Reference Librarian Buffy McDonald recommends The Wisdom of the Bullfrog by Admiral William H. McRaven.
Admiral McRaven’s The Wisdom of the Bullfrog is a practical guide for those interested in becoming good leaders as well as anyone seeking to live with purpose, consistency, and integrity. Great leadership, he argues, is built through daily effort: showing up early, working hard, sharing hardships, and learning from mistakes.
Through a selection of stories and lessons drawn from a long career in the military, he shows us how to care.
The book is a call to partake of life fully and live decently. For example, in the last chapter McRaven recommends finding a “swim buddy,” someone who is there for you not only in the good times, but also the bad. He quotes Oprah Winfrey, “Lots of people want to ride with you in the limo, but what you want is someone who will take the bus with you when the limo breaks down.”
Find someone you can build a trusting relationship with over time and do not rush it.
McRaven also highlights the importance of living by a set of personal principles that act as a daily compass. Even if you stumble, this set of principles can guide you to where you want to go. “Be decisive and accept that you might not always get it right,” he recommends. These principles can help by acting as an anchor, which can steady you as you go through life’s most turbulent times. “Command your fears and do not let worry stall your actions.”
Take the steps daily that your personal principles guide you toward, learn from your mistakes, and adjust as you go. “Do not let any particular failure define you.” Instead, respond with discipline and resilience. It is better to act with intention than to be paralyzed by perfectionism.
Finally, he reminds us that we are “all gifted for something.” Be proud of the work you do. Take care of the little stuff every day and be thankful for the work. Take pride in the little jobs and do them well. Be humble in your expectations and be consistent, i.e. “quietly determined.” This pursuit will require effort every day, and some days you just will not have the energy to do it. That’s okay. You do not have to be perfect. Put in the effort the next day.
McRaven has written a book that delivers a combination of inspiration, motivation, and practical guidance grounded in real-world experience. It is a reminder that strong character is shaped over time through humility and the courage to act—even when the outcome is uncertain.
