--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When I checked into SEAL Team One many…" description: "\"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 d..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/78f/jocko-willink-3347_army_when-i-checked-into-seal-team-one-many-y_2398211.jpg" --- # When I checked into SEAL Team One many years ago, one of… ![“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.” quote by Jocko Willink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/78f/jocko-willink-3347_army_when-i-checked-into-seal-team-one-many-y_2398211.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/78f/jocko-willink-3347_army_when-i-checked-into-seal-team-one-many-y_2398211.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/78f/jocko-willink-3347_army_when-i-checked-into-seal-team-one-many-y_2398211.jpg) > “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.” [Jocko Willink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jocko-willink/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. 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. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Army](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/army/) [I am](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-am/) [Noticed Old](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/noticed-old-2740750/) [Old](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/old/) [Old guy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/old-guy/) [Seal Team](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/seal-team-368412/) [Team](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/team/) [Today](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/today/) [Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work/) [Work Anybody](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work-anybody-340632/) [Years ago](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/years-ago/) [Younger Today](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/younger-today-280717/) ## Related quotes > [“Everyone will have noticed how the Old Testament seems at times to ignore our conception of the individual.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis-2/everyone-will-have-noticed-how-the-old-testament-seems-at-times-to/) [C.S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis-2/) > [I was 18 years old, and it was a dream come true for me to work out and eat great food for free. What…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jocko-willink/i-was-18-years-old-and-it-was-a-dream-come-true-for-me-to-work-out/) [Jocko Willink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jocko-willink/) > [There are a lot of inaccuracies out there when it comes to the SEAL training process. You will see guys carrying logs around on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jocko-willink/there-are-a-lot-of-inaccuracies-out-there-when-it-comes-to-the-seal/) [Jocko Willink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jocko-willink/) > [When I was running training, we would fire a couple of leaders from every SEAL team because they couldn't lead. And 99.9% of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jocko-willink/when-i-was-running-training-we-would-fire-a-couple-of-leaders-from/) [Jocko Willink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jocko-willink/) > [That person I was when I was a lot younger is not who I am today.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demi-lovato/that-person-i-was-when-i-was-a-lot-younger-is-not-who-i-am-today/) [Demi Lovato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demi-lovato/) > [You are younger today than you will ever be again. Make use of it for the sake of tomorrow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-cousins/you-are-younger-today-than-you-will-ever-be-again-make-use-of-it-for/) [Norman Cousins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-cousins/) > [Nintendo, at its heart, is about making us feel younger than we are today.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reggie-fils-aime/nintendo-at-its-heart-is-about-making-us-feel-younger-than-we-are/) [Reggie Fils-Aime](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reggie-fils-aime/) > [All SEALS in my mind are equally elite. It doesn't matter if you're SEAL Team Two, One, Six, 10, it doesn't matter. All SEALS…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-e-wasdin/all-seals-in-my-mind-are-equally-elite-it-doesn-t-matter-if-you-re/) [Howard E. Wasdin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-e-wasdin/) > [“You’ve done hard before. If it came easy, it wouldn’t mean as much. -- reaking Free (Military Romantic Suspense) (Book 1 of the SEAL…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teresa-reasor/you-ve-done-hard-before-if-it-came-easy-it-wouldn-t-mean-as-much/) [Teresa Reasor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teresa-reasor/) > [In the public's mind, Special Forces are often confused with the 'door kickers' of Special Operations Forces - such as SEAL Team 6 and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-bergen/in-the-public-s-mind-special-forces-are-often-confused-with-the-door/) [Peter Bergen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-bergen/) > [“Did you guys hear there was a dog on the SEAL team?