Bottom line up front (BLUF): To getting it done!

“In any moment of decision, the best thing you can do is the right thing, the next best thing is the wrong thing, and the worst thing you can do is nothing.”

— President Theodore Roosevelt

We all want to get to our desired result, right? Isn’t that the million-dollar question, as they say? I’m going to assume you want successful results—I mean, what else is there?

Being more productive, getting better every day, getting a job done, making more money, solving a problem, or improving on a relationship are all successful results! I’m being Captain Obvious here, but I was a Captain in the Navy, and countless times, the obvious has come out of my mouth, but that’s a result and a sea story for another time.

“To Getting It Done” is to get to your desired result. That’s what it’s all about, after all. You focus on what you want, take action, get it done, and get your desired result. Simple, right? And we all love simple and obvious. But if it’s that simple, why aren’t we all getting our desired result every day? Aside from the seemingly straightforward process, is there something else we need to do?

Simply put, you use tools. If you use the right tool, you can find a solution for anything you desire. The trick is finding the right one that works for you. I spent the last 38+ years of my life in the US Navy collecting and refining the tools in this book. Anybody can use these tools. They have worked for me and others all over the world, just like you, from all walks of life, at sea above and below the oceans, overseas, in combat zones, and during a pandemic. These tools are simple and are things like daily planning, focusing, and creative thinking. You could call them results tools or success tools, but, there is no magic formula, just ways to take focused action to help you achieve your desired result, which is what we all want.

I offer these tools, so you don’t have to spend 38 years of your life in the Navy learning to achieve your desired result. This book gives you all the tools you need and offers humor, sarcasm, and a few sea stories along the way. I mean, why would you even listen to a Sailor who’s been in the Navy that long if they weren’t going to tell you a sea story?

Why tools? Because tools are something we all have in common—we all use them in one form or another. I’m going to make you aware of some results tools you can try, and, if you like them, add to your tool belt. Some of these tools you may already have and use now, some you have and are just not aware of them. It’s beneficial to keep an open mind and check out new tools when the opportunity comes. Also, note that what worked for you last week may not work for you this week, or that what works for one person might not work for the other. Just because someone does things a certain way doesn’t mean we all have to do it that same way. That’s why it’s important to keep trying new things until you find what works for you and helps you get the result you want. Trying new tools enables you to improve each day, and if you’re improving, taking action, and moving forward each day, you will get a positive result. And if you’re not—then it’s obvious you’re not! So, ultimately this book will show you some tools to help you grow, take action, and move forward to get to your desired successful result.

So how did I come about this knowledge? 38+ successful years in the US Navy, that’s how. But why should you trust me? What do I know about tools? So what?

Well, to start, let me tell you my personal “why” for writing this book about getting things done using tools. It is a way to give back or pay forward, as it would be a shame to take all those years of hard lessons learned (tools) and not share them with others or do nothing with them. These tools have always worked for me and countless others in the Navy and civilian life to whom I’ve had the pleasure of passing them. This book tucks these tools nice and neat into a place for you to use.

You can do anything with the right tool! You have the world’s most powerful tool right inside your head, so you’re already starting successfully. The problem is that most people don’t use it to achieve their desired results. Instead, they drift through life, thinking about what they don’t want, how hard something is to do, or that as long as they eat and have a place to sleep—in other words, just the basics—they are ok. No need to try different tools to go after their desires or dreams. So they get stuck in the same old routine year after year. I’m not exempt from this—I’ve done some of these same things and still do sometimes. We all do. We’re human, after all. But there is always an alternative or a tool to help move forward. Just take action! Suppose you don’t have a simple process that allows you to get things done, like finish the report due to your boss in three days, pay your bills, face your fears, create a stream of passive income, or remember your significant other’s birthday to keep you out of hot water. All you need is to use a little of the right tool, and you’ll be on your way from ordinary to extraordinary!

Once you find the tool that works for you, it’s like nirvana or “ta-da!” It only takes one to make a difference. One tool, one spark, one bit of inspiration or momentum to get it started, and then off you go! It makes you feel fantastic, motivated, inspired and gives you massive energy, knowing you have a tool to help you achieve results! Once you find that one tool and take focused action on using it to be successful, others start coming out of the woodwork, and suddenly you have another tool that helps, and then another. Pretty soon, you will have a phenomenal tool belt that consistently delivers what you need when you need it. That sure beats excuses!

