The Wisdom of the Bullfrog: Leadership Made Simple (But Not Easy)

Admiral William H. McRaven draws on four decades as a Navy SEAL to offer leadership lessons and advice. The title "Bullfrog" refers to the Navy SEAL with the longest active duty service—an honor McRaven received in 2011 when he took charge of the United States Special Operations Command. After retiring in 2014 with 37 years of service, he served as Chancellor to the University of Texas System, overseeing 230,000 students and 100,000 faculty and health care workers. Throughout his career, McRaven commanded at every level of the special operations community and dealt with major operations including the capture of Saddam Hussein, the rescue of Captain Phillips, and the raid for Osama bin Laden. This book draws on these experiences alongside crisis situations, management challenges, organizational transitions, and ethical dilemmas to present leadership lessons learned over forty years of service. Each chapter offers a parable with insights on specific leadership traits needed to perform at the highest level.