Nate’s Notes 149: SEAL Team Six Navy SEAL Karl “Gus” Gustavson | Leadership, Decision-Making, Communication, & Mental Toughness

Thanks for listening to this episode of Meikles and Dimes with SEAL Team Six Navy SEAL Karl “Gus” Gustavson.

I love the story Gus shared about a dive he was about to do on a cold, overcast, fall day, in the dark, cold, murky waters. Just as Gus was about to leave, someone came running out who wasn’t on the original dive plan. And it was Gus’s executive officer. The EO didn’t have to do the long, hard dive, but he wanted to be with the team he was leading.

And what a great three-step decision-making framework Secretary Mattis shared with the SEALs: Does this decision make us more efficient? Does it make us more effective? And does it make us a more lethal fighting machine? A great framework that we can all adapt and apply to our lives.

Gus also noticed that the best leaders delivered information clearly, concisely, and in a timely manner. “Here’s the info you need to know. Here’s what you’re going to do with it. Now go execute.”

Lastly, I was impressed by how Gus controls his thoughts, whether in combat, on a dive, or even during BUDs. He focused only on the things he could control, in manageable chunks. Sometimes that meant that all he was thinking about was how he could make it through the next hour, or just make it to chow. As the rock climber said, he had to focus on just the 3-foot circle around him.

As a member of SEAL Team Six, Gus is the most elite of the elite. And yet the lessons he shared are lessons that we can all apply. Lessons on leadership, decision making, communication, and mental toughness. All simple, yet profound, practical ideas. Please take them seriously.

Karl “Gus” Gustavson Bio:

Karl “Gus” Gustavson served in the US military as a Navy SEAL and as a member of the elite SEAL Team Six. Back in 2001, Gus was attending college when planes crashed into the World Trade Center. Gus dropped out of college, joined the military, and then served our country for 22 years, completing multiple tours of duty in the Middle East.

And now a quick word about SEAL Team Six. Most information concerning SEAL Team Six is classified. Their activities generally aren’t commented on by the Department of Defense or the White House. But they are the U.S. Military’s primary Tier 1 special mission unit, and are responsible for carrying out the most complex, classified, and dangerous missions, as directed by the President of the United States or the Secretary of Defense.

So, with that background, I hope you enjoy learning from Karl Gus Gustavson today.