The Warner Brothers Superman franchise has earned more than a billion dollars in the theaters since it began. Jocko Willink, the famous Navy SEAL and author, has over 3 million followers on Instagram. What this shows me is that we are all infatuated with and amazed by the idea that otherwise seemingly normal people can do astounding things and inspire us to follow their lead.
While Superman and Jocko are terrific examples of figures, both mythical and real, who inspire us, there are many more all around us. They are the Grinders who, through their actions and comportment, inspire us to be better—and, as we all know, Grinders Win.
One such person is my friend Ed Naggiar. Like Jocko, Ed is a former Navy SEAL. Like Superman, he lives his life to help others, especially those who’ve been forgotten or given up on.
But Ed is so, so much more than these roles. He has a PhD in Industrial/Organizational Psychology. His day job since the Seal Teams is working with businesses, first responders, and c-suite executives to help inspire them and teach them to be better. But what really separates Ed from others is his work to reduce recidivism among inmates in Panama City, Florida. He calls the program that governs all his efforts “Mission Based Resilience.”
If you look on social media, you will have to be quite a sleuth to find any evidence of Ed. He eschews publicity, preferring to “focus on the mission at hand.” In a world where millions of people define and value themselves by their number of followers, Ed is a throwback who defines himself by his personal creed, a document that is based in a more chivalric time.
To hear Ed’s story is to hear a story of a man who truly embodies the concept of mind over matter, a true Grinder. By Ed’s own definition, he was a “meek and mild” boy, afraid to swim and “emotionally younger than his age.” He went off to college as an NROTC candidate whose own father, whom Ed adored, counseled not to pursue the SEAL Teams, as Dad felt Ed just didn’t have what it took to make it.
Then, during Ed’s freshman year, his dad died suddenly. Ed’s world was shaken to its core. A lesser man might have curled into a fetal position and checked out—but Ed is not that guy. Ed knew at that moment that life was fleeting, and he “decided to take ownership in my life.” He further resolved to be on the SEAL Teams, to “make a decision to go and do it and to create a plan to achieve it.”
Ed resolved to prove to himself and to his late father that he COULD be a Navy SEAL and earn the Trident, the insignia of a qualified SEAL. What followed was months of physical training, mental preparation, and hours in the pool to overcome his innate fear of the water. At the beginning of his quest, a lifeguard asked what Ed was doing floundering in the pool each day. When Ed explained he was preparing for BUD/S, the lifeguard was incredulous. The lifeguard then volunteered to teach Ed and help him achieve his goal. That’s another example of the importance of having the courage to share our goals with others, even at the risk of ridicule.
As Ed learned, the upside to sharing is that it invites others in to help us. The result was the creation of a resilient Grinder who, despite his beginnings, achieved his lofty goal.
Ed is an example to all of us that not only do Grinders Win but they also serve as living examples to others. I encourage all of you Grinders to read Ed’s creed and watch the documentary called Long Walk from Darkness about his work with the inmates in Florida. The world needs more Ed Naggiars—people who put the mission in front of their own popularity.
Keep Grinding!
-
STAY POSITIVEI came across an interesting article this morning. It was an interview with Dr. Gary Small who is…Read More -
WALKER MANThe other day I was at the gym when I noticed something both unusual and amazing. As I…Read More
-
OLD KURTI was fortunate to be able to walk on to two sports in college. In high school, I…Read More
-
INTEGRITYI love the Boston Red Sox and have since I was a boy. To this day, the sight…Read More
-
EMBRACE THE SUCKI am training for a four day 120 mile event with over 15,000 ft of elevation change in…Read More
-
BE BETTERThis morning during my run, I had a variety of thoughts zoom through my head. As I jogged…Read More
-
DREAMS INTO GOALSIn 2021, a former walk-on led the University of Georgia to a national championship in college football. Stetson…Read More
