What if it Sucks
- Advoco
- Apr 1, 2022
- 2 min read
Recently I heard a talk given by Jocko Willink to active military members. He was asked a question, “What if it sucks?” The it in the question was referring to living conditions while serving in the military. Jocko took the opportunity to talk more generally. His answer was a resounding, “Good!” He said he liked it when things sucked because it makes him tougher and more prepared for the next task. He knows by going through situations that suck he will be better off for it.
While there is a clear military connection to his comments, it is still applicable to ordinary citizens. If you are a part of a team, every project is not going to go perfectly. There are a lot of things that we struggle with day to day that make our goals difficult to achieve. What I suggest to you is to look at that struggle as a chance to grow and to sharpen your skills. The lessons you learn on a difficult project can make your future projects easier and hopefully more successful.
Another benefit of struggling as a team is that it grows the bond between the team members. If your team struggles together and succeeds, then you will feel a closeness and a trust that is hard to grow in the easy times. Only when you come together as a team to face a problem can you learn about the true character of your teammates.
Not many people have the same mindset as Jocko Willink and like it when things suck. But after reading this hopefully you can see the positive side of struggling through a task that sucks.
Until next time…we are Advoco, make every minute count.
About Colin: Colin Whitney is a Solutions Architect with Advoco and looks forward to helping others achieve their EAM goals. He is a graduate of both the University of Iowa and the University of Georgia. When he is not working he enjoys getting outside and watching college football. Questions? Send Colin an email!
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