Small Actions, Big Impact: Lessons from Make Your Bed
"You’ll never change your life until you change something you do daily. The secret of your success is found in your daily routine." -John C. Maxwell
From time to time in this newsletter, I like to shift gears from dollars and cents to the habits that shape who we are. After all, financial success doesn’t happen in isolation—it’s often built on the foundation of personal discipline, mindset, and daily habits. In the past, I’ve shared lessons from personal finance books that left a lasting impression on me. This time, I’d like to take a slightly different path.
Recently, I had the opportunity to read Make Your Bed: Little Things That Can Change Your Life... And Maybe the World by Admiral William H. McRaven. It’s a short book with a powerful message, a reminder that sometimes, the smallest actions can have the greatest impact.
Now, if I told you that simply making your bed every morning could change your life, you might laugh. How could something so routine and seemingly insignificant matter at all? But that’s precisely the point Admiral McRaven drives home. Drawing from his grueling Navy SEAL training, he outlines ten life lessons that go far beyond the battlefield. These lessons are about perseverance, resilience, humility, and hope—and they apply just as much in civilian life as they do in uniform.
So today, I’d like to share a summary of these ten lessons and how they inspired me. My hope is that these ten lessons will inspire you to face any challenges in your life.
Lesson 1: Start Your Day with a Task Completed
Admiral McRaven begins the book with a surprisingly simple habit—making your bed. In SEAL training, instructors would conduct daily inspections, demanding a perfectly made bed with military precision. A single wrinkle or misaligned corner could result in the dreaded "Sugar Cookie" punishment—rolling in the cold sand and spending the rest of the day covered in it, no matter of the weather.
But McRaven wasn’t just talking about neat sheets. Making your bed each morning is a metaphor for taking pride in small things. It’s about starting your day with a task completed—a small victory that sets the tone for the rest of the day. It reminds you that even in chaos, you have control over something.
In life, small victories build momentum so begin each day with a small win, and bigger successes will follow.
Lesson 2: You Can’t Go It Alone
Famous Indian industrialist Ratan Tata once said, “If you want to walk fast, walk alone. But if you want to walk far, walk together.” This sentiment echoes powerfully in Admiral McRaven’s second lesson—success isn’t a solo act; it’s a team effort.
During Navy SEAL training, one of the most grueling tasks was paddling small rubber boats through violent surf. McRaven’s team, made up of the shortest recruits, often underestimated—consistently outperformed others. They weren’t the strongest or fastest, but they were the most unified. They paddled in perfect rhythm, communicated clearly, and trusted each other without question. That teamwork carried them through the toughest conditions.
In life, no matter how talented or driven you are, lasting success comes from collaboration. Surround yourself with people who uplift, challenge, and believe in the mission. Together, you’ll go farther than you ever could alone.
Lesson 3: Only the Size of Your Heart Matters
Admiral McRaven reminds us that greatness isn’t measured by physical strength, but by the strength of one’s spirit. In his SEAL training class, one of the best swimmers was a recruit who stood significantly smaller than the rest. He didn’t look like a stereotypical elite warrior. But what he lacked in size, he made up for with pure grit. Day after day, he outperformed his peers—not because he was the strongest, but because he never stopped pushing himself.
This recalls the words of Tony Robbins: “The difference between the impossible and the possible lies in a man's determination.”
So, don’t let your limitations—real or perceived—define your path. It’s not about how big you are, but how big your heart is. Relentless effort, belief in yourself, and the will to keep going will take you further than natural talent ever could.
Lesson 4: Get Over Being a Sugar Cookie
Is life fair? Absolutely not. We all face setbacks, disappointments, and moments where our best efforts still don’t seem good enough. The real question is—what do you do when life knocks you down? Do you complain, or do you get back up and keep moving?
During SEAL training, failing even a minor uniform inspection meant a harsh penalty: plunging into the cold ocean, rolling in the sand, and spending the entire day soaked and gritty—a state the instructors called being a "sugar cookie." It didn’t matter how hard you had worked or how well you had performed. Some trainees couldn’t handle the seeming unfairness and quit.
Admiral McRaven contrasts this with the story of Lieutenant Martin, a Navy SEAL paralyzed in a tragic bicycle accident. Despite his life being changed in an instant, Martin never wallowed in self-pity. Instead, he became an accomplished artist and founded the Super Frog Triathlon, an event that continues to inspire others.
Sometimes, even when you do your best, you still end up with a sugar cookie. Life won’t always reward effort fairly. But success belongs to those who accept the unfairness, refuse to complain, and keep pushing forward anyway.
Lesson 5: Don’t Be Afraid of the Circus
Have you ever failed at something important? Chances are that the answer is yes—and you're not alone. We all stumble, fall short, or get knocked down at some point. But the real question is: do you use failure as fuel to grow, or as a reason to quit?
During SEAL training, Admiral McRaven found himself repeatedly falling short of the mark. His underperformance landed him in "The Circus”, an extra two-hour physical training session at the end of an already exhausting day. Many saw it as a punishment designed to break them, but Admiral felt something interesting. The more he endured “The Circus,” the stronger, faster, and more resilient he became. Instead of breaking him, failure forged him.
