Jocko Willink is an ex-Navy SEAL and general American hero. He is known for his best-selling book Extreme Ownership which is based around leadership and discipline. Not only this, but he is also a veteran Brazilian Jiu Jitsu practitioner. He began training the art back in 1992 whilst serving. To this day he still trains regularly, has his own gym and is an accomplished black belt.
Because of his ideas, he is often seen as an inspiration to many and his philosophies on life are quite stoic and brutally honest. With this said, we’ve collected some of his best quotes which should not just inspire you regarding BJJ, but also in life in general. If you really want to know more about the mind of Willink, his book Extreme Ownership is an awesome read.
1. You must own everything in your world. There is no one else to blame
2. If you stop looking for a short cut and find your discipline and your will, then you will find your freedom
3. If people don’t respond to your leadership, and your reaction is to get more and more aggressive with them, they aren’t likely to come around
4. Self discipline is the quality that will improve every aspect of your life
5. When you’re too embarrassed to ask for help, that’s a little knock on your door saying you’re insecure
6. There is no such thing as a weekend. This is an everyday gig. Every day is a Monday
7. You’re not going to find happiness. You have to make it. So get out there and make some happiness.
8. Unless you do the work, the world will never see your vision
9. I learned that good leaders don’t make excuses. Instead, they figure out a way to win and get it done.
10. Get up and go. Take the risk, take the gamble, take the first step. Take action. And don’t let another day slip by
11. When personal agendas become more important than the team and the overarching mission’s success, performance suffers, and failure ensues
12. Hesitation is the enemy. It allows the moment to pass, the opportunity to be lost, the enemy to get the upper hand
13. If you get your ego in your way, you will only look to other people and circumstances to blame
14. It’s not what you preach, it’s what you tolerate
15. You have to be disciplined. And getting out of bed early is the foundation of that discipline
16. Those weights in the gym. They aren’t going to lift themselves, you have to do it
17. Things won’t get better dwelling on the past. Accept what has happened. And then move forward
18. When a team takes ownership of its problems, the problems get solved. It is true on the battlefield, it is true in business, it is true in life
19. Perseverance is also key to success in any endeavor, but without perseverance in combat, there can be no victory
20. Jiu Jitsu is probably the number one activity that I could recommend to someone to improve their lives overall
