The Commander's Update Brief

Your Daily Azimuth Check

Over the past few weeks, we have been talking about Lines of Effort, or LOEs, as a way of organizing action toward an objective when the path is not as simple as seizing one piece of terrain.

Sometimes the mission isn’t just “take that hill.”

Sometimes it is more complex.

Build trust with the local population
Disrupt the enemy network
Train the partner force
Protect critical infrastructure
Gather intelligence
Maintain freedom of movement

Each effort matters, and each supports the overall mission. But they don’t all require the same amount of attention every day.

In the War of Life, our LOEs are the things that matter most.

Body
Mind
Spirit
Meaning
Relationships
Responsibilities

These things are the terrain and targets of our lives.

If one collapses, the whole campaign gets harder.

You can be physically strong and mentally undisciplined. You can be intellectually sharp and spiritually empty. You can be successful at work and failing at home. You can be responsible to everyone else but neglect the mission you were actually built to accomplish.

This is why we need a daily azimuth check.

It doesn’t have to be complicated. It is simply stopping long enough to ask, “Am I still moving in the right direction?”

Every morning, you need to conduct a Commander’s Update Brief or CUB (you’re the commander)

Start by reviewing your mission

What are you fighting to become?
What objective are you moving toward?
What kind of man or woman are you committed to being when things get hard?

Then determine your LOE priority.

Some days, the Body is the main effort. You need to train, sleep, and eat intentionally.

Some days, the Mind is the main effort. You need to read, think, study, plan, or solve the problem you’ve been avoiding.

Some days, the Spirit needs attention by reconnecting with your beliefs and sources of courage, humility, gratitude, and endurance.

Some days, Meaning is the fight. You need to remember why you are doing all this in the first place.

Some days, Relationships are your decisive point. Your spouse, children, friends, or teammates need you to be at your best.

Some days, Responsibilities are the main effort. Pay the bills, finish the job, keep your word.

You can’t fight every fight equally every day.

The point is to know what matters, know what is most important today, and execute deliberately and aggressively.

Get better at getting better

John

- Your arms dealer for the war of life

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