In his 2014 commencement speech at the University of Texas, Admiral William McRaven shared ten lessons from his years as a Navy SEAL. The very first one surprised everyone:
“If you want to change the world, start by making your bed.”
The speech went viral, and a few years later McRaven expanded those lessons into a bestselling book titled Make Your Bed. In it, he goes deeper into the idea that success, resilience, and even leadership are built on seemingly ordinary actions. Discipline, consistency, and integrity don’t come from grand gestures, but from daily choices repeated over time.
At first, it sounds almost trivial. Why would something so small matter in the face of big challenges? But McRaven’s point is powerful: small acts of discipline create momentum. Making your bed isn’t really about the bed—it’s about identity. It’s about proving to yourself, right at the start of the day, that you are capable of order, of follow-through, and of showing up.
Life doesn’t usually fall apart because of one big failure. More often, it unravels in small ways—skipped routines, delayed decisions, postponed commitments. The opposite is also true: it often comes together through small wins. A glass of water instead of scrolling your phone. Writing two sentences instead of waiting for inspiration. Five minutes of stretching instead of “someday I’ll start exercising.”
Small wins are within reach, and when you stack them—gratitude, a workout, a few minutes of quiet—they compound into energy, confidence, and resilience. They change the way you carry yourself into the harder, more complex parts of life.
McRaven reminded his audience (and his readers) that the extraordinary grows out of the ordinary, repeated with consistency. A clean bed may seem insignificant, but it sets the tone for how you approach everything else.
So tomorrow, when the day begins, start small. Create your first win before the noise takes over. It won’t change the world instantly—but it might just change how you move through it.
👉 I’m curious to hear from you: What’s your version of “making your bed”? What small win sets the tone for your day? Hit reply and share—I’ll feature some of your answers in an upcoming edition.