“THE GOUGE!
In US Navy jargon, the Gouge is essential information. When my father showed up on the ship, he got the Gouge from his fellow officers and senior enlisted sailors. They told him what he needed to know and care about and what he didn’t. Only worry about the important stuff—the stuff that will keep the ship’s crew alive and save lives. The Gouge is the heart of the matter. They had a saying: ‘Live by the Gouge or die by the Gouge.’ Live by it because it helps you be smarter than any situation you might find yourself in. Without the Gouge, you could die or, even worse, fail your team and the mission. …
The real Gouge is much deeper and more complicated than these simple derivatives. It was created to do more than help people cut corners or find a simple solution. The Gouge is the contract we all have with humanity—sharing the best of everyone for the collective well-being of all. It was always intended to be information you could believe in, people you could trust, and organizations you could rely on because it came from people who wanted the best for you, and the good for all. It is building people and our communities. We’re on Earth for a short time, never more evident than in combat. We’ve got to take care and look after each other if we’re going to make it. As my father always said, at the end of the day, you will be measured more by what you did for others than by what you did for yourself. The Gouge is a testament to this philosophy.”
~ Admiral Bob Harward from The Gouge!
I got this book after my dear friend, Captain Daryle Cardone (the commanding officer of the aircraft carrier the USS RONALD REAGAN) recommended it to me.
Daryle told me that Admiral Bob Harward was one of his mentors and that he is an extraordinary human being. He had previously recommended a book by another one of his mentors, Admiral Mike Manazir. I LOVED his book Learn How to Lead to Win, so I immediately got this one. It’s FANTASTIC. (Get a copy here.)
Admiral Bob Harward is a retired three-star Admiral and US Navy SEAL. The wisdom he shares in this book is based on the 40 years of highly decorated military service followed by another decade as a top executive in the global defense industry.
After leading invasions of Afghanistan in October 2001 and Iraq in March 2003, Harward served on the National Security Council under President George W. Bush, commissioning the National Counterterrorism Center. Before retiring from the military in 2013, Harward was Deputy Commander of US Central Command, which oversees military operations in the Middle East and Central Asia, under General James Mattis.
The book is PACKED with Big Ideas. I’m excited to share some favorites so let’s jump straight in!
P.S. Another book I got on Daryle’s recommendation? Call Sign Chaos by General Mattis.
P.P.S. Admiral Harward’s book reminded me of Admiral McRaven’s autobiography Sea Stories. Check out the Notes on that and all his other books we’ve featured including: Make Your Bed, The Hero Code, and The Wisdom of the Bullfrog. And, while we’re talking about Heroic wisdom from US Navy Admirals, check out our Notes on Admiral James Stavridis’ To Risk It All.
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