The Wisdom of the Bullfrog Quotes

“Show up early. Work hard. Stay late. Have a plan. Deliver on your promises. Share the hardships with the employees. Show that you care. Admit your mistakes. And—did I mention?—work hard.”
― William H. McRaven, The Wisdom of the Bullfrog: Leadership Made Simple

“The day you no longer believe you have something to prove, the day you no longer believe you must give it your all, the day you think you are entitled to special treatment, the day you think all your hard days are behind you, is the day you are no longer the right leader for the job.”
― William H. McRaven, The Wisdom of the Bullfrog: Leadership Made Simple

“Measure the strength of your employees by their willingness to do the little tasks and do them well.”
― William H. McRaven, The Wisdom of the Bullfrog: Leadership Made Simple

“Be aggressive. When you see a problem, do something about it. That’s what is expected of leaders.”
― William H. McRaven, The Wisdom of the Bullfrog: Leadership Made Simple

“Be decisive. Don't take too much counsel of your fears. Be thoughtful, but not paralyzed by indecision.”
― William H. McRaven, The Wisdom of the Bullfrog: Leadership Made Simple

“Every time I was about to make an important decision, I asked myself, 'Can I stand before the long green table and be satisfied that I took all the right actions?”
― William H. McRaven, The Wisdom of the Bullfrog: Leadership Made Simple

“But without honor, nothing you accomplish will be of lasting value. And if you dishonor your company, your family, your country, or your faith, then your legacy of leadership will forever be tainted.”
― William H. McRaven, The Wisdom of the Bullfrog: Leadership Made Simple

“You will only fail as a leader when you think that today is going to be easier than yesterday.”
― William H. McRaven, The Wisdom of the Bullfrog: Leadership Made Simple

“But as difficult as leadership is, it is not complicated.”
― William H. McRaven, The Wisdom of the Bullfrog: Leadership Made Simple

“nothing is more daunting, more frustrating, more complex than trying to lead men and women in tough times.”
― William H. McRaven, The Wisdom of the Bullfrog: Leadership Made Simple

“Those officers who do it well earn respect because, unfortunately, doing it poorly is commonplace.”
― William H. McRaven, The Wisdom of the Bullfrog: Leadership Made Simple

“Sooner or later we all have to do things we don't want to do. But if you're going to do it, then do it right. Build the best damn Frog Float you can!”
― William H. McRaven, The Wisdom of the Bullfrog: Leadership Made Simple

“That which comprises the harshest burden, a king lifts first and sets down last. A king does not require service of those he leads but provides it to them…”
― William H. McRaven, The Wisdom of the Bullfrog: Leadership Made Simple

“Show up during an inspection to ensure the rank and file understand that you, the leader, value the process and their efforts.”
― William H. McRaven, The Wisdom of the Bullfrog: Leadership Made Simple

“As a leader, you must find the right balance between too much oversight and too little scrutiny. Left unattended, most organizations will get sloppy and undisciplined. It is human nature. Your employees must understand that their work will be judged, reviewed, inspected, and graded. It is the only way to ensure compliance with the high standards you set. While the troops will always complain about too much oversight and too many inspections, they will also appreciate knowing what’s expected of them.”
― William H. McRaven, The Wisdom of the Bullfrog: Leadership Made Simple

“Let me tell you something, Ensign. I’ve been in this Canoe Club for almost thirty years. Sooner or later we all have to do things we don’t want to do. But if you’re going to do it, then do it right. Build the best damn Frog Float you can!”
― William H. McRaven, The Wisdom of the Bullfrog: Leadership Made Simple

“Being a leader, whether you are the CEO, the admiral, the general, the chairperson, or the director for an office of two, is difficult. As a leader you must always appear to be in command, even on those days when you struggle with the pressures of the job. You must be confident. You must be decisive. You must smile. You must laugh. You must engage with your employees and be thankful for their work. You must have the look of a person in charge. You must instill in your men and women a sense of pride that their leader can handle any problem.”
― William H. McRaven, The Wisdom of the Bullfrog: Leadership Made Simple

“If you violate your oath, your code of conduct, the basic decency with which you should live your life and run your business, then eventually you will lose the respect of the men and women you serve, and the opposite becomes your fate.”
― William H. McRaven, The Wisdom of the Bullfrog: Leadership Made Simple

