The message of excellence, as propagated by William H. McRaven, “If you can’t do the little things right, you’ll never do the big things right,” has moved beyond its roots as a military credo and entered the realm of universal philosophy. This concept, as inspired by McRaven’s famous commencement address at the University of Texas at Austin and further promoted by his book “Make Your Bed”, is simple, yet powerful. McRaven’s narrative stems from his experience as a member of the Navy SEALs, where he went through months of intense training, during which he and fellow recruits were subjected to extreme physical and mental challenges. In such a situation, where survival itself is a question mark, making one’s bed is a trivial task. However, it is precisely this task that becomes a metaphor. Achieving a small task perfectly is a mental attitude of discipline, precision, and accountability. This philosophy of life is highly relevant for the people of India as well as for the entire world. 

Swami Vivekananda once said, “We are what our thoughts have made us; so take care about what you think.” This quote by Swami Vivekananda itself suggests that it is the small, consistent actions of life that shape a person’s personality. Mahatma Gandhi once said, “Action expresses priorities,” which again indicates that it is the small actions of life that lead a person to greatness. This philosophy of life is also consistent with the principles of behavioural psychology. The concept of habit formation, as discussed by Charles Duhigg in his book “The Power of Habit”, states that small actions lead to the development of “keystone habits” that trigger other positive behaviours. Making one’s bed is a small act, but it sets a chain of events. Order leads to order, discipline leads to discipline.

The advantages of this philosophy are quite compelling. For instance, it creates momentum early in the day, helps an individual feel in control, and boosts their level of self-efficacy. In high-performance careers, small details often make or break the outcome. A surgeon who appreciates small details is likely to succeed with complex procedures. A student who is disciplined about small details is likely to succeed with large exams.

However, it is not without its limitations. For instance, an over-reliance on small details can sometimes promote perfectionism, which can sometimes cause stress or inefficiency. There is always the danger of busyness being confused with productivity. One can spend time meticulously engaging with small details without necessarily aligning them with larger objectives. Stephen R. Covey, in his book “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People”, cautioned that it is not only about doing things right, but it is also about doing the right things.

Finally, it is necessary to look at real-world applications. In the corporate world, leaders such as Jeff Bezos have often spoken about the importance of operational excellence, where small process improvements can result in massive scalability. In medicine, Atul Gawande, in his book “The Checklist Manifesto”, shows how small details can save lives by promoting checklists during surgery. In conclusion, McRaven’s philosophy is not about beds; it is about identity. It is about becoming an individual who values small details, precision, discipline, and consistency, especially when no one is watching. In a world that celebrates grand achievements, McRaven’s philosophy is about promoting the discipline of small details.

As McRaven himself summarized, “If you want to change the world, start off by making your bed.” This is a literal and metaphorical expression, encouraging one to excel in the mundane in order to achieve the extraordinary.

Dr. Prahlada N.B
MBBS (JJMMC), MS (PGIMER, Chandigarh). 
MBA in Healthcare & Hospital Management (BITS, Pilani), 
Postgraduate Certificate in Technology Leadership and Innovation (MIT, USA)
Executive Programme in Strategic Management (IIM, Lucknow)
Senior Management Programme in Healthcare Management (IIM, Kozhikode)
Advanced Certificate in AI for Digital Health and Imaging Program (IISc, Bengaluru). 

Senior Professor and former Head, 
Department of ENT-Head & Neck Surgery, Skull Base Surgery, Cochlear Implant Surgery. 
Basaveshwara Medical College & Hospital, Chitradurga, Karnataka, India. 

My Vision: I don’t want to be a genius.  I want to be a person with a bundle of experience. 

My Mission: Help others achieve their life’s objectives in my presence or absence!

My Values:  Creating value for others. 

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