Extreme Ownership immediately grabbed my attention with its cover radiating raw power and determination, so I picked it up without hesitation. The U.S. Navy SEALs, America’s elite special forces unit, are renowned for their high-stakes missions. Written by a former platoon leader drawing on his real-life experiences in Iraq, this book delivers an incredibly vivid sense of the battlefield. The book describes fundamental leadership principles alongside examples from the Iraq War, making you nod in agreement. The real-world case studies applied to corporate clients through the author’s post-retirement consulting firm offered even more practical guidance. I fully agree with the author’s statement that ‘the battlefield is a microcosm of society.’

In fact, delivery drivers also operate under immense discipline, delivering massive volumes of goods daily. Their freelance status, contracted with agencies to handle deliveries and pickups in designated zones, reminded me in some ways of the U.S. military’s mercenary system. During their contract period, they belong to a specific delivery company, waging a daily ‘war with boxes’. The daily goal of completing deliveries and pickups without incident, and the unlimited liability system where they personally bear responsibility for compensation if packages are lost, also seemed very similar to the military. The fact that anyone can do it, but actually doing it well is difficult, is also similar to being a professional soldier. Would it be a stretch to say their fate is similar too – always having to carry out their mission, whether it’s freezing cold or scorching hot?

Anyway, reading this book made me wish I had elite teammates like Navy SEALs. I mean the dawn delivery team, where each member exercises ‘extreme ownership’ in their assigned zone to execute perfect deliveries. So next year, I plan to build a team and apply the leadership principles I learned from this book. As the saying goes, “There are no bad teams, only bad leaders.” It seems I, as a leader, need more training first. Fighting for victory today!