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10 Lessons That Could Change The World: Revisiting Admiral McRaven's Commencement Address And The 2025 Evolution

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Few speeches in modern history have achieved the viral, enduring impact of Admiral William H. McRaven's 2014 commencement address to the graduating class at the University of Texas at Austin. Delivered on May 17, 2014, the speech distilled his decades-long career as a Navy SEAL and commander of U.S. Special Operations into ten deceptively simple life lessons, starting with the now-iconic command: "If you want to change the world, start off by making your bed."

As of December 2025, the message of personal accountability, resilience, and hope remains profoundly relevant, particularly as Admiral McRaven prepares to release his newest work, *Conquering Crisis: Ten Lessons to Learn Before You Need Them*, in April 2025. This article revisits the foundational wisdom of the original address and explores how the celebrated former commander is updating his timeless principles for a world grappling with continuous crises, offering a fresh, 2025 perspective on his most famous talk.

Admiral William H. McRaven: A Blueprint of Service and Leadership

Admiral William Harry McRaven is one of the most distinguished military figures of his generation, known for his leadership in some of the most critical U.S. Special Operations missions. His career provides the ultimate context for the simple yet profound lessons shared in his commencement address.

  • Full Name: William Harry McRaven
  • Born: November 6, 1955
  • Military Service: United States Navy (1977–2014)
  • Highest Rank: Four-Star Admiral
  • Key Role: Ninth Commander of the United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM)
  • Notable Mission: Oversaw the successful 2011 raid that resulted in the death of Osama bin Laden.
  • Post-Military Career: Served as the Chancellor of the University of Texas System (2015–2018).
  • Current Role (2025): Professor in National Security at the Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs at the University of Texas at Austin.
  • Published Works: *Make Your Bed: Little Things That Can Change Your Life...And Maybe the World* (2017), *Sea Stories: My Life in Special Operations* (2019), and the upcoming *Conquering Crisis* (2025).

His transition from a top-tier military commander to an academic and author underscores a commitment to translating battlefield lessons into universally applicable life wisdom, a mission that began with his viral University of Texas speech.

The 10 Lessons That Launched a Global Movement

The core of the 2014 commencement address, which later became the foundation for his bestselling book *Make Your Bed*, was a list of ten principles McRaven learned during his grueling Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL (BUD/S) training. These lessons provide a clear, actionable roadmap for anyone seeking to overcome adversity and achieve success.

The lessons are not about grand strategy, but about the small, daily disciplines that forge a resilient character. They are the essence of the "Make Your Bed" philosophy.

  1. Start Your Day with a Task Completed (Make Your Bed): This simple act gives you a small victory, encourages you to do the next task, and reinforces the fact that the little things matter.
  2. Find Someone to Help You Paddle: You can't change the world alone. Find partners and build a team to help you through life's challenges.
  3. Measure a Person by the Size of Their Heart, Not the Size of Their Flippers: The great equalizer in SEAL training was the will to succeed, not physical size or social status. Never judge people by their superficial traits.
  4. Get Over Being a Sugar Cookie and Keep Moving Forward: During training, a failure meant being soaked and rolling in the sand—a "sugar cookie." Life is full of setbacks; you must accept them and move on.
  5. Don't Be Afraid of the Circuses: The "circus" was extra physical training for those who failed to meet standards. If you fail, accept the punishment, learn from it, and come back stronger.
  6. Slide Down the Obstacle Head First: Take calculated risks. Sometimes, the most daunting challenges require you to be daring and push the limits.
  7. Don't Back Down From the Sharks: There will be bullies and challenges in life that seem overwhelming. Stand your ground and face them head-on.
  8. Be Your Very Best in the Darkest Moments: When the situation is dire and everything is going wrong, remain calm and focused. Hope is a powerful weapon.
  9. Start Singing When You're Up to Your Neck in Mud: When you are deep in the mud of life—physically or emotionally exhausted—find a way to bring hope to others. A single person can inspire a team.
  10. Never, Ever Ring the Bell: The brass bell in SEAL training is rung by those who quit. No matter how hard the challenge, never give up on your dreams or your mission.

From "Make Your Bed" to "Conquering Crisis": The 2025 Evolution

While the original commencement address focused on the personal discipline required to "change the world," Admiral McRaven's work has evolved to address the complexities of the modern global landscape. The most significant update to his philosophy is encapsulated in his upcoming book, *Conquering Crisis: Ten Lessons to Learn Before You Need Them*, scheduled for release in April 2025.

This new work is a direct response to the era of continuous global crises—from geopolitical conflicts and economic uncertainty to environmental and public health challenges. It reframes the original SEAL lessons not just as tools for personal success, but as essential strategies for navigating and surviving large-scale, existential threats.

Applying SEAL Principles to Modern Crises

The 2025 perspective shifts the focus from an individual's journey to a collective response to adversity. For example, the original lesson "Find Someone to Help You Paddle" is now viewed through the lens of building resilient, diverse, and cooperative teams necessary to manage complex, multi-faceted crises. The emphasis is less on individual grit and more on organizational and community resilience.

The lesson "Be Your Very Best in the Darkest Moments" takes on a new weight when applied to global leadership during a pandemic or a major international conflict. It stresses the importance of maintaining composure, clarity of thought, and moral integrity when the entire world seems to be panicking. This is a crucial leadership lesson for CEOs, politicians, and community leaders in 2025.

The Enduring Power of Small Victories

Despite the grand scale of "conquering crisis," the core message of "Make Your Bed" remains the anchor. McRaven argues that preparing for a crisis starts long before the crisis hits, with the small, daily habits of discipline and order. If you cannot manage the small things—like making your bed—you will be ill-equipped to handle the large, unexpected disasters. This foundational principle of personal order is the bedrock of all subsequent crisis management strategies.

By revisiting and expanding on his famous commencement speech, Admiral McRaven ensures that his leadership philosophy—rooted in the harsh realities of SEAL training—remains a beacon of wisdom and worthwhile common sense for a universal audience facing the unpredictable future. His enduring legacy is not just the speech itself, but the continuous application of those 10 simple lessons to the ever-evolving challenges of life and the world.

adm mcraven commencement address
adm mcraven commencement address

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