For nine months, my son served as an intelligence specialist aboard a U.S. Navy aircraft carrier — deployed halfway across the world, operating in high-stakes environments, and carrying out responsibilities that don’t pause for convenience, comfort, or fatigue. Life on deployment is not defined by balance or perfect conditions. It is defined by discipline, service, and commitment to a mission where the margin for error is zero.
There is a saying in the Navy: “If you’re tired, do it tired.”
It isn’t about glorifying burnout; it’s about instilling resilience, accountability, and pride in one’s duty — even when the circumstances are less than ideal.
As leaders in the corporate world, we often talk about performance optimization, engagement, and productivity. Yet, we spend surprisingly little time learning from environments where performance is truly non-negotiable. Watching my son and his fellow Sailors operate day after day, despite long hours, unpredictable schedules, and the emotional weight of being thousands of miles from home, reinforces lessons every organization can benefit from.
Discipline Outperforms Motivation
Motivation is fleeting, especially during a nine-month deployment. Sailors don’t show up to their watch stations at 0300 because they feel inspired; they show up because discipline is a core value of the job.
In corporate America, productivity often hinges on inspiration, culture perks, or mood. But the real differentiator in high-performing companies is the discipline to deliver consistently, regardless of circumstances.
What this teaches us: Build teams that value consistency over convenience, responsibility over mood, and commitment over comfort.
Purpose Fuels Performance
Every Sailor knows why their work matters. Whether launching jets or analyzing intelligence, they see the direct connection between their effort and the safety of their shipmates and nation. That sense of purpose creates a level of engagement that most companies struggle to replicate. When employees understand how their contributions support the larger mission, performance naturally elevates.
What this teaches us: Leaders must connect the dots to show people the impact of their work, and discretionary effort will rise.
Camaraderie Creates Accountability
On an aircraft carrier, Sailors work demanding hours, but their real strength comes from relying on each other. Your shipmate’s performance affects your safety, operational readiness, and ability to get home. This interdependence fosters a form of team accountability that is rare in corporate settings.
When one person is tired, another steps in. When someone struggles, their team notices and supports them.
What this teaches us: Build cultures where teamwork isn’t a buzzword — it’s a survival tool.
Resilience Is Built, Not Born
No one is naturally equipped for months at sea, separated from family and operating in an environment designed for utility rather than comfort. Yet, Sailors adapt, working through fatigue, stress, and uncertainty. Their resilience is earned through repetition, training, and a deep belief in the mission.
Corporate resilience often deteriorates under comparatively light pressure. However, resilience is a muscle — one that grows when challenges are embraced rather than avoided.
What this teaches us: Encourage employees to stretch, experiment, and tackle hard things. Growth rarely happens in the comfort zone.
“Do it Tired” Doesn’t Mean “Do it Alone”
While the Navy operates with grit, it also operates with structure, including clear roles, decisive leadership, chain-of-command clarity, and support systems to keep Sailors mentally and physically functional. “Do it tired” works because Sailors are part of a well-trained, tightly coordinated system. In many organizations, employees are tired because of chaos, not mission.
What this teaches us: Build systems that support excellence. Tired is okay, overwhelmed is not.
Bringing it Back to Corporate America
Most professionals will never experience life on an aircraft carrier or the intensity of an intelligence center, but every company faces moments where conditions aren’t ideal, such as:
- A critical deadline
- A major client issue
- A tight labor market
- A restructuring
- A rapidly changing business environment
In these moments, the corporate world can take a page from our Sailors:
- Show up with discipline.
- Stay aligned with the mission.
- Support your teammates.
- Push through discomfort.
- And, when you’re tired, do it tired.
Excellence often emerges not when conditions are perfect, but when people rise despite them. The work ethic of a Sailor is not about being superhuman; it’s about being committed. That, more than anything, is what separates good organizations from exceptional ones.
Where CBIZ Talent Solutions Fits In
At CBIZ Talent Solutions, we see every day how discipline, purpose, teamwork, and resilience shape organizational success. Whether we’re recruiting leaders who can strengthen culture, advising on workforce strategy, or helping organizations navigate change, our focus is simple: build teams that can perform when conditions are tough — not just when they’re ideal.
Just like the Navy, strong organizations don’t rely solely on motivation. They rely on clarity of mission, aligned leadership, systems that support people, and teams that show up for each other. That’s the kind of workforce we help companies build, and that’s the mindset we believe drives lasting performance.
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