Retired Navy SEAL Marcus Luttrell, author of “Lone Survivor,” the story of Operation Red Wings in Afghanistan in 2005, delivered the keynote address Tuesday at the 2019 Truck Renting and Leasing Association (TRALA) Annual Meeting in Orlando, Fla.
In describing his harrowing experience, Luttrell spoke candidly about the importance of training and teamwork in being successful in battle, business and life.
Luttrell says one thing he learned in his SEAL training and has carried with him throughout his life is the importance of training for any and all eventualities. He says fear comes from the unknown, from situations you haven’t trained for. He says the fire fight in which his team members of Operation Red Wings were killed was a physically, emotionally and psychologically draining experience, but during the battle Luttrell says he wasn’t afraid. His training educated him on what to do to complete his mission and survive and he used that to stay focused.
“If something gives you the heebie jeebies, that means you just haven’t been trained for it,” he says. “You can teach yourself to do almost anything.”
Luttrell says his time in the Navy also drilled into him the importance of resiliency, something he tries to share with anyone he encounters. Running a success business isn’t remotely comparable to running a covert mission in enemy territory, but that doesn’t mean both operations can’t be thwarted by a loss of focus or will. Difficult business conditions require focus and preparation, and Luttrell says proactive operations that think ahead are always at an advantage compared to competitors who are trying to change on the fly.
TRALA busy at 41st annual meeting
TRALA also reported Tuesday it has more than 450 attendees at this year’s meeting, its second highest attendee total in history after last year’s 40th anniversary event.
