Make Your Bed Book Cover

Make Your Bed

Small Things That Can Change Your Life and Maybe the World

Brief summary

William H. McRaven is a retired US Navy Admiral. Originally he gave a commencement speech at the University of Texas in Austin to the graduating class. He is an alumnus of that University and was in a way skeptical of how he would be received during his speech. And to his amazement, he was very well received which led to the concretization of the ideas he had originally given during the speech in May 2014. The basic crux of the book revolves around how small habits and behavior go a large way in transforming lives and much more. And a major chunk of the book includes practical experiences of the author written in the form of advice and anecdotes.

Show More
book summary app

Download app now

   
00:00
00:00
00:00

Lesson 1 - Make your bed: the first task of the day.

A task as simple as making one's bed goes a long way in making a big impact in life. The idea is that when somebody makes their bed, they achieve the first single task of the day which gives them a sense of accomplishment. It further gives them the mental boost to carry on the tasks in daily life. William McRaven learned this when he was undergoing SEAL training in Coronado, California.

During his training days, he recalled that the bed needed to be made neatly, with dedication and focus or else it would result in rolling on the beach till one is covered with wet sand as a form of punishment for not meeting the set standards. Simple as it may be, but making the bed reflected more than just arranging the bed sheet and blankets, it reflected discipline. A well-made bed didn’t bring with it any appraisal; rather, it denoted personal satisfaction that something was well achieved.

 In the years following 9/11, when Saddam Hussein was captured in December 2003, it was noticed that his bed was unkempt and that even though he had good luxurious blankets, they were rolled up at the feet of the bed. This lazy attitude had already preordained his downfall.

Little things in life matter, as they not only give shape to the larger picture but also provide coherent meaning to the whole. When we inculcate the habit of making our bed first thing in the morning, we make a habit of accomplishing a task. And, any accomplishment leads to self-satisfaction which in turn helps in generating self-worth. And as we become aware of our self-worth, we become capable of achieving greater heights of success.

 

Lesson 2 - Teamwork and Success are Interdependent.

Teamwork leads to success is a striking argument McRaven makes by citing his days spent in training. The first phase of SEAL training was characterized by carrying the raft together placed on their heads and running from the barracks, across the highway to the chow hall. Along with that, they were required to run on the dunes in circuits. They were also required to paddle the boat along the coast in groups of seven. The notion of teamwork is an essential element of success. There would be days when a member of the team would not be at their best, and it falls upon the rest of the team to put in a bit of extra effort to ensure the performance of the team doesn’t fall too low.

<span

Unlock Knowledge with Wizdom App

Explore a world of insights and wisdom at your fingertips with the Wizdom app.

  • 1 Million+ App Download
  • 4.9App Store Rating
  • 5000+Summaries & Podcasts

Reviews for Summary of Make Your Bed

0.0
Vote: 0

About the author

William H. McRaven Image

William H. McRaven, a retired U.S. Navy admiral and former Navy SEAL, is renowned for his leadership expertise. An accomplished author, his book “Make Your Bed” imparts invaluable life lessons drawn from military experiences, inspiring readers w...

Unlock Make Your Bed Lessons!

Download our app for instant access to the summarized version and Audiobook of 'Make Your Bed'
Published Year: 2017
214 Views Reading time: Quotes:
Make Your Bed Book Cover
Chapter List
  • Lesson 1 - Make your bed: the first task of the day.
  • Lesson 2 - Teamwork and Success are Interdependent.
  • Lesson 3 – Judge a person by measuring the size of their heart.
  • Lesson 4 – Life is not fair so stop being a sugar cookie and move forward
  • Lesson 5 – Strength comes from failures
  • Lesson 6- A daring attitude goes a long way.
  • Lesson 7 – Face your bullies
  • Lesson 8 – Shine when all the lights are out
  • Lesson 9- Hope: Of Optimists and Quitters
book summary app

Download app now

You May Also Like:


FAQs

In the summary of Make Your Bed book, there are 9 key lessons. These lessons include:

  1. Lesson 1 - Make your bed: the first task of the day.
  2. Lesson 2 - Teamwork and Success are Interdependent.
  3. Lesson 3 – Judge a person by measuring the size of their heart.
  4. Lesson 4 – Life is not fair so stop being a sugar cookie and move forward
  5. Lesson 5 – Strength comes from failures
  6. Lesson 6- A daring attitude goes a long way.
  7. Lesson 7 – Face your bullies
  8. Lesson 8 – Shine when all the lights are out
  9. Lesson 9- Hope: Of Optimists and Quitters

Make Your Bed by William H. McRaven was published in 2017.

Once you've completed Make Your Bed book, We suggest reading out Stop Checking Your Likes as a great follow-up read.

Yes, the book Make Your Bed is really good to read. 214 people have searched for the book summary on the Wizdom platform. The book summary has a rating of 0.0, 0 on our platform.

In the printed version of Make Your Bed book have over 300 pages and usually takes 8-10 days to finish. However, with the Wizdom app, including its summary and audiobook, it can be completed in just 15 minutes.

Write a Review