Responsibility

A Message to Garcia Summary of Key Points

A Message to Garcia is a classic text written by Elbert Hubbard in 1899, originally published as an inspirational essay. The narrative centers on the story of an American soldier, 1st Lt. Andrew S. Rowan, who was tasked with delivering a message from President McKinley to General Calixto García, a leader of the Cuban insurgents during the Spanish-American War. The essay extols the virtues of initiative and determination in completing a difficult task without question or hesitation. Hubbard’s piece quickly became a widely distributed manifesto on the value of taking action and responsibility in work and life.

Extreme Ownership Summary of Key Points

Extreme Ownership’ is a guide to leadership written by two former U.S. Navy SEALs, Jocko Willink and Leif Babin. The lessons, derived from their experiences in the battlefield, are structured to address the most pressing challenges leaders encounter, from making decisions under pressurized conditions to managing high-performing teams. They focus on the principle of ‘extreme ownership’, meaning absolute responsibility for everything that happens under your command.