Episode 115

Seven Steps for Becoming Elite at Anything with Chris Sajnog

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Chris Sajnog was a Master Training Specialist in the Navy and was hand-selected to write the US Navy SEAL Sniper Manual. He used this experience, plus four years of studying neuroscience and elite performance, to develop the SEAL Training System (instead of Sea, Air, and Land Teams, this SEAL is Science-based Education for Accelerated Learning), which he uses to help others learn, live, and lead like warriors. He is a proud father, the author of three bestselling books, and the owner of Center Mass Group, a 100% Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business in San Diego, CA.

LEADERSHIP INSIGHTS

  • What you teach is less important than who you teach.
  • Most people think teaching marksmanship is about technique. But in order to hit the target, the person is more important than the gun. Said another way, the weapon (you) is more important than the tool (the gun).
  • It is important to turn people into leaders of themselves before having them lead others.
  • To be a good leader is to be a good teammate – to know your own skills and to lead or follow when appropriate.
  • Chris’s acronym for TEAMS: Take responsibility, Encourage others, Ask for help, Master your job, and Sacrifice for the team.
  • The seven key components for reaching an elite skill at anything: Mindset, planning, physics, focus, conditioning, deliberate practice, and feedback.
  • The shorter the feedback loop, the faster you will progress (check the target after every single shot).

QUESTIONS TO INSPIRE US TO ACTION

  • What is some lesson, saying, or experience that continues to influence your leadership to this day? Leading class to exceed expectations while in SEAL training.
  • Use three descriptors to finish this sentence: “A leader is…” Inspiring, decisive, and vulnerable
  • What is a question that leaders should be asking either themselves or others? What can I do to make the jobs of those I’m leading easier?
  • What book would you recommend to leaders? Leaders Eat Last by Simon Sinek
  • If you could get every listener to start doing something THIS week to help them be a better leader, what would it be? Meditate.
  • As a general life principle, is it better to ask “why?” or “why not?” It depends on the framing of the question. If something negative happens, asking “why me?” helps you make excuses. But if you’re asking “why did this happen?” in order to fix a problem, it’s helpful. The same could be said for “why not?”

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About the Podcast

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Life as Leadership: Where Leaders Gather to Grow Together
Where leaders gather to grow together

About your host

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Josh Friedeman

Josh Friedeman is a coach who works with organizations to improve their efficiency and revenue. Learn more about him and his guests on his two podcasts, "Business Bitcoinization" and "Life as Leadership." To explore working with Josh, visit friedemanleadership.com.