When you reflect on your life, can you remember your crucible experience? The time when you had to dig deep and overcome a seemingly insurmountable obstacle. The struggle made you better as you developed a strength that you have relied upon ever since. It also made you assess your purpose in life and what is truly important to you.
The term crucible has two definitions: a pot in which metals or other substances are heated to a very high temperature or a difficult test or challenge.1
Extensive research has shown that those who overcome and find meaning from adversity tend to be the most successful performers and leaders.2
This research identifies “intense, often traumatic experiences” that forge a leadership style that is distinct, differentiated and progressive.2
I was reminded of this concept by my good friend Gavin Philipps who tells young professionals that if they don’t have a crucible experience, go find one. What brilliant advice.
My crucible experience was Officer Candidates School (OCS) in the Marine Corps which consisted of six-week assessment programs in Quantico, VA after my sophomore and junior years of college. The first six weeks in 1989 was especially challenging.
The Marine Corps OCS attrition rate was approximately 50% in the 1980’s and 1990’s despite having attendees that had volunteered, were prepared and were in college.3, 4, 5 While some quit, many were forced out for a myriad of physical, leadership and academic failures. The attrition rate has decreased since then but is still very high.6
No matter how many movies you watch or books you read, nothing can really prepare you for the experience. I couldn’t sleep the night before and the yelling, change of direction and difficult activities were very challenging and overwhelming. I had also put so much pressure on myself to succeed that I pressed the entire time.
The physical aspect of the training is hard to describe. It was extremely difficult. Extremely. I have performed many challenging physical tests since then including an Ironman, but it was the hardest thing I’ve ever done. And it’s not even close. The curriculum stresses the candidate physically and emotionally to assess how they perform under severe duress. The Marine Corps does this well.
At the end of the first summer of training, my platoon commander told me that I had passed and that I did “OK”. He then told me that if I didn’t return for the 2nd session the following summer, there was no shame in that.
That statement still stings today. There’s no shame if I don’t come back next year? That wasn’t a possibility. Not an option. That was my crucible moment. It made me question everything including the possibility that I may not be good enough. He may have used that simple statement to motivate me and if so, it worked.
I worked out like a man possessed the following year and came ready to dominate in the summer of 1990. I crushed it.
Since then, whenever I face a challenge or seemingly difficult goal, I know I can achieve it. There is no doubt. I believe that experience in the summer of 1989 is the reason I am so driven today.
Do you have a crucible experience? Have you worked on a farm for the summer? Sold books door to door like my childhood friend Dr. Tim Hipp? Survived cancer? Climbed Mt. Everest? Got completely uncomfortable and tried something new?
If you haven’t, I encourage you to find your crucible experience.
1Merriam Webster
2Bennis, Warren and Thomas, Robert J “Crucibles of Leadership”, Harvard Business Review, 2002
3Epps, Garrett, “Gutting it Out”, Washington Post, May 25, 1980
4North, James, “Occasional Paper”, Center for Naval Analysis, June 1994
5Note that OCS also has a combined assessment program of 10 weeks for candidates that are incoming college seniors or have already graduated. Further, NROTC and Naval Academy candidates have a separate, 6-week OCS program that has a lower attrition rate for numerous reasons
6Griffin, Jennifer, “ROCP Officer and Reserve Personnel Readiness”, Apr 2017
