40 Jocko Willink Quotes On Discipline, Leadership & More
Last updated on January 5th, 2024 at 11:19 am
“Motivation” by “bluehouseskis“, licensed under CC0 1.0
John Gretto “Jocko” Willink is a retired United States Navy SEAL. While serving in the military he received many awards like Silver Star Medal and the Bronze Star. He is well known for his mastery in discipline and leadership. Along with this, he has also written many motivational books.
‘Extreme Ownership’, the book which was co-authored by Jocko, has made it to the list of New York Times Bestsellers. The book is a guide on how to become a strong leader. Jocko has written a total of 7 motivational books. Some of his famous books are, ‘Discipline Equals Freedom’, ‘The Dichotomy of Leadership’ and ‘Mikey and The Dragons’.
Currently, Jocko co-hosts a podcast known as ‘The Jocko Podcast’ wherein he teaches inspirational lessons from his life experiences, military career and more. He also co-owns ‘Echelon Front’, which is a leadership consulting company. Let us browse through some Jocko Willink quotes about leadership, discipline and more.
Jocko Willink Motivational Quotes
In order to instil motivation in others, Jocko has written several books. Here are some Jocko Willink quotes that will encourage you to reach your goals.
“Stop researching every aspect of it and reading all about it and debating the pros and cons of it … Start doing it.”
JOCKO WILLINK
SOURCE: DISCIPLINE EQUALS FREEDOM
“Don’t fight stress. Embrace it. Turn it on itself. Use it to make yourself sharper and more alert. Use it to make you think and learn and get better and smarter and more effective. Use the stress to make you a better you.”
JOCKO WILLINK
“Things won’t get better dwelling on the past. Accept what has happened. Then move forward.”
JOCKO WILLINK
“Everyone wants some magic pill—some life hack—that eliminates the need to do the work. But that does not exist.”
JOCKO WILLINK
“Go down swinging. And I’ll tell you: If you fight with all you have, more often than not, you won’t go down at all. You will win.”
JOCKO WILLINK
“You’re not going to find happiness. You have to make it. So get out there and make some happiness.”
JOCKO WILLINK
“Don’t let your mind control you. Control your mind.”
JOCKO WILLINK
“There is no growth in the comfort zone.”
JOCKO WILLINK
“Instead of letting the situation dictate our decisions, we must dictate the situation.”
JOCKO WILLINK
SOURCE: EXTREME OWNERSHIP
“Take care of your gear and your gear will take care of you.”
JOCKO WILLINK
SOURCE: MARC’S MISSION
Jocko Willink Quotes On Discipline
Jocko has preached the idea of discipline in his life. He believes whenever a person feels short of motivation, he/she should not forget to be in discipline. Read on to these Jocko Willink quotes that will make sure that you are on the right path.
“While discipline and freedom seem like they sit on opposite sides of the spectrum, they are actually very connected.”
JOCKO WILLINK
“Getting out of bed is like the foundation of the discipline, and I think it carries over into everything else.”
JOCKO WILLINK
“The temptation to take the easy road is always there. It is as easy as staying in bed in the morning and sleeping in. But discipline is paramount to ultimate success and victory for any leader and any team.”
JOCKO WILLINK
“I would venture to guess that the biggest reason creative types don’t produce isn’t because they don’t have vision… or talent… in most cases, it’s a lack of discipline.”
JOCKO WILLINK
“Waking up early was the first example I noticed in the SEAL Teams in which discipline was really the difference between being good and being exceptional.”
JOCKO WILLINK
SOURCE: DISCIPLINE EQUALS FREEDOM
“If you don’t think you are disciplined: It is because you haven’t decided to be disciplined. Yet.”
JOCKO WILLINK
“Although discipline demands control and asceticism, it actually results in freedom. When you have the discipline to get up early, you are rewarded with more free time.”
JOCKO WILLINK
Jocko Willink Quotes On Leadership
Jocko has taught through his work about leadership. Browse these Jocko Willink quotes to get insight into what powerful and true leadership actually means.
“Leading people is the most challenging and, therefore, the most gratifying undertaking of all human endeavors.”
JOCKO WILLINK
“We learned that leadership requires belief in the mission and unyielding perseverance to achieve victory, particularly when doubters question whether victory is even possible.”
JOCKO WILLINK
SOURCE: EXTREME OWNERSHIP
“The best leaders understand the motivations of their team members and know their people – their lives and their families.”
JOCKO WILLINK
SOURCE: EXTREME OWNERSHIP
“One of the key qualities a leader must possess is the ability to detach from the chaos, mayhem, and emotions in a situation and make good, clear decisions based on what is actually happening.”
JOCKO WILLINK
“A good leader does not get bogged down in the minutia of a tactical problem at the expense of strategic success.”
JOCKO WILLINK
“A leader must lead, but also be ready to follow. They must be aggressive, but not overbearing.”
JOCKO WILLINK
“A leader must be calm, but not robotic. They must be confident but never cocky.”
JOCKO WILLINK
“A leader must be brave, but not foolhardy. They must have a competitive spirit, but be a gracious loser.”
JOCKO WILLINK
“Leadership is simple, but not easy.”
JOCKO WILLINK
“Good leaders don’t make excuses. Instead, they figure out a way to get it done.”
JOCKO WILLINK
“There can be no leadership when there is no team.”
JOCKO WILLINK
“Even the most competent of leaders can be overwhelmed if they try to tackle multiple problems or a number of tasks simultaneously.”
JOCKO WILLINK
Jocko Willink Ownership Quotes
It is the human tendency to be happy if accredited with something nice. At the same time, if a person is held accountable for something that is not good, he/she tries to blame it on others. Jocko defines a true leader who takes ownership of his/her work. Here are some Jocko Willink quotes about ownership.
“Extreme Ownership is a mind-set, an attitude.”
JOCKO WILLINK
“Once people stop making excuses, stop blaming others, and take ownership of everything in their lives, they are compelled to take action to solve their problems.”
JOCKO WILLINK
“Admitting mistakes, taking ownership, and developing a plan to overcome challenges are integral to any successful team.”
JOCKO WILLINK
“The most fundamental and important truths at the heart of Extreme Ownership: there are no bad teams, only bad leaders.”
JOCKO WILLINK
“I had to take complete ownership of what went wrong. That is what a leader does — even if it means getting fired. If anyone was to be blamed and fired for what happened, let it be me.”
JOCKO WILLINK
Success comes to those who work hard and are disciplined. Jocko Willink highlights the importance of discipline in order to become a successful leader. Small day-to-day changes can be incorporated into our lives. Jocko advises that setting up a scheduled routine in our everyday lives brings about great changes.
These Jocko Willinko quotes are sure to embark a sense of inspiration and determination in you. Share these with someone who would love to know more about leadership secrets. Tell us, which one is your favorite!
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Nitesh Kucchal
Nitesh Kuchhal, an IIM Calcutta graduate, is more than an educator—he's a mentor. With a passion for leadership and entrepreneurship, and travel. He has explored over 20 countries. Beyond teaching, he dives into psychology and discusses social issues. Though he is not a history expert, he enjoys learning about it through books, adding a historical touch to his many interests.
