Ever feel like you need a degree in computer science to make the most of AI tools? Think again! As...
Picture this: 20-year-old me, standing in the sweltering Virginia heat at Marine Corps Base Quantico, attending Officer Candidate School (OCS). I thought I was hot shit. Spoiler alert: I wasn't.
Fast forward almost 20 years, and boy, do I have some thoughts for that cocky kid.
Let's set the scene:
- First week? Nailed it.
- Top time in the Obstacle Course? Check.
- Aced the Physical Fitness Test? You bet.
I was feeling myself, strutting around like a peacock. The instructors were very impressed.
(Spoiler alert: Pride comes before the fall)
I'm standing there, trying not to sweat through my uniform, facing this red-headed Captain. At this moment in time, he could have been God.
"Candidate, you're being assigned as Platoon Commander." (Context - At OCS, you are assigned training leadership positions so that the staff can evaluate you on something other than physical abilities)
Hold up. Rewind. What now?
But…I have no idea how to be a Platoon Commander.
For four brutal days, I stumbled through formations, screwed up reports, and generally sucked at leading. My confidence? Shattered like my dropped flip phone.
Looking back…That ass-kicking became my golden ticket to actual mental toughness. Not the fake "I can do 100 push-ups" kind, but the real deal "life can throw anything at me" type.
So, for all you future leaders out there (or anyone facing a challenge that makes you want to throw up), here's what I wish I'd known about developing mental toughness (born from the Quantico swamps):
1) Embrace the Suck (But Don't Marry It)
Back then, I thought embracing the suck meant gritting my teeth and pushing through. Now? I know it's about accepting the challenge while keeping your sense of humor.
Action step: Next time you're in a tough spot, try naming it something ridiculous. "HI, Mr. Cluster%$#&. Fancy meeting you here!"
2) Fake It 'Til You Make It (But Don't Be a Fraud)
Young me thought leadership meant having all the answers. The older, slightly wiser me knows it's okay to say, "I don't know, but let's figure it out together."
Action step: Practice saying, "I'm not sure, but I'll find out," without your voice cracking. It's surprisingly liberating.
3) Build Your Support Network (AKA Your Cheer Squad)
I tried to lone-wolf it through OCS. Big mistake. Huge.
Action step: Identify your go-to people for different types of support. Who's your hype person? Your shoulder to cry on? Your voice of reason? Collect them all like Pokémon.
4) Learn to Laugh at Yourself (Before Others Do It For You)
I took myself way too seriously. Now I know that being able to laugh at yourself is like having a secret superpower.
Action step: Share your most embarrassing moment with a friend. If you can laugh about it together, you're on the right track.
5) Reframe Failure as Feedback (Not a Life Sentence)
Every mistake felt like the end of the world. Now, I see them as stepping stones. Slippery, sometimes painful stepping stones, but stepping stones nonetheless.
Action step: Start a "Failure Resume." List your biggest flops and what you learned. It's oddly satisfying and great for perspective.
Here's the deal: Mental toughness isn't about never feeling scared, overwhelmed, or like an imposter. It's about feeling all those things and moving forward anyway.
If I could return and give young, 20-year-old David Marshall some life lessons, it'd be this: Breathe. You're not supposed to have it all figured out. That's the point.
So, to all you future leaders, current strugglers, and anyone else trying to keep their head above water: You've got this. And even when you don't, that's okay too. Just keep moving forward.
Now, over to you: What's a situation where you felt completely out of your depth? How did you handle it? And more importantly, how would you handle it differently now? Drop your war stories in the comments – let's build an army of mentally tough, slightly scarred, but infinitely wiser badasses together!
P.S. If you ever find yourself in charge of a platoon with no clue what you're doing, just remember: At least you're not me circa 2006. Silver linings, people!
