In his speech which discusses his “Overcome Mindset” to help you “Get off the X,” Retired SEAL Lieutenant Jason Redman provides many of the points from his books The Trident: The Forging, Reforging of a Navy SEAL Leader and Overcome: Crush Adversity with the Leadership Techniques of America’s Toughest Warriors.
He was wounded in September, 2007 which requires months of recovery at Bethesda Naval Medical Center. While in the hospital, an Orange sign hung on his door which stated:
Attention to all who enter here. If you are coming into this room with sorrow or to feel sorry for my wounds, go elsewhere. The wounds I received I got in a job I love, doing it for people I love, supporting the freedom of a country I deeply love. I am incredibly tough and will make a full recovery. What is full? That is the absolute utmost physically my body has the ability to recover. Then I will push that about 20 percent further through sheer mental tenacity. This room you are about to enter is a room of fun, optimism, and intense rapid regrowth. If you are not prepared for that, go elsewhere.
-The Management
But it took him awhile to get into that mindset. He remembers laying in bed thinking, “My Special Operations career is over, I’m going to be disabled, and I’m going to be disfigured.” But his experience setting ambushes and then being caught in one himself, he knew he had to “Get off the X” and overcome this situation. He vowed to never again feel sorry for himself, nor let anyone else. Hence, the sign. Its impact was felt.
From this experience, Redman created his own new beginning and vowed to be a light in the darkness for others facing adversity. He now urges others to serve as pointmen, setting the example and offering that there is always hope.
He reminds us that there is something you can always do. Through individual actions, you can make positive changes in others in a way that a single drop on a pond effects everything else through the ripple effect.
Redman advises that most people will encounter five “ambushes” in their life, major life changing events. Rather than focusing on our own misery, we must work to Get off the X and make positive change.
His answer is in the acronym R.E.A.C.T.
Recognize Your Reality
Evaluate Your Assets
Assess Possible Options & Outcomes
Choose a Direction & Communicate It
Take Action
He followed this up by urging us to seek leadership balance. He teaches the Pentagon of PEAK performance.
His final point was about perspective. When he has a hard day, he thinks back on what happened the day he was injured, reminding us that if you’re still breathing, it’s a great day.
Redman has much more to offer than the points I’ve shared here and they are applicable to every aspect of your life, not just the professional part.
To lean more, visit getoffx.com/redmanreact.