“Embrace the Suck” – Brent Gleeson

Embrace the Suck: Turning Adversity into Advantage

Brent Gleeson‘s Embrace the Suck: The Navy SEAL Way to an Extraordinary Life isn’t just another self-help book; it’s a masterclass in resilience forged in the crucible of military training and combat. A former Navy SEAL and now a successful entrepreneur, Gleeson distills his experience into a powerful and accessible guide for anyone looking to navigate life’s inevitable challenges with grit and purpose. The book’s core premise is simple yet profound: the ability to confront, accept, and even embrace adversity is the key to personal and professional growth. In this blog, I will review Gleeson’s work and provide my key takeaways.

Gleeson does an exceptional job of making this concept relatable by weaving in compelling stories from his time in the military. He recounts the grueling demands of BUD/S (Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL) training, where sleep deprivation, physical exhaustion, and constant pressure are the norm. These anecdotes aren’t merely for shock value; they serve as vivid, tangible examples of his life lessons. We’re right there with him, shivering on the beach, carrying heavy boats, and pushing through the pain, which makes the lessons he draws from these experiences all the more impactful. He uses these tales of teamwork, perseverance, and mental toughness to illustrate how the very act of “embracing the suck” transforms individuals from victims of circumstance into masters of their own destiny. If Gleeson and his fellow SEALs can embrace the suck of BUD/S training, what can the average person easily overcome in their own lives?

The Power of a Growth Mindset

One of the most important takeaways from Gleeson’s book is his emphasis on the growth mindset. He challenges the notion that mental strength is a fixed capacity, something you either have or you don’t. Instead, he argues that it’s a muscle that can be developed and strengthened over time. Gleeson explains that every time we face a difficult situation and choose to push through it rather than give up, we are actively expanding our mental and emotional capacity. This concept is incredibly empowering. It means that the tough experiences—the missed promotions, the failed projects, the personal setbacks—aren’t just roadblocks; they are opportunities for growth. Gleeson reminds us that the biggest growth in life comes when we step outside of our comfort zone, embrace the suck, and grow by persevering through those experiences.

Gleeson provides practical advice on how to cultivate this mindset. He talks about the importance of reframing challenges, viewing them not as obstacles but as valuable learning experiences. He shares stories from SEAL training where trainees are forced to perform under extreme stress, and he explains how these moments are designed to build resilience. One of my favorite examples is Survival, Evasion, Resistance, and Escape (SERE) training. SEALs are subjected to torture to train them to survive if they are ever captured by their enemy. Gleeson explains that by accepting the discomfort and learning to function effectively in chaotic environments, the trainees develop a mental fortitude that serves them in any high-stakes situation. This is a powerful lesson for anyone in a high-pressure career or personal situation. It teaches us to stop complaining about the difficulty and start focusing on how to learn from it and overcome it.

From SEAL Team to the Boardroom: Applying the Lessons

What makes Embrace the Suck so effective is Gleeson’s ability to seamlessly translate his military lessons into civilian life. He doesn’t just talk about surviving Hell Week; he connects the principles of teamwork, accountability, and leadership to the challenges faced in the corporate world. For example, he discusses the importance of having a clear mission and a strong team, just as a SEAL team must have a well-defined objective and complete trust in one another. He explains that leaders must lead from the front, taking responsibility for both successes and failures, a trait he learned from his commanding officers. During Gleeson’s first mission as a Navy SEAL in Fallujah, Iraq in 2007 he served under the now famous, Jason Redman. Their SEAL team walked in to an ambush and Jason was shot 7 times. One of the rounds was a .50 caliber machine gun round that entered behind his ear and exited through his nose. LT Redman survived and was taken to the Navy Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland. While there, he wrote the following sign and placed it on his door:

Gleeson tells this story not for sympathy for what LT Jason Redman went through but as example of what human beings are capable of when they refuse to give up.

Gleeson’s stories about missions also highlight the importance of adaptability and decisiveness. In the unpredictable chaos of combat, plans can change in an instant, and a team must be able to react quickly and effectively. He links this back to the business world, where market conditions can shift unexpectedly, and a company must be agile to survive. He makes the case that embracing uncertainty and being comfortable with making decisions with incomplete information are critical skills for any leader. He also emphasizes the value of a debrief or what the military calls an After Action Report (AAR) —a structured process of analyzing what went right and wrong after every mission or project. This isn’t about assigning blame; it’s about learning and improving, a practice that is just as vital in a startup as it is in the military.

The Path to an Extraordinary Life

Ultimately, Gleeson’s book is about more than just enduring hardship; it’s about using adversity as a catalyst for living an extraordinary life. He argues that by willingly stepping outside our comfort zones and confronting challenges head-on, we unlock our full potential. This process of intentional discomfort builds confidence, hones skills, and reveals a deeper level of strength we didn’t know we possessed. It’s a powerful call to action to stop avoiding the hard things in life and start facing them with courage and a positive attitude.

Embrace the Suck is a testament to the idea that true growth and fulfillment don’t come from a life of ease but from a life of purposeful struggle. Gleeson’s engaging narrative and practical wisdom make this book a must-read for anyone who feels stuck or wants to achieve more. It’s a reminder that the pain and struggle we often try to avoid are, in fact, the very ingredients needed to build resilience, cultivate a growth mindset, and ultimately lead a life of meaning and accomplishment.