Jocko Willink

Jocko Willink (@jockowillink ) is one of the scariest human beings imaginable. Jocko enlisted in the Navy after high school and spent 20 years in the SEAL Teams , first as an enlisted SEAL operator and then as a SEAL officer. During his second tour in Iraq, he led SEAL Task Unit Bruiser in the Battle of Ramadi — some of the toughest and most sustained combat by the SEAL Teams since Vietnam. Under his leadership, Task Unit Bruiser became the most highly decorated Special Operations Unit of the entire war in Iraq and helped bring stability to Ramadi. Jocko was awarded the Bronze Star and a Silver Star. Upon returning to the United States, Jocko served as the Officer-in-Charge of training for all West Coast SEAL Teams, designing and implementing some of the most challenging and realistic combat training in the world. This is his first mainstream interview and one you won’t want to miss. This episode is brought to you by Wealthfront ! Wealthfront is a financial services platform that offers services to help you save and invest your money. Right now, your cash can earn 3.30% APY—that’s the Annual Percentage Yield—with the Wealthfront Cash Account from its network of program banks. That’s 8 times more interest than a typical savings account at a bank, according to FDIC.gov as of 1/22/2026 (Wealthfront’s 3.30% APY vs. 0.39% average savings rate). Right now, for a limited time, Wealthfront is offering new clients that use my sign-up link an additional 0.75% boost over the base rate for three months, meaning you can get up to 4.05% APY, limited to $150,000 in deposits. Terms & Conditions apply. Visit Wealthfront.com/Tim to get started. The Cash Account, which is not a deposit account, is offered by Wealthfront Brokerage LLC (“WFB”), member FINRA/SIPC. Wealthfront Brokerage is not a bank. The 3.30% Base APY on cash deposits is as of January 30, 2026, is representative, subject to change, and requires no minimum balance. The overall boosted rate is subject to change if the base rate decreases during the three-month promotional period. Tim Ferriss, who’s not a client, receives cash compensation from Wealthfront Brokerage LLC for advertising and holds a non-controlling equity interest in the corporate parent of Wealthfront Brokerage LLC, which creates an incentive that results in a conflict of interest. Tim expresses his own opinions and Wealthfront does not endorse, sponsor, or promote them. This ad may not reflect the experience of other Cash Account clients, and similar outcomes are not guaranteed. Investment advisory services are provided by Wealthfront Advisers LLC, an SEC-registered investment adviser. Securities investments: not bank deposits, not bank-guaranteed or FDIC-insured, and may lose value. See full disclosures here . QUESTION(S) OF THE DAY: How has discipline supported your entrepreneurial goals? What aspects could still use improvement? Please let me know in the comments . Extreme Ownership: How U.S. Navy SEALs Lead and Win by Jocko Willink Learn more about Victory MMA , Jocko Willink’s gym in San Diego Seeking solutions in business or leadership? Check out Echelon Front About Face by Colonel David H. Hackworth Blood Meridian by Cormac McCarthy Learn more about Band of Brothers How Jocko would design training for someone who wants to add lean muscle mass [13:49] The story of how Jocko Willink got involved in jiu-jitsu [15:44] How Jocko Willink’s SEAL military experience influenced his business [19:24] The story of how Jocko Willink became a SEAL [22:14] Where mental toughness comes from [30:04] Describing the Battle of Ramadi) [31:04] On the leadership and strategy required to take over a city [47:14] The great tacticians that Jocko Willink respects, [52:44] What makes a good leader and the things to look for when identifying good leaders [53:59] How to teach the skill of detachment [1:01:34] Jocko Willink’s workout that would cause entire platoons to “tap out” [1:09:14] What are you world-class at that people m