Lead Like a Marine

Two decorated Marine combat veterans turned successful entrepreneurs show how they applied Marine Corps training and values to build thriving businesses, and how readers can apply the same leadership strategies at any organization.

In 2006, Platoon Commander John Warren and Company Gunnery Sergeant John “Top” Thompson led Marines into combat against al-Qaeda in the world’s most dangerous city: Ramadi, Iraq. But when they returned home, they found that corporate America didn’t appreciate how their skills and values could translate to the business world. So they founded their own real estate lending company, growing it from scratch into a national powerhouse over the course of a decade.

Far from producing mindless drones, the U.S. Marine Corps trains its warriors in creative problem solving, adaptability, focus, and courage—ideal traits for anyone in a leadership position at a big company, startup, or nonprofit. In Lead Like a Marine, Warren and Thompson reveal how they applied Marine strategies such as:

• Do Everything for a Reason 
• Train for Culture First
• Be Blunt and Direct
• Avoid Comfort-Based Decisions
• Think Long-Term
•  Eat Last

The authors distill these and other mindsets, tools, and values into practical advice for anyone in civilian leadership or aspiring to leadership. Lead Like a Marine blends smart, actionable advice with gripping stories of combat as well as tales of entrepreneurial challenges. It offers a counterintuitive guide to leading, innovating, and excelling in any organization.