Asymmetries of Conviction

There’s an image of a whiteboard in a Marine camp from the 2000s.

I was often told:

“While you were sleeping in, Haji was training. While you were getting shitfaced, the Muj were zeroing their rifles. While you were at the stripclub, Haji was memorizing sectors of fire.”

We know that those elements weren’t really well trained.

But what they did have was conviction.

It happened twice in Vietnam, once in Chechnya, and twice in Afghanistan.

• Fighting for survival on home soil.

• Fighting for what they actually believed.

• Fighting as part of an endless historical story.

• Living the fight in daily life.

• Fighting for your family's way of life, not career goals.

So, whatever it is you’re going after…how much do you want it?