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-berns/did-you-guys-hear-there-was-a-dog-on-the-seal-team/) [Gregory Berns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-berns/) > [Seal Team Six is a different unit than the rest of the SEAL teams inasmuch as they concentrate primarily on one thing, counter-terrorism, hostage…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-e-wasdin/seal-team-six-is-a-different-unit-than-the-rest-of-the-seal-teams/) [Howard E. Wasdin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-e-wasdin/) > [With 'Mad Men,' you feel like you're a member of Seal Team Six when you're shooting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-feldman/with-mad-men-you-feel-like-you-re-a-member-of-seal-team-six-when-you/) [Ben Feldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-feldman/) > [Taking out werewolves, I gather and surmise, is akin to taking out a SEAL team.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-briggs/taking-out-werewolves-i-gather-and-surmise-is-akin-to-taking-out-a/) [Patricia Briggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-briggs/) > [“the shadows. “Why do you think they invented chess?” “He’s got you there,” said the captain, following Fletcher. Jake jogged slightly to catch up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-blake/the-shadows-why-do-you-think-they-invented-chess-he-s-got-you-there/) [Russell Blake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-blake/) ## More by Jocko Willink > [“The best leaders checked their egos, accepted blame, sought out constructive criticism, and took detailed notes for improvement. They”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jocko-willink/the-best-leaders-checked-their-egos-accepted-blame-sought-out/) [Jocko Willink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jocko-willink/) > [If I'm going to get you to do stuff, I need to lead you. I can't just order you to do it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jocko-willink/if-i-m-going-to-get-you-to-do-stuff-i-need-to-lead-you-i-can-t-just/) [Jocko Willink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jocko-willink/) > [“The goal of all leaders should be to work themselves out of a job. This means leaders must be heavily engaged in training and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jocko-willink/the-goal-of-all-leaders-should-be-to-work-themselves-out-of-a-job/) [Jocko Willink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jocko-willink/) > [With Benghazi, I don't see anyone saying, 'Hey look, I am overall responsible for this and therefore, I take responsibility for what happened. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jocko-willink/with-benghazi-i-don-t-see-anyone-saying-hey-look-i-am-overall/) [Jocko Willink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jocko-willink/) > [“The leader must own everything in his or her world. There is no one else to blame.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jocko-willink/the-leader-must-own-everything-in-his-or-her-world-there-is-no-one/) [Jocko Willink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jocko-willink/) > [“weaker commanders would get a solid explanation about the burden of command and the deep meaning of responsibility: the leader is truly and ultimately…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jocko-willink/weaker-commanders-would-get-a-solid-explanation-about-the-burden-of/) [Jocko Willink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jocko-willink/) > [If I've got something do. I'm going to attack it. I'm going to attack that stress.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jocko-willink/if-i-ve-got-something-do-i-m-going-to-attack-it-i-m-going-to-attack/) [Jocko Willink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jocko-willink/) > [“Leaders must accept total responsibility, own problems that inhibit performance, and develop solutions to those problems. A”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jocko-willink/leaders-must-accept-total-responsibility-own-problems-that-inhibit/) [Jocko Willink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jocko-willink/) > [One of the best mental disciplines for people to implement is simply putting together a schedule or a task list and actually executing it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jocko-willink/one-of-the-best-mental-disciplines-for-people-to-implement-is-simply/) [Jocko Willink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jocko-willink/) > [If you have to stand and fight, you train yourself so that you're able to do it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jocko-willink/if-you-have-to-stand-and-fight-you-train-yourself-so-that-you-re-able/) [Jocko Willink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jocko-willink/) > [If you try and work out at 4:30 in the afternoon, how many people are going to chip away at that time? Your boss,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jocko-willink/if-you-try-and-work-out-at-4-30-in-the-afternoon-how-many-people-are/) [Jocko Willink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jocko-willink/) > [I'm always reading the next book. Taking notes. Highlighting, researching, studying. It doesn't stop.