People have many excuses why they don’t get things done. Funny story (first sea story of the book, by the way): Once upon a time, on a submarine repair ship in Guam many years ago, I was thinking of working on a book about excuses. A group of friends with similar thoughts, whom I’ll leave nameless to protect their delicate interests, would sometimes talk about this subject. Our conversations centered on why when you tell Sailors to do something, not everyone gets it done, and on the comical excuses they came up with for why they didn’t get it done. People come up with some humorous and unbelievable excuses, and when you think you’ve heard it all—trust me, you haven’t.

For example, we’d ask Seaman Schmuckatelli (people always use that name in the Navy as an example) why he didn’t do something when we were all standing right on the flight deck when the word got passed. In response, the Sailor would say, “Sorry, I didn’t get the word because when you were talking, I saw a cloud in the sky that looked like a clown face.” Or maybe something like, “Sorry, I didn’t hear what you said because Seaman Soanso was making funny faces at me, and it distracted me.”

There were some doozies, for sure. But although the excuses were funny, I finally realized they made excuses because I had not given them the right tools. Sure, they were still accountable, but with a little more effort on my part or a different tool, like effective communication, they may have gotten the word, gotten the job done, and not had an excuse. (It was still funny!)

How does this apply to you, besides making you laugh? Is there a funny or serious excuse you’re telling yourself for not getting something done that was important to you and could positively impact your life? Are you still searching for the right tool to get that result? It feels awesome when you get results versus excuses. The real question is, what can you do to get results?

The number one thing you can do is focus on that one thing you’ve decided to accomplish, take action, get started, and get it done—nothing trumps that! It is that simple, and it’s always been at the forefront of my mind when working on a goal, mission, or task, big or small: How can I get it started and done by taking focused action now and keeping it simple along the journey? After spending all that time in the Navy, I’ve heard many ways to do things, worked for and with many leaders, and I’ve been through more systems on how “we should do something” than is humanly possible to imagine. But in the end, it comes down to just a few things: Again, focus on that one thing you want to accomplish, get started, use a tool, and take action until you get your desired result.

Throughout this book, at the beginning of each chapter, you’ll find a Bottom Line Up Front or BLUF! This is a wonderful tool to tell you exactly what you should focus on in that chapter. You’ll know what to expect as you read, especially if I start telling sea stories and it gets out of hand! A BLUF allows me to tell you about this tool in less than three seconds.

Each chapter contains directions on how to use the tool, examples of how it worked, and some chapters even include a fun sea story, and who doesn’t like sea stories!

This book has two parts:

Part 1: Process tools.

Use these tools to create a system of your own to make each day your most productive day ever. You can either use this entire process or use it to tweak on your own. Remember, everyone has positive tools already, so don’t throw the baby out with the bathwater. Instead, build these tools into what you already have, making it better. That’s the best way to grow in life or business, constantly building on your foundation.

These processes are the same ones I’ve used during my naval career in many challenging environments and situations. These tools involve:

• Using creative thinking and focus. • Creating a daily plan.

• Having a process/habit/goal.

• Being a problem solver.

• Taking care of your people.

These fundamental elements will lead to success in any line of work, personal goal, or endeavor in any environment. These process tools worked on submarines, aircraft carriers, and in a pandemic, and they will work for you too!

Part 2: Supplemental tools.

The tools in this section are important ones you can easily add to your tool belt and use along your life’s journey, depending on the situation.

You should try each tool and see if it works, especially if you feel like quitting or giving up. Instead of doing that, try another tool and keep moving forward. One can never have too many tools in their tool belt. Also important: Always be on the lookout for ways to improve. If what you are doing now works for you, keep doing that while constantly finding ways to improve little by little (hint: such as using the tools in this book). If you are always tweaking your process, it will always enable you to be successful. “You make things better when you get things done, and when you get things done, you get results.” You can quote me on that!

Don’t wait! You can make a positive difference in your life anytime you want by using tools to achieve your dreams! If you already know what you want, you can get started today—no more excuses! Decide to pick a tool and get started RIGHT NOW. As I like to say, your future self will thank you for it.

I wish you smooth sailing, and I know you will find tools in this book that will inspire you, give you confidence, help you focus, prompt you to take action, enable you to do your very best every day, help you improve and grow daily, and get you to your desired result!

At the end of the day, if you’ve found just one tool that helps you focus on getting a successful result, improving daily or “To Getting It Done,” that’s all that matters.

Michael Whitt

To getting it done!