people) then in five generations 125 years, the class of 2014 will have changed the lives of 800 million people.

Eight hundred million people — think about it — over twice the population of the United States. Go one more generation, and you can change the entire population of the world — eight billion people.

If you think it’s hard to change the lives of 10 people, change their lives forever, you’re wrong. I saw it happen every day in Iraq and Afghanistan: A young Army officer makes a decision to go left instead of right down a road in Baghdad, and the ten soldiers with him are saved from a close-in ambush.

In Kandahar province, Afghanistan, a non-commissioned officer from the Female Engagement Team senses that something isn’t right and directs the infantry platoon away from a 500-pound IED, saving the lives of a dozen soldiers.

But, if you think about it, not only were those soldiers saved by the decisions of one person, but their children were saved. And their children’s children were saved. Generations were saved by one decision, one person.

But changing the world can happen anywhere, and anyone can do it. So, what starts here can indeed change the world, but the question is — what will the world look like after you change it?

Well, I am confident that it will look much, much better. But if you will humor this old sailor for just a moment, 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.

I have been a Navy SEAL for 36 years. But it all began when I left UT for Basic SEAL training in Coronado, California. Basic SEAL training is six months of long torturous runs in the soft sand, midnight swims in the cold water off San Diego, obstacles courses, unending calisthenics, days without sleep, and always being cold, wet, and miserable.

It is six months of being constantly harassed by professionally trained warriors who seek to find the weak of mind and body and eliminate them from ever becoming a Navy SEAL.

But the training also seeks to find those students who can lead in an environment of constant stress, chaos, failure, and hardships. To me, basic SEAL training was a lifetime of challenges crammed into six months.

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.

1. Make your bed

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 would do is inspect my bed. If you did it right, the corners would be square; the covers would be pulled tight, the pillow 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 in 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. 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 the little things in life matter. If you can’t do the little things right, you will 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.

If you want to change the world, start off by making your bed.

2. Find someone to paddle with

During SEAL training, the students are broken down into boat crews. Each crew is seven students — three on each side of a small rubber boat and one coxswain to help guide the dingy. 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 8 to 10 feet high, and it is exceedingly difficult to paddle through the plunging surf unless everyone digs in.

Every paddle must be synchronized to the stroke count of the coxswain. 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 goodwill of strangers, and a strong coxswain to guide them.

If you want to change the world, find someone to help you paddle.

3. Measure a person by the size of their heart, not the size of their flippers

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 the little guys (the munchkin crew we called them) no one was over about 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 in the other boat crews would 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 and 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, and not your social status.

If you want to change the world, measure a person by the size of their heart, not the size of their flippers.

4. Get over being a sugar cookie and keep moving forward.

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, and 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 a “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 effort was in vain. That no matter how hard they tried to get the uniform right, it was 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 gonna have a perfect uniform.

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.

5. Don’t be afraid of the circuses.

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 failed to meet 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.

6. If you want to change the world, sometimes you have to slide down the obstacle head first.

At least twice a week, the trainees were required to run the obstacle course. The obstacle course contained 25 obstacles, including a 10-foot high wall, a 30-foot cargo net, and 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 training in 1977. The record seemed unbeatable until one day; a student decided to go down the slide for life head first. 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 mean injury and being dropped from the course. Without hesitation, the student 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 obstacle head first.

7. If you want to change the world, don’t back down from the sharks

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, there are a series of long swims that must be completed. One is the night swim.

Before the swim, the instructors joyfully brief the trainees 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 summon 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 sharks.

8. Be your very best in the darkest moments.

As Navy SEALs, one of our jobs is to conduct underwater attacks against enemy shipping. We practiced 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 their 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 a pier, the light begins to fade. The steel structure of the ship blocks the moonlight, it blocks the surrounding street lamps, 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 ship — where you cannot see your hand in front of your face, where the noise from the ship’s machinery is deafening, and where it is easy to get disoriented and you can fail.

Every SEAL knows that under the keel, at the darkest moment of the mission, is the time when you must be calm when you must be composed — when all your tactical skills, your physical power, and all 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.

9. Start singing when you’re up to your neck in mud

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 area between San Diego and Tijuana where the water runs off and creates the Tijuana slues, a swampy patch of terrain where the mud will engulf you.

It is on Wednesday of Hell Week that you paddle down to the mudflats and spend the next 15 hours trying to survive the freezing cold mud, 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 — just five men — and we could get out of the oppressive cold. Looking around the mudflat, 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.

The chattering teeth and 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, 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 hope. The power of one person — Washington, 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.

10. Don’t ever, ever ring the bell.

Finally, in SEAL training, there is a bell. A brass bell that hangs in the center of the compound for all the students to see. 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 and be out.

If you want to change the world, don’t ever, ever ring the bell.

Why does Admiral McRaven say to make your bed?

He emphasizes making your bed first thing in the morning because by doing that, you have accomplished your first task of the day. Making your bed means; you have already won something even before you’ve begun. And even if your day ends up being not perfect, at the end of the day, you will come back home to a well-made bed to rest on.

