Be Flexible in Business by Max Garcia

In the U.S. Marines, sometimes a leadership speaker will utilize a common phrase to keep the junior Marines motivated during times of uncertainty. That phrase is “Semper Gumbie” meaning, always flexible! This motivational leadership comes from the Marine Corps motto of “Semper Fidelis” or “Semper Fi” meaning always faithful. Being flexible is one of the most important leadership characteristics a leadership speaker should build on in any business. It never fails, every time there is a change in plans it is usually for the worst. When there is a change some leadership speaker will always crack a joke by saying “Semper Gumbie”. It is good motivational leadership but annoying at the same time. The reason for this humor is that no mission, task, or any daily work gets completed with out an annoying change.

One instance in Iraq our platoon got tasked with a mission that was supposed to take 72-96 hours. What this means to us is grab the bare minimum and leave everything else at the firm base. So now were talking maybe a sleeping bag or not, hygiene bag, minimal combat load of ammunition and a couple changes of clothes at the most. For such a short time out what is brought basically depends on how lazy you are that day. For some it may be just the clothes on their back depending on the leadership characteristics of those in charge.

Well, to make a long story short, after about four weeks we realized, just how flexible are job requires us to be. We started from the border of Syria and ended up going all the way to Al Fallujah with almost no parts, support, re-supply of ammunition, food, or clean clothes. Times like these challenged my motivational leadership and helped me to understand why Marines want to fight. We eventually made it back to the Syrian border to get showers and creature comforts after five weeks of 110 degree weather and nothing but each other. The moral of the story is that we were flexible for weeks making the mission a success. The same applies in business.