[December 12, 2019] A few years ago, I wrote a couple of articles on some of the “good” and “bad” things I learned while in the military.1,2 Likewise, there are important things that helped me be successful during my U.S. Army career that I didn’t learn in the military. My grandmother would be proud since she helped a great deal with this list.
- Set realistic goals, create a plan, and work hard to achieve them. If you don’t know where you’re going, you’ll never get there. While my military experience reinforced this lesson, I was able to accomplish several goals (like graduating from college) before being commissioned an officer.
- Love and work don’t always mix. I appreciate a woman who is a lady. But close personal relationships take time and energy away from the goal of success in a career or doing anything really difficult. Most of us want both but they will interfere with one another.
- Someone is always better than you. What we all discover is that there are always people who are better looking, stronger, faster, smarter, and just better than us. Get over it.
- Sometimes there are no second chances. This one I learned in college. My professors would not tolerate lateness, failure to submit all work on time, and an inability to understand how to solve the problem. Even if you could get the right answer, they expected you to explain how you achieved what you did. Failure was the only alternative. I hated them for their academic philosophy, but it is realistic.
- The importance of physical fitness. Being in good physical shape helps your mind think more efficiently and creatively. It is demanding because it requires discipline. Military experts say that those in sports before joining make a better soldier.
- The value of good humor. We already know that a positive attitude gets you places, and so is the ability to tell a joke and take one as well. Humility is valued in all organizations and those who can make a joke on themselves will go far.
- The importance of religion in your life. Today, religion is being deemphasized in our society. But having faith is a positive motivator in our lives that continues to help us no matter what stage of life we are in at the time.
- Personal discipline matters a great deal. Keep your room clean, your clothes washed, and your daily schedule focused on your life’s goals. That means sticking to your goals even when others are going out to have fun drinking in the local bars. Maybe you simply have to study.
- How loans and investments work. The military will not teach you much about this, so get out and learn from people close to you. Sit them down and talk about the basics. This knowledge will keep you out of trouble, especially in the U.S. military.
- How to keep a secret. The military values people who can keep their mouth shut when it comes to secrets. I learned to keep my mouth shut about others (as long as it wasn’t illegal, immoral, or unethical). No gossip, no backstabbing, and no whispering about others.
- Cooking and shopping for food. These skills will help no matter what you do in life. The better you get at it, the better it will be for your health and your social life.
- Being satisfied with responsibility. Yeah, I know what you’re thinking; nobody teaches you this. Not true, you can learn how to be happy, but that is not what life is about. Life is about taking on responsibilities and accomplishing them. If you want to be happy, take illegal drugs, or drink to excess. To be satisfied with yourself, you must learn to accept greater and greater responsibilities.
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Great article, thanks Gen. Satterfield. I’ve been one of your long-time readers and I continue to appreciate your writings. I read them just about every day. My wife does also. Have a great holiday season.
Nice list, Gen. Satterfield. Good start to Friday and the last day before the weekend. For those that had planned to just have some fun, then reconsider and see if it adds to your goal of being a better leader. Maybe consider working in a soup kitchen for a day. That way you can see with your own eyes what tragedy looks like and you will be better for it.
I cancelled my plans to go see the new “Frozen II” movie and am headed Saturday morning to a local veterans home to mix it up a little with those who fought for our country.
Take your kids with you, it will do them more good.
Good move, Georgie. If we all only had your strength of character and the guts to do what is right. At least you are making a contribution and I’m sure you will remember what you did and will be more satisfied with your life than in watching a simple movie.
The struggle defines the man.
My mom, “Get your butt out of the house and go play.”
Me, “Aw mom, I want to watch TV.” ?
My mom, “Get out now and find your friends.”
Me, “But they want to go to the playground where I might get hurt.”
My mom, “Being good doesn’t mean being safe.”
Me, “No.”
My mom, “Here I come to push you out into the world like the mother bird pushes her chicks out of the nest.”
Me, “Great, here it comes.”
THIS is why I succeeded in life. I had a mom (and dad too) who cared enough to push me out of the comfort of our home and into the world where I learned I was better off.
Great story, Jose. Thanks for sharing it. If only we all had family like this one, then the world would be a better place.
Don’t ask this of a college snowflake.
Our learning is far more important for our family and friends as they gain from what we, as individuals, have learned. This means that we learn (and ultimately produce value) for those who are significant in our lives. We are not dependent upon everything we need. We grow and expand our world. This is how we provide value to our society/group/nation.
So true!
Great little series of learning. ?
General Satterfield has done us another favor with this article. I posted it on my refrigerator for my nephews to read.
Young women these days have a “badge of independence” by claiming they don’t cook! Saying this loudly only shows their lack of smarts and that is not a good thing.
These are some important lessons of life. I see you have one that love and work don’t mix. Let me be frank. that is true but it doesn’t mean that we should not try. This is part of the work demand by its nature in the US military.
Very good point and shows the importance of mainstream religions play as part of that process.
….. and this is why the US antifa movement is doomed to ultimate and dramatic failure. I’m sure they are already infiltrated by the FBI.
You can be a “radical” all you want but if you don’t learn some of the basics of getting along with others and develop some resilience along the way, you life will be terrible in many ways. I too am NO philosopher, like Gen. Satterfield likes to write, but the obvious sometimes needs to be stated clearly and loudly.
BTW, TGIF. Ha Ha. I’m getting better at this game of emoji ? and things!. Any way, my point is that yes we do learn things of value growing up and, in fact, that sets the tone for how well we do in our lives. Only thru some serious intervention can we change.
This is a theme often found in US Marine Corps publications. They will make you a “Marine” but if you don’t come to them with some moral and intellectual foundation, then the ‘clay’ they work with, will not set properly. You must learn certain things as a child.
This is more than about simple learning of a few skills. Yes Tom, I agree that a foundation is important. But there is the value itself from what we are taught. I transcends our very being because it matters to OTHERS not just to ourselves. Great comment and thanks. This is why I continue to read the comments in this forum. Also Gen. Satterfield has done us a big favor by providing a place where intelligent conversation can take place without censorship.
I agree with you guys!