Via Inc.com:
…not only were the cadets more collegial, but they seemed to be happier–much happier–than students at civilian universities, including those he had taught during his seven years on the Stanford faculty. Which was odd. After all, West Point cadets lead extremely demanding lives. Nearly every minute of every day is programmed, and every aspect of their lives is regimented, down to the color of their socks and the way razors must be positioned in their medicine cabinets. Meanwhile, they are constantly being tested both physically and mentally–and they often fall short. This goes on for four years with almost no letup, followed by five years of active duty.
How, Collins wondered, did such a burdensome environment produce such a happy, lively, and confident cohort of young men and women? In business, happy cultures tend to be associated with pool tables, foosball, Friday-afternoon beer parties, and dogs in the office–in a word, fun. A cadet’s life is anything but fun. And yet these young people seem to get something out of their lives that is missing from the lives of many of their contemporaries.
Click the link to see more: The Re-Education of Jim Collins | Inc.com
Points:
- “…repeated failure was built into West Point’s culture.”
- “To find your limit and experience the most growth, you have to go on a journey of cumulative failure”.”
- “Everything the cadets did grew out of their desire to serve.“
- “…people who become the best at what they do are never content with success.”
- “It is very difficult to have a great life unless it is a meaningful life. And it is very difficult to have a meaningful life without meaningful work.”