Code, Evaluation & Protocols: Striving to become an Eminently Qualified Human
Jocko Willock
One word: Relentless.
Unmitigated Daily Discipline in all things. It is the only way.
I was first introduced to Jocko Willock through their book — Extreme Ownership, recommended to my by my manager at Meta. This one is a short 50 pager that can be treated like a handbook / manual to lead a better life.
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.
Evaluation
Dimensions along which an eminently qualified human is evaluated
- Health — Physical, Sleep, Nutrition
- Personal Development — Intellectual fitness, time management, Financial management
- Professional Development — Qualification, Performance
- Character/Leadership — Humility, Emotional Control, Mentorship
- Relationship
- Preparedness/Safety — Firearms, Emergency, Community Impact
Sleep
You must consistently get your required amount of sleep in order to cognitively perform on the highest levels. Sleeping too little, or too much, have dramatically negative effects on your body and ability to perform. Establish the amount of sleep you need and prioritize accordingly.
Diet
Knowledge and implementation of what constitutes a healthy diet is imperative and will make the difference between maximal performance and substandard performance.
Fire/Safety/Emergency
Everyone in your family should know CPR and basic life-saving steps
Being eminently qualified is being on The Path that does not end. We are trying to get better, every day.
Evaluation requires humility. No one else is scoring you. Don’t compare yourself to others. It’s about pitting your capacity against your performance.
It is you against you.
What do you do when you fall off The Path?
When you fall off The Path, ask yourself why. Why are you not doing the things you know you should? Do an unsparing self-assessment, identify corrective measures, and ruthlessly implement those measures.
Protocols
Death
- Remember the mark they left on you. Recognize the unforgettable precious moments you had together to know the beauty of their personality, their attitude, their outlook on the world
- Take those memories and precious moments and write a eulogy for the person. You may or may not get to deliver that eulogy at their service depending on the situation. It doesn’t matter. Write it anyway.
This person you lost has taught you that life is precious and how blessed we are to have every day to grow, to learn, to laugh, and to live.
Work Problems
Recognize that sometimes this is how life works. When things go wrong, they seem to happen all at once. They compound on top of each other and it is pretty easy sometimes to feel beaten when you are faced with all those issues and problems.
Make a list. What is the biggest problem? What is causing the most stress? Are your work pressures negatively impacting your home life?
At home — keep your family in confidence
At work — talk to manager. Be wherever you need to be whenever they need you to be there.
Apology
Find the right place and time to talk with the individual you want to apologize to. Late at night when everyone is tired or in a public place is not a good plan.
Avoid half apologies said with a tone that indicates you just want to get it over with and that you don’t really mean it. It’s not time to bring up past offenses that you are holding on to. Focus on the one situation and talk about that.
If your children witnessed the argument where you hurt someone, let them know that you were wrong and that you asked for forgiveness. It’s a teachable moment for them to see that apologizing and seeking forgiveness is a sign of strength not a sign of weakness.
Control yourself in the future. Your goal should always be to retain control of your words and actions so that you preserve your relationships. But if you lost that control remember that The Path forward to restoring your relationship begins with you.
