“Don’t expect to be motivated every day to get out there and make things happen. You won’t be. Don’t count on motivation. Count on Discipline.”
― Jocko Willink, Discipline Equals Freedom: Field Manual
About the Author
Jocko Willink is a decorated, retired United States Navy SEAL officer who served for 20 years.
He is the founder of Echelon Front – a leadership training group that teaches leadership principles he learned on the battlefield to help, “educate, train, mentor, and inspire leaders and organizations to achieve total victory.”
He is also the author of the #1 New York Times bestseller, Extreme Ownership, The Dichotomy of Leadership, both co-authored with Leif Babin, and the children’s book Way of the Warrior Kid.
He is the creator of the popular podcast, Jocko Podcast.
Discipline Equals Freedom: Field Manual – By Jocko Willink
Discipline Equals Freedom: Field Manual is not your typical ‘self-help’ book. This short book is tailored to be the field manual that helps you reach your full potential and achieve victory on the battlefield of life.
Jocko Willink uses a no-nonsense approach to instil values of discipline into his readers. His main message: “There is no easy way…There must be discipline.”
This book is not written in the usual style either. It is concise and to the point. This is Jocko talking to you directly, telling you to start doing.
You can open to almost any page in the book and find motivation that will be relevant to you.
It is written using analogies and jargon of military and battlefield scenarios but these are applicable to the internal and external wars that we wage on a daily basis – whether with other people or dealing with our own self-doubt. He encourages us to step forward and face our fears with fierce determination.
Discipline Equals Freedom is not about setting New Year’s Resolutions or some quick fix to solve a problem. It is about working on goals in every aspect of your life, day by day, to make yourself the strongest, most disciplined and successful version of yourself…starting today!
For example – Need to stop eating sugar? Then “stop eating sugar!”
The book is divided into two main parts:
- Thoughts
- Actions
Part One: Thoughts
This first part addresses mindset. It covers topics such as:
- Overcoming Procrastination.
- Mind Control
- Stress
- Application of Discipline
- The Warpath
- Focus
- Negative Talk From Negative People
- Weakness
- Fear of Failure
Although each of these contains valuable advice to adopt a disciplined mindset, there are two parts that I particularly appreciated, especially as I know many of us struggle with the difficult days and finding the strength within to keep going on. These two parts are Weakness and Fear of Failure.
In Weakness, my favourite quote from this is:
“Some days I win. But some days I don’t. But each and every day: I get back up and I move forward. With my fists clenched. Toward the battle. Toward the struggle. And I fight to overcome those weaknesses and those shortfalls and those flaws as I strive to be just a little bit better today than I was yesterday.”
― Jocko Willink, Discipline Equals Freedom: Field Manual
In Fear of Failure, the author emphasizes that fear of failure is actually good and that he wants you to be afraid to fail!
He says, “Fear of failure will keep you up at night, planning, rehearsing, going over contingencies. Fear of failure will keep you training hard. Fear of failure will stop you from cutting corners.
Fear of failure will keep you working, thinking striving, and relentlessly trying to be more prepared for battle. So I want you to be afraid of failing. I fear failure. But more important- I want you to be horrified- terrified- of sitting on the sidelines and doing nothing”
― Jocko Willink, Discipline Equals Freedom: Field Manual
Part Two: Actions
Actions focuses on the physical aspects of discipline:
- Fueling the body
- Balance through nutrition
- Stress
- The importance of avoiding sugar
- Fasting
- Injury and Recovery
- The Workouts -both in the gym and on the road.
- Power Naps
Other important sections outlined in this part are:
Physical Training – the physical and mental health benefits of working out.
Early Rising – The importance of waking up early, before the sun, to get in your workout. Note: Anyone who follows Mr. Willink on Instagram, knows that he abides by this on a daily basis.
Importance of Sleep – He also outlines strategies to help you fall asleep.
Workouts – The author establishes three levels of exercises in the book: Beginner, Intermediate and Advanced, but notes that these are only to be used as a guide. Readers are encouraged to learn and understand their own bodies, but be consistent with moving the body.
Quotes From the Book
“NO MORE. No more excuses. No more: “I’ll start tomorrow.” No more: “Just this once.” No more accepting the shortfalls of my own will. No more taking the easy road. No more bowing down to whatever unhealthy or unproductive thoughts float through my mind.”
― Jocko Willink, Discipline Equals Freedom: Field Manual
“Stop researching every aspect of it and reading all about it and debating the pros and cons of it … Start doing it.”
― Jocko Willink, Discipline Equals Freedom: Field Manual
“With myself, I have to hold the line. There are areas within myself where I CANNOT compromise. I am going to work hard. I am going to train hard. I am going to improve myself. I am not going to rest on my laurels. I am going to own my mistakes and confront them. I am going to face my demons. I’m not going to give up, or give out, or give in. I’m going to stand. I am going to maintain my self-discipline. And on those points there will be No Compromise. NOT NOW. NOT EVER.”
― Jocko Willink, Discipline Equals Freedom: Field Manual
Beyond motivation, this book forces you to look at yourself and what you are doing today to improve your life, to ‘get after it’ and move forward with the discipline to accomplish what needs to be done to get you to be your best self.
Mr. Willink’s style will not be for everyone. That being said, this book is for anyone who is seeking motivation to improve their life, to become disciplined, quit procrastinating and achieve their goals – without frills and sugar coating.
Get After It! ~ Jocko Willink
