Army Quote by Jocko Willink
“When I checked into SEAL Team One many years ago, one of the things that I noticed was there was this old guy, who was younger than I am today, who I decided that I was going to be like. I wanted to emulate what he was doing, and one of those things was he got to work before anybody else.”
About This Quote
Source Book: Extreme Ownership by Jocko Willink & Leif Babin, 2015
He admired an older teammate who arrived early, using him as a model for discipline and initiative.
In simple terms: He wanted to copy the early‑riser’s work ethic.
Key Takeaway
Emulate disciplined habits.
Themes
discipline
leadership
role models
Mood
motivational
reflective
Type
inspirational
practical
When to use this quote
- early mornings
- career growth
- team dynamics
- self‑improvement
Key Concepts
military culture
personal development
Questions to Reflect On
- How can you adopt early‑riser habits without burnout?
- What other traits of his role model are worth emulating?
A Different Perspective
Early arrival alone doesn’t guarantee success; consistency matters.
![“I can't imagine that I would be asked that by the president-elect [Donald Trump], or then-president [Barack Obama]. But it's - I'm very clear. I voted for the change that put the Army Field Manual in place as a member of Congress. I understand that law very, very quickly and am also deeply aware…” quote by James Mattis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/761/james-mattis-9515_army_i-can-t-imagine-that-i-would-be-asked-th_3990.jpg)
