The Code. The Evaluation. The Protocols: Striving to Become an Eminently Qualified Human

by Jocko Willink

The Code. 1. I will take care of my physical health by exercising, eating properly, and getting the rest I need to recover and rebuild. I will take care of my physical surroundings, keeping them in order. 2. I will develop myself mentally by reading, writing, drawing, building, creating, and engaging in other activities that sharpen and expand my mind. 3. I will not waste time. Time is precious. 4. I will not waste money and I will make prudent financial decisions. Money is hard to earn. 5. I will set goals that I will strive toward. 6. I will excel in my job because work is integral to life. 7. I will be humble and not allow my ego to negatively impact my decisions. 8. I will control my emotions and not allow my emotions to negatively impact my decisions. 9. I will put others before myself. I will help other people and protect those that cannot protect themselves. I will take care of my friends and family and treat other people with respect. 10. I will be ready to protect my friends and family. My gear will be ready. I will train and prepare to defend myself and others.

And while we may never be able to live up to this code, we will be better for having tried.

What do you care about? Who do you want to be? What matters most to you? What are the most important things in your life? Who are the most important people in your life and what do they need from you?

This can be the most difficult part of the journey — to break free from the gravitational pull of weakness, habit, and fear. The best way to start, is to start. Don’t hesitate. Don’t wait. Don’t analyze or plan or research.

Laziness, ego, weakness, and immediate gratification will all try to pull you off The Path every day. You must fight them. You will even have to fight people who don’t want you on The Path. But you can fight. And you can win. Every moment you are alive is made of choices you get to make. Little, tiny choices that alone mean nothing, but when combined together, mean everything. You have to make the right choices. The hard choices. You have to deny immediate gratification and pushback against weakness. You must impose Unmitigated Daily Discipline in all things.

An Eminently Qualified Human is a person who has achieved mastery in every facet of life. This person has reached their full potential in every measurable way. This person lives The Code.

Avoid spending time on anything that isn’t productive. If you are disciplined with your time you will have more free time, and you will be able to do the things you want to do when you want to do them.

Find meaning in your job. If your job doesn't have meaning, design an exit strategy to move to one that does. A lot of your time will be spent at work. Make it matter.

The Eminently Qualified Human knows: There is no end. Since there is no stopping point on the quest to becoming an Eminently Qualified Human, what are we really trying to do? The answer is simple: We are trying to get better, every day.

We have to turn our words into action. We have to turn our ideas into action. We have to turn our skills into action. We have to turn our goals into action.

Build a plan and then work the plan with discipline and belief.

Work the plan. Take action that moves you forward. Don’t stay stagnant. Don’t dwell. Take a small step towards what you think is the best decision. Not a giant step – because you don’t know exactly what is going on. This is a step that allows you to assess again before you decide what to do next.