LAS VEGAS — The Thursday keynote session at The Hospitality Show, held at the Venetian Resort, was delivered by keynote speaker Admiral William H. McRaven, USN (Ret.), who detailed through images and personal life experience what it takes to become a Navy SEAL, which he characterized as “one of the toughest military trainings in the world.”
He served for 37 years with commands at a variety of levels, including as a four-star admiral, with a final assignment as Commander of all U.S. Special Operations Forces, which included overseeing the 2011 Navy SEAL raid in Pakistan that killed al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden.
McCraven’s shared experiences included a variety of insights into teamwork, risk taking and integrity that could be applied across a range of life and work situations, including one he turned into a best-selling book, “Make Your Bed.”
The Admiral recalled how during early military training, inspections were held for uniforms and beds, which had to be impeccable, the beds done so tight that a quarter could be bounced off them.
“I remember thinking to myself: ‘I don’t get it. I came here to be a battle-hardened Navy SEAL and we’re spending a lot of time learning to make our beds.’”
At one point, McCraven finally asked an officer why so much emphasis on the beds. “He thought about it for a second and said: ‘Well, if you make your bed and take a little pride in it and it’s the first task of the day, it will inspire you to do another task, and another task, and another, and another. It’s about the little things. If you can’t even make your bed to exacting standards, how are we ever going to trust you to lead a complex SEAL mission? Learn to do the little things right and you’ll learn to do the big things right.’”
McCraven took it to heart, noting that even when he was in chaotic situations in his military life, when he returned to his quarters, his room was clean and his bed was made.
"It gave me some sense of control of my life,” he said. “I would [say], if you want to be successful in life, if you want to have a good day, start off by making your bed.”