Failure is not the end—it’s a beginning. Embrace your setbacks. Let them strengthen your resolve, refine your skills, and prepare you for future success. Every stumble is a setup for a stronger comeback.
Lesson 6: Slide Down the Obstacle Headfirst
Are you a risk-taker or a risk-avoider? For many of us, the fear of failure—or even just the unknown—keeps us playing it safe. But as Admiral McRaven learned, staying in your comfort zone can sometimes hold you back more than help you.
During one of the SEAL training exercises, recruits were required to slide down a 30-foot tower using a rope—a challenge that tested both courage and speed. McRaven initially chose the “possum-style” descent, a slower and safer method. It kept him secure, but it also cost him precious time, placing him near the bottom of the performance list.
A week later, he decided to face his fear. This time, he went down headfirst—risky, fast, and bold. The result? His personal best time.
Playing it safe won’t always get you where you want to go. Growth requires courage. Be willing to take smart risks, challenge your fears, and trust yourself. Sometimes, diving in headfirst is exactly what it takes to succeed.
Lesson 7: Don’t Back Down from the Sharks
When challenges come your way, do you face them head-on or try to steer clear at all costs? As we move forward in life and career, the obstacles we face only grow tougher. But it’s in those moments of pressure that our true strength is tested.
During Navy SEAL training, Admiral McRaven and his fellow trainees were required to complete a long swim—at night—in the shark-infested waters off San Clemente Island. The darkness, the cold, and the lurking fear of sharks were enough to make anyone quit. But McRaven held fast to one mantra: If a shark approaches, don’t panic. Stand your ground.
He completed the four-mile swim. Not because the fear wasn’t real, but because he refused to let it control him.
Life will throw you into deep waters, and fear will be there, circling. But if you want to reach your goals, you must stand your ground. Courage doesn’t mean you’re not afraid, it means you move forward despite it.
Lesson 8: Be Your Best in the Darkest Moments
Life has a way of testing us when we least expect it, often when we feel most alone, most tired, and most vulnerable. The question is: will you rise to the occasion when everything around you seem to be falling apart?
In SEAL training, one of the toughest tests was the underwater mission in pitch-black waters beneath a ship’s keel. Visibility was zero. The cold was bone deep. Trainees couldn’t see their hands, their teammates, or even the path ahead. It was a true test of nerve and focus, executing a complex task in total darkness, when panic could easily take over.
Admiral McRaven shares that in moments like these, calmness, clarity, and confidence are what get you through—not sight. When everything around you are dark and uncertain, you rely on your preparation, your training, and your mindset.
Darkness will come in life—whether it’s a personal crisis, professional setback, or moment of loss. But when you're in the darkest place, that’s when your light matters the most. Don’t let the darkness consume you. Stay calm. Stay focused. Rise to the occasion and keep moving forward.
Lesson 9: Start Singing When You’re Up to Your Neck in Mud
The power of hope can’t be underestimated. In our tough moments, just a small spark of encouragement can change everything.
Admiral McRaven recounts a moment during Hell Week—one of the most brutal phases of SEAL training—when the trainees were cold, wet, and exhausted. Morale was dangerously low, and quitting seemed inevitable for many. Then, one trainee began to sing. It wasn’t a great song, nor was it perfectly in tune, but that lone voice in the darkness reminded everyone they weren’t alone. That moment of defiance, of courage, rekindled the group's spirit. One voice gave hope to many—and they all made it through the night.
Never underestimate the impact of a kind word, a small gesture, or an uplifting presence. You don’t need a title or a platform to make a difference. Just be willing to lift others when they need it most. Be the one who sings in the dark.
Lesson 10: Never, Ever Quit
If there's one lesson that captures the spirit of SEAL training—and life itself—it's this: Don’t quit.
In the final chapter, McRaven talks about the infamous "Bell" in SEAL training. Any trainee who wanted to quit simply had to ring the bell. No more freezing cold swims. No more grueling runs. No more pain. Just three dings, and it was over.
But once you ring that bell, you give up not just on training but on the commitment, you made to yourself.
McRaven emphasizes that life will try to wear you down. You’ll face defeat, failure, and fatigue. But success belongs to those who refuse to ring the bell—those who dig deep, stand tall, and press on, even when everything in them wants to stop. Life gets tough. Really tough. But if you want to achieve anything worthwhile, never, ever, ring the bell. Stay in the fight. Keep showing up. Your perseverance is your power.
Final Thoughts
Make Your Bed is more than a book about military discipline—it’s a blueprint for resilience, leadership, and personal growth. Admiral McRaven’s ten life lessons are simple, yet profound. They remind us that greatness doesn’t always begin with grand gestures—it starts with small, consistent actions, a disciplined mindset, and the courage to keep going when things get hard. Whether you’re navigating financial goals, building a career, or simply trying to be a better version of yourself, these lessons apply to all of us.
So, let’s start by making bed in the morning. Let that small win set the tone for a life of purpose, strength, and impact.
Gajendra Shrestha
Financial Professional
Herriman, UT