“Every great leader must exhibit a sense of boldness, because the rank and file don’t want to follow a timid soul.”
― William H. McRaven, The Wisdom of the Bullfrog: Leadership Made Simple

“A king does not abide within his tent while his men bleed and die upon the field. A king does not dine while his men go hungry, nor sleep when they stand at watch upon the wall. A king does not command his men’s loyalty through fear nor purchase it with gold; he earns their love by the sweat of his own back and the pains he endures for their sake. That which comprises the harshest burden, a king lifts first and sets down last. A king does not require service of those he leads but provides it to them…”
― William H. McRaven, The Wisdom of the Bullfrog: Leadership Made Simple

“While I have often said that a leader “is not allowed to have a bad day,” that pertains only to their demeanor in public”
― William H. McRaven, The Wisdom of the Bullfrog: Leadership Made Simple

“Can you justify to reasonable men and women, sitting in judgment of your decisions, that the actions you are taking are moral, legal, and ethical and conform to the goals and objectives of the organization?”
― William H. McRaven, The Wisdom of the Bullfrog: Leadership Made Simple

“Through all of these steps, communicating clearly serves to synchronize the workforce from top to bottom. So, whether you are setting the vision, building the strategy, developing the plan, or inspecting the factory, always ensure you are communicating your goals, your expectations, and most importantly, your appreciation. The employees may or may not like the direction you have set for the organization, but they will always be grateful for knowing what you are thinking and where you are headed as a leader.”
― William H. McRaven, The Wisdom of the Bullfrog: Leadership Made Simple

“Every great leader I served with understood the need to share the hardships with the men and women they led. Nothing gains the respect of the troops quicker than spending time on the factory floor, or in the trading room, the warehouse, the clinic, or the foxhole. The C-suite, the corner office, the front office, or the largest cubicle can trap you into believing that your place is above the people you serve. It is not. Wherever you sit as a leader, don’t sit for long. Get out of your office and spend time with the employees. This will give you an appreciation for the work they do, an understanding of the challenges they face, and insights into how to improve the business.”
― William H. McRaven, The Wisdom of the Bullfrog: Leadership Made Simple

“Every vision, every corporate strategy, every grand plan must identify benchmarks set by the leader to drive the organization to excellence. The rank and file want to be challenged. They want to be on an exceptional team with high standards, lofty expectations, and stretch goals. Everyone wants to be a winner.”
― William H. McRaven, The Wisdom of the Bullfrog: Leadership Made Simple

“That is why being a leader requires such stamina. You must be physically, emotionally, and spiritually strong. Your employees will feed off your strength, but if you show fatigue and tiredness, and if you are dragging from the challenges, it will drain the energy from your employees, and the organization will suffer.”
― William H. McRaven, The Wisdom of the Bullfrog: Leadership Made Simple

“It’s Simple: Find a person you can trust implicitly. Be prepared to lean on them in times of great stress. Accept both their support and criticism with equal grace. Be a swim buddy to others. Someone out there needs you!”
― William H. McRaven, The Wisdom of the Bullfrog: Leadership Made Simple

“I have often said that a leader “is not allowed to have a bad day,” that pertains only to their demeanor in public. In public, before the rank and file, before the employees or the stockholders, a leader must never whine, never look defeated or dejected. If they do, their sullen attitude will spread like wildfire throughout the organization. However, every leader does have bad days. Every leader does need someone to talk to. Every leader must find someone they can trust.”
― William H. McRaven, The Wisdom of the Bullfrog: Leadership Made Simple

“It’s Simple: Work hard. Everyone expects it from their leader. Work harder. Give the extra effort. It will inspire the rank and file. Work your hardest. It will open opportunities that didn’t exist before.”
― William H. McRaven, The Wisdom of the Bullfrog: Leadership Made Simple

“It’s Simple: Establish a means for communications to flow in both directions. Confirm that the values and the goals of the organization are understood down to the lowest-ranking member. Never take a significant action without having a plan for informing the rank and file.”
― William H. McRaven, The Wisdom of the Bullfrog: Leadership Made Simple