Chapter 1: The Battlefield of Life

Life can often feel like a battle, requiring you to adopt the mindset of a soldier to truly succeed.

Society presents two types of toxicity. The first is a more subtle form that seeps in during your formative years. You're taught to honor family and community, pursue education, secure a job, and eventually marry to raise children who will follow the same path. However, many individuals remain trapped in this cycle, burdened by insecurities inherited from parents who are often emotionally damaged, and communities filled with underachievers. Consequently, children may either conform to societal norms out of fear or develop social skills that mask their underlying issues.

High school is a battleground for limited superficial identities—Nerds, Jocks, Preps, Mean Girls, and Emos compete in an endless game of identity freeze tag until graduation or, for some, until they choose to drop out. Those who pursue further education often face a harsh reality upon entering the workforce, discovering that much of what they learned is irrelevant, apart from the skills of networking and flattery.

For those who marry or date, the stark reality of relationships often contrasts sharply with the idealized portrayals seen in romantic comedies, leading to unmet expectations. As a result, many find that superficial markers of success—like sex and status—become their consolation prizes.

The second level of toxicity involves behaviors that people adopt to gain social standing. This includes the commonplace disrespect shown towards others based on their occupation, race, gender, age, educational background, relationship status, parenting approach, and religious beliefs. Such actions allow individuals to create a false identity that gives them a sense of validation.

For example, someone might think, “I’m white, so I’ll lock my car doors when a Black person walks by to remind him of his place,” or “I earn $150K annually, so I’ll treat the landscapers with disdain to emphasize my superiority.” This pervasive toxicity makes it exceedingly difficult for individuals to maintain their self-esteem, often leading them to lash out at others as a means of coping.

Have you ever felt the sting of betrayal from a longtime friend unexpectedly?

Have you been ghosted by a partner during what seemed like a promising relationship?

Or have you worked tirelessly, only to be overlooked for a promotion you anticipated?

These toxic experiences can hit hard, shaking our very core. While we may appear composed on the surface, we often grapple internally with the impact of these events, reflecting on their causes and the shock of their occurrence.

As a result, we may become individuals with fragmented souls, where the other half is replaced by a cynical and pragmatic mentality, shielding ourselves from emotional investment in anything beyond our own interests. This shift prevents us from fully enjoying life as we once did in our more innocent days.

On a subconscious level, we become prone to self-sabotage when pursuing our goals. The fear of success leads us to hold back, convincing ourselves that it’s safer to remain grounded rather than risk accountability. You might present a façade of “taking life by the horns” or even adopt a more apathetic stance, claiming you’re simply “going with the flow.”

Are you comfortable with this prolonged state of submission?

Or do you yearn to take a stand?

After spending six years in prison, I made the conscious choice to fight back during my middle years. I had to "battle" my way into the job market, gradually increasing my hourly wage until I reached a stable middle-class income.

I fought to redefine my identity by committing to continuous learning, resisting the pull of bad habits, and pushing myself out of my comfort zone, even when fear loomed large.

While many aspire to be generals or bosses, it's essential to first be a soldier or a dedicated worker.

I may not be a general yet, but I’ve certainly elevated my status to that of a captain by taking decisive actions and adhering to the commitments I made to myself.

To emerge victorious in this war called life, you must metaphorically take up arms. If you evade life’s challenges, you'll soon find yourself cornered and powerless.

Assuming you want to avoid that fate, I propose a solution: a strategy to approach life’s battles like Sun Tzu and emerge triumphant.

I’ve launched a newsletter titled “Soldiers for Success.” Subscribers will receive two weekly articles designed to inspire, educate, advise, and empower you in your personal battles.

If you're serious about this journey, you can join for free today, and if you find the content valuable, consider a paid subscription later.

Visit the site here:

You can either risk everything or be broken by life...

If you are presently aware and engaged, I commend you. Most likely, if you aren’t a trust fund baby or…

open.substack.com

A Word from Walter

Stay resilient, steadfast, and pursue success in your battles. Feel free to applaud, comment, highlight, or follow.

Chapter 2: Insights from Military Leadership

Discover valuable leadership lessons from the Sergeant Major of the Army in this insightful video.

Chapter 3: Lessons from the Combat Zone

Learn about the vital leadership lessons from combat shared by Jocko Willink in this compelling episode.