Jocko Willink: How To Handle Stress

Jocko Willink faced intense challenges as a U.S. Navy SEAL serving in one of the most highly decorated special operations units of the Iraq war. In an interview with CNBC Make It, Willink shares two key ways he learned to manage stress.

Used correctly, these tips can even turn your worry into fun, says Willink, co-author of the book “The Dichotomy of Leadership ” and the founder of management consulting firm Echelon Front.

1. Let go of what you can’t control
When confronting your stress, Willink recommends asking yourself, “Am I stressed about something that I can control or is it something that I cannot control at all?”

The key to moving forward, Willink tells CNBC Make It, is acceptance of what you can’t change and moving forward with what you can.

“Every moment that you spend worrying about something that you have no control over is taking away the energy that you could put into the things that you actually can control,” he says.

2. Attack your weaknesses
If you do have control over a situation, and are knowingly entering a stressful environment like a big meeting or presentation, then take an “offensive mindset,” he says.

The best thing you can do in these situations is to “attack your weaknesses.” Consider what’s worrying you and what you think will go wrong. Then prepare and train accordingly.

“Think to yourself: OK. I’m going to attack this meeting. I’m going to do a great job,” says Willink. “It goes back to preparation.”

It takes discipline to evaluate and strengthen your weakest areas. But ultimately, this process will give you confidence and control, eliminating stress.

“Wake up early. Know your material. Train hard. Study hard,” says Willink. “Be prepared for the situation that you’re going into and then there’s no stress. There’s just, quite honestly, fun.”

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Former Navy SEAL: To manage stress, you must ‘attack your weaknesses’ | CNBC Make It.

[unleashingpotential-psycho]

I love it! Best way to handle stress is to attack it.

[koalaluv]

This man has been helping me. Strsight to the point and no bs.

[estebanlopez]

Sometimes being prepared is not enough if you do not prepare yourself for performance stress

[ChrisOakesCO]

Like most everything stress, anxiety, fear are not bad things, they serve to alert you, warn you. Stress, fear, anxiety out of control can be trouble though. Balance 🙏🏼

[kianjoubert]

When Jocko was born he told his family he was ready to get out

[FutureGrowAcademy]

9 Ways To Deal with High-Pressure Situations-

1. Understand Your Cutoff
2. Identify Your Triggers
3. Focus On The Task, Not The Result
4. Don’t Try To Avoid Pressure
5. Establish A Prioritization Plan
6. Break Down Your Tasks
7. Don’t Procrastinate
8. Change Your Outlook About Pressure
9. Try Mindfulness Practice

[Ghost]

Only Jocko can make stress have anxiety attacks.

[bhx]

this advice sounds like a really good way to manage stress for 1 year to a couple decades and then crash and literally be no longer able to deal with it at all. basically stoicism with more agression. I did everything right and then my brain predictably just broke and now I am experiencing mental illness. Down time, self care. Proper rest and avoidance of taking on too much is the answer. sorry some can do this for a while but your genes and your body WILL catch up with you and cause you disease.

[skymartinez]

Plain and simple. I've started a new warehouse job in a leadership position. Definitely different from retail. This gave me a huge opening that you have to be in a OPEN MINDSET. Of course preparing is key.

[Gaurav-qwus]

This is the best video I found on stress management.

[NK-The_One]

This is sound advice, however, it is very hard to apply if you're bad at dealing with stress and anxiety. What you need to do is exactly this (and maybe some therapeutic interventions if you're mentally ill), but the reason you're struggling is exactly because you struggle with the steps.

Don't worry about things you can't control? Easier said then done. Attack what you can control? Would be awesome _if only I could get myself to do that_ .

However, just because something is difficult, it doesn't mean that you master it. The cool thing is that this is very simple advice. It's very clear what you need to practice every time you get stressed:

1. Decide wether you can control something that stresses you.
2. If no, tell your self that you can't and accept it.
3. If yes, go into attack mode. Do every thing you can to dominate it and also approach it that way.

Also he's absolutely right that you should be nervous if you didn't prepare enough. However, that won't help with the situation you're underprepared for. So, go back to the steps above.

[wartassikhalid]

You absolutely right..I m strong and I can do it and Handel it..think about your strength..that's your attack

[qleblnn]

Everything you say leads me back to Stoic philosophy. 👍

[nickpaine]

So stoicism with added aggression towards things you can control

[zgpcece]

I like this perspective. U gotta repair and be deciplined and ready to tackle what ever ishue u are Haven

[Matthew]

This is setting a new standard. I read a book with a similar theme, and it set a new standard for me. "Unlocking the Brain's Full Potential" by Alexander Sterling

[quendelf]

Stressing and stress is the real stresser.

[n-]

If you do things correctly then there is no problem.

[Lightflames]

Even when prepared you can feel nervous and stressed about the situation. Like me i am horrible under pressure.

[seanhastings]

Why does his voice sound different in this video?