GAINING AN EDGE
Harnessing the mental focus of a Navy SEAL can get you ahead in business
HIGH-stake situations are no stranger to Brandon Webb. Whether serving as a sniper watching over his Navy SEAL platoon in Afghanistan or weighing a multi-million-dollar offer to buy his business, Webb credits his successful decision-making skills to his ability to focus under extreme pressure.
The veteran-turned-entrepreneur shares skills he developed in special ops training that proved most beneficial in his business dealings and personal triumphs in his new book, “Total Focus: Make Better Decisions Under Pressure” (Portfolio, out now).
“I wanted to share lessons I’ve learned inside the military — especially the mental management part of our sniper program. We use a lot of positive psychology, self-talk and focus. A lot of those skillsets can be applied to life and business,” says Webb, whose digital media company, Hurricane Group, has a current valuation of $100 million.
For veterans shifting into the civilian workforce, changing careers, or starting their own businesses, Webb has an arsenal of hard-won lessons and advice.
“The biggest thing I see with my peer group as they transition outside of the military is that they don’t have a really good plan. If you don’t, you’re going to drift,” says Webb. “Throwing yourself in to the marketplace — going from a very structured environment to a non-structured one — is a problem. Your plan doesn’t need to be complicated. It can be, ‘I’m going to finish my four- year degree or get an advanced degree,’” he says. Emotionally stuck in a job search? “There are situations, like having PTSD, where vets can seek professional help,” says Webb, “But it does no good to dwell on bad feelings. I was really upset about losing my best friend in Benghazi. The government didn’t take care of his family and his friends, and I had to cover the memorial bill. Instead of harboring anger, I turned it into a positive and started Red Circle Foundation, a rapid funding force to help military families of fallen and wounded Special Operations heroes in need.”
If launching a business is of interest, “It starts with education,” says Webb. “Read as many books on entrepreneurship as you can written by experts who have built and run businesses.”
The Small Business Administration is one of the most underutilized organizations.
“They provide sponsorship and funding. You can write a business plan and borrow up to $2 million to buy a business, or start one with very low capital down.”
Frozen by fear of changing careers? Change your self-talk to a more positive, productive conversation, says Webb in his book.
“I’m constantly stunned by the crap people tell themselves,” he says. “Outstanding success starts in your mind, and so does failure. I rigorously monitor my selftalk. I remind myself continually that I’m going to achieve the outcome I’m shooting for, that I’m totally capable of achieving it, and that it’s already in process.”