Extreme Ownership
If you're going to half-ass it, don't do it at all
Over the past few weeks on my LinkedIn, I've talked about our core values at CityPlat. But what I want to address today is the last core value, which was recently added: Extreme Ownership. You might be wondering, "So why was this added 5 years after we started?" Well, there's a pretty good reason for that…
First off, let's admit- We're programmed to clock in and clock out, complete the given tasks, and go through the flow of motions while acting as if we're on autopilot, with the goal of getting through the day, just to do it all over again. Sure, we may have a few successes along the way, but would they be great? Would they mean anything if we didn't put in the effort to achieve them? Here's the thing- where we thrive is seeing things through to the end, no matter the obstacles or roadblocks.
The concept of extreme ownership really resonates with me because as time passes and I reflect on the times when I have shined, I realize that my ability to "get shit done" has been key to my success. There's just no way around getting shit done without having extreme ownership or wholeheartedly believing you can accomplish the mission.
I'm sure many of you have heard of Jocko Willink and his book "Extreme Ownership." Jocko talks about how taking complete responsibility for everything in your world is the key to success. One of my favorite quotes from him is, "Implementing extreme ownership requires checking your ego and operating with a high degree of humility. Admitting mistakes, taking ownership, and developing a plan to overcome challenges are integral to any successful team."
This quote reinforces that extreme ownership doesn't always mean winning. It could be a defeat, but the operative word here is OWNERSHIP, no matter the outcome. Whether it's a victory or a defeat, it's about taking responsibility and learning from every situation.
When you take on a task, you typically develop an idea of how it will go, but often, things you didn't expect come up. Many people will stop at this point and cease to pursue due to the hardship, but persisting is essential if you want to succeed.
As I always like to say, "If you're going to do it, do it all the way. If you're going to half-ass it, don't do it at all." This philosophy has been my driving force behind extreme ownership. Some might call it crazy—and hey, maybe it is. But it's this mindset that pushes us to see things through, overcome obstacles, and grow.
-G