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jocko-willink/i-m-always-reading-the-next-book-taking-notes-highlighting/) [Jocko Willink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jocko-willink/) > [“Regardless of how you think an operation is going to unfold,” I answered, “the enemy gets their say as well—and they are going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jocko-willink/regardless-of-how-you-think-an-operation-is-going-to-unfold-i/) [Jocko Willink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jocko-willink/) > [“If you don’t understand or believe in the decisions coming down from your leadership, it is up to you to ask questions until you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jocko-willink/if-you-don-t-understand-or-believe-in-the-decisions-coming-down-from/) [Jocko Willink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jocko-willink/) > [“No Bad Teams, Only Bad Leaders”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jocko-willink/no-bad-teams-only-bad-leaders/) [Jocko Willink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jocko-willink/) [Explore all 133 Jocko Willink quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jocko-willink/) ## More Army quotes > [There are no more worlds to conquer!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-the-great/there-are-no-more-worlds-to-conquer/) [Alexander the Great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-the-great/) > [“In American terms, the accomplishment of Genghis Khan might be understood if the United States, instead of being created by a group of educated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-weatherford/in-american-terms-the-accomplishment-of-genghis-khan-might-be/) [Jack Weatherford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-weatherford/) > [Every army in the history of the world has always had some deserters, usually much greater than we have today, because once again every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryan-hilferty/every-army-in-the-history-of-the-world-has-always-had-some-deserters/) [Bryan Hilferty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryan-hilferty/) > [It is the rule in war, if our forces are ten to the enemy's one, to surround him; if five to one, to attack…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/it-is-the-rule-in-war-if-our-forces-are-ten-to-the-enemy-s-one-to/) [Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/) > [The surprise of an army is now next to an impossibility. ... Prearranged surprises are rare and difficult because in order to plan one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-henri-jomini/the-surprise-of-an-army-is-now-next-to-an-impossibility-prearranged/) [Antoine-Henri Jomini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-henri-jomini/) > [I just read an article about how young American males feel uncomfortable appearing naked in front of each other in locker rooms. That was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-ivory/i-just-read-an-article-about-how-young-american-males-feel/) [James Ivory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-ivory/) > [ 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.… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-mattis/i-can-t-imagine-that-i-would-be-asked-that-by-the-president-elect/) [James Mattis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-mattis/) > [Holy shadows of the dead, I'm not to blame for your cruel and bitter fate, but the accursed rivalry which brought sister nations and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-the-great/holy-shadows-of-the-dead-i-m-not-to-blame-for-your-cruel-and-bitter/) [Alexander the Great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-the-great/) > [“The most important lesson that came out of Vietnam for me was that Marines take care of Marines.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-clancy/the-most-important-lesson-that-came-out-of-vietnam-for-me-was-that/) [Tom Clancy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-clancy/) > [One of our great allies at present is the Church itself. Do not misunderstand me. I do not mean the Church as we see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/one-of-our-great-allies-at-present-is-the-church-itself-do-not/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [I have real strong feelings about our troops and support them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-fichtner/i-have-real-strong-feelings-about-our-troops-and-support-them/) [William Fichtner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-fichtner/) > [Personally, I don't really have a set style or look. It's pretty much what I feel like wearing that day, from a floral-print dress…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shay-mitchell/personally-i-don-t-really-have-a-set-style-or-look-it-s-pretty-much/) [Shay Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shay-mitchell/) > [Growing up with a parent in the army, I saw firsthand the challenges our service members face when transitioning to new jobs after time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharice-davids/growing-up-with-a-parent-in-the-army-i-saw-firsthand-the-challenges/) [Sharice Davids](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharice-davids/) > [Don't fire until you see the whites of their eyes!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-h-prescott/don-t-fire-until-you-see-the-whites-of-their-eyes/) [William H. Prescott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-h-prescott/) > [Thanks to all members of the military around the world for giving me the ultimate motivation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalya-neidhart/thanks-to-all-members-of-the-military-around-the-world-for-giving-me/) [Natalya Neidhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalya-neidhart/) [Browse all 3,919 Army quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/army/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "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. 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