Being in the Navy is a military career that gives one an opportunity of discovering that experience is by far the most intricate and most complex teacher. It is the only exam that comes even before the lessons are taught. This is where you have to take care of yourself, your family, education, your health, and all the while ensuring your career comes first. “Don’t postpone important and special events.” (Gladwel, 2006). Such events include investing, doctor’s appointments, planning for your education, attending family events, and planning your career as only you will be able to do all these for yourself.
This is mainly learned the hard way. You end up wishing that you would have treated them as a priority and planned well for them. Early in the career, you are assigned a mentor who will advise you accordingly, all the lessons necessary to survive and thrive in the Navy. “It is of essence that all the vital aspects of one’s life are well aligned and put in place.” (Gladwel, 2006). Otherwise, it all catches up with you, mounting into one big problem that is not easy to deal with or sort out without inconveniencing the other.
While in the Navy, there is a whole lot to accomplish, but time is not usually a laxity. The time available to achieve all is hardly there, and most people are tempted to put all in one basket, which usually ends up in disaster. “When you set out your goals and objectives depending on priority, it usually gets easier to manage and achieve all of the goals set.” (Gladwel, 2006). This way, one can focus on a more significant impact comparatively smoothly. One should be careful not to give much time to activities that don’t matter so much.
Once you have accomplished all that is important and have a little extra time left, you can embark on the activities that are not much of a priority and address them accordingly. According to Gladwel, one should have a very positive mindset while in the Navy. “Optimism is an asset to make it through the Navy successfully. It is a virtue that can multiply huge accomplishments while in active service. A negative attitude pushes most people away, while optimism, on the other hand, draws people towards your intentions.” (Gladwel, 2006). It doesn’t matter what is going on; it is easy to disarm conflict unknowingly when you put on a happy face.
While in the Navy, reading is one way of getting through swiftly while expanding and increasing your knowledge. “Blogs, journals, magazines, and books are a perfect source of information and knowledge. One should purpose to create time and schedule reading time at least a few minutes every day to grow and learn through the ideologies of other people.” (Gladwel, 2006). If the work schedule does not allow for such a provision, one should consider listening to audiobooks instead.
The Navy also teaches people to learn the art of listening. This should not at any time be confused with hearing, which could be passive, and not active listening, which combines both learning and understanding. This is a vital virtue in the Navy because all your colleagues, subordinates, peers, instructors, supervisors, family, and friends always want and expect you to listen and not just hear them. A good audience must constantly repeat what he just heard to show the person addressing them that they were indeed listening and not just hearing them.
The Navy is also an excellent place to learn and internalize that nothing is ever permanent and that all situations can be changed by thinking as a first step. One has to think of their current situation and purpose to change, think about your objectives, and what precisely you would like to accomplish. Despite the common perception that members are subjects of instruction in the military, they are still allowed to think for themselves. In the military, members are not expected to act on what they are thinking individually; they are still allowed to think, analyze and make informed decisions.
We all know that adversity is part and parcel of everyday life. Persistence here is very critical to succeed in the Navy. Judgment and skills are developed going by experience. This includes obstacles and challenges. One should purpose and intentionally commit to their actions and anything they promise to do. When you fail to accomplish what you say you would, you expose yourself, your credibility to being questioned, and resistance grows amongst your peers. Overall, results matter, so one should be careful not to confuse accomplishment with activity. When positive results are not achieved, then intent and effort become irrelevant.
In the Navy, one usually has at least one mentor to look up to. A trusted advisor that one can talk to, seek and share ideas. “It is generally advisable to have mentors both in and outside the military. Depending on your position, you can also offer your mentorship services to other juniors who need your insights and guidance.” (Gladwel, 2006). The decisions one has to make while in the military tend to impact their lives after service. It dictates how one’s occupation, lifestyle, location, and income take.
Reference
Gladwel, M. (2006). The Power of Thinking Without Thinkinghttp://dspace.vnbrims.org:13000/xmlui/bitstream/handle/123456789/4124/Blink%20The%20Power%20of%20Thinking%20Without%20Thinking.pdf?sequence=1
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