/on Extreme Ownership

I was recently introduced to the concept of Extreme ownership when my manager shared that he was part of a directors learning club. Listening to the audiobook, I learnt that the concept emerges from the Navy Seals where achieving results is above all else.

"These guys are intense. And they bring that same fire to their narration in the audiobook. Listen to these insanely competent SEAL officers tell you exactly how to make a team successful through their firsthand experiences in business and combat." (The Hustle)

It’s true that Combat is the most intense and dynamic environment imaginable and could potentially teach the toughest leadership lessons given everything is at stake. But, it also leads to PTSD aka. Shell Shock, loss of empathy and collateral damage and not to forget - deaths and loss of lives.

The military model of leadership in my opinion is flawed and unfit for building software.

With software - we’re not here to wage war, we’re looking to help improve the lives of real people. Bring them access to information and data and ultimately save time & money. Building software is a act of service across all levels and we always keep the customer at the centre of it all.

To use a different analogy inspired by the book Radical Candor - I see us as “Dimond Cutters”

We always start staring at a rock wondering what lives within.

Is this going to be a Princess, an Asscher or an Oval? Could it be two rounds and one heart if cut precisely? Yikes! Hands-off! Could it be a blood diamond?