Making your bed in the morning will give you a sense of pride and accomplishment and help you get through the day. Having accomplished your first task in the morning will give you the encouragement needed to accomplish the other tasks ahead of you, making it not just one task but a couple of others that followed.

When did Admiral McRaven make his speech?

Admiral McRaven, the ninth U.S. Special Operations Command, made his speech at the University of Texas commencement on May 17, 2014.

Final Words

The Admiral’s speech is the most memorable speech ever given due to the amount of wisdom and advice. It is an encouragement to everyone that making a change in the world doesn’t require much except for will and drive. Never giving up is a very great tool that he shares multiple times in his speech.

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Luke Ocean is a writer, self-proclaimed bio-hacker, wellness advocate and yoga expert. Luke grew up on a small ranch in Montana and enlisted in the Navy to study and become a cryptologist. He later graduated from the US Naval Academy with a Minor in Mandarin and a Bachelor's of Science for General Engineering and a Major of English Literature. Luke's interests and career span multiple industries and various disciplines.  Luke resides in San Antonio and is a Certified Yoga Instructor, a student of Zen Buddhism, practitioner of Holistic Psychology and has completed his CYT-200 and is studying for his 300-hour yoga teacher training.

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Make Your Bed

30 pages • 1 hour read

Make Your Bed: Little Things That Can Change Your Life...and Maybe the World

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Summary and Study Guide

Make Your Bed: Little Things That Can Change Your Life…and Maybe the World  is a work of self-help psychology by Admiral William H. McRaven. The book is a continuation and expansion of a commencement speech McRaven delivered at the University of Texas at Austin in 2014, which went viral on the internet. Formerly a high-ranking officer of the US Navy and Commander of US Special Operations Command, McRaven relates his experiences in Navy SEAL training to the challenges of living a good life in everyday circumstances. The book consists of 10 aphoristic lessons that McRaven contends apply to people in all walks of life. The Epilogue contains the actual speech delivered at the University of Texas commencement ceremonies, which the rest of the book elaborates on.

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McRaven begins his book with an aphorism about starting small, or “making your bed,” to change the world. His rationale is that though spirituality and faith can endow individuals with resilience and peace, simple actions like making your bed form a kind of praxis that cumulatively contributes to human flourishing. The simple habit of making one’s bed as a planned and successful activity sets the day off on the right path, cultivating a mindset of positivity and order that carries over into the rest of one’s life. McRaven then analogizes life to a body of water that we must traverse and tells his readers to find a partner to help paddle. You can have one or even multiple life partners, romantic or not; it is only important to remember that success is contingent on interlocking social networks.

McRaven’s third aphorism turns to the treatment of others; he suggests that the only productive way to evaluate someone is by their compassion. In his fourth aphorism, McRaven tells readers to toughen up and persevere even when pressure mounts or situations seem hopeless. He bluntly terms people who give up “sugar cookies” and explains that during Navy SEAL training, cadets who ignore basic commands or forget their duties are told to roll in sand until it covers their entire body, like a sugar cookie. McRaven qualifies his assessment, conceding that some people remain sugar cookies despite hard work. Still, he argues that one of the best lessons you can learn is that life isn’t fair, and it’s how you respond to life that truly counts. He insists that the only way to face the future is to not blame our situations on other people, instead constantly aspiring to push through the failures and setbacks that inevitably come with life.

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McRaven brings up other examples of punitive Navy experiences, including the “Circus,” which consists of several hours of calisthenics, during which SEAL veterans harass cadets. He states that Circuses are everywhere in adult life, but are always possible to get through. He also advocates for extreme risk-taking. In his view, since struggle and suffering are inevitable, developing a mindset of fear in response to obstacles only closes off opportunities for learning to surmount them. Moreover, taking risks is the only workable strategy for coming to know the limits of the self. McRaven writes that everyone has a huge wealth of innate courage that just needs to be coaxed out.

Next, McRaven reiterates advice he originally received from his chief petty officer. One evening before a difficult task, the officer told his recruits to be their best and to overcome their psychological doubt, fear, and exhaustion, crediting the ability to do so with allowing people to succeed on difficult missions. McRaven states that thinking of every challenge as an obstacle that can be overcome is useful even in dark moments, such as following the death of a family member.

McRaven’s final exhortation is never to quit. He employs the analogy of “ringing the bell,” which, during Navy SEAL training, signals that a cadet is too exhausted to complete a mission. McRaven contends that life is all about rejecting the bell and pressing onward through situations that seem too daunting. Even when ringing the bell seems the rational choice, self-improvement requires rejecting the “end” of existential challenge.

McRaven’s book, while presented in the context of military training, is focused on the general art of living. Since most things in life are beyond and outside our control, what matters is knowing what we truly have power over and how we conduct ourselves as we travel through the vicissitudes of life. In a way, daily life is a kind of combat against the forces that continuously push up against our desires; success will come if we handle them in an appropriate way.

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