The case study to follow profiles Matt Meeker, co-founder of BarkBox, and illustrates the themes Webb discusses throughout the chapter: always be ready to pivot, communicate often (and well) with your team, don’t be too proud to ask for input and never lose your entrepreneurial spirit. That means you must have a vision for not only your company, but a personal vision statement, too. He expresses that as a leader, it’s important to know who you are and what you aspire to be. The following selection is taken from chapter 7 of “Total Focus,” in which Webb urges entrepreneurs to lead from the front. In Webb’s latest book, “Total Focus,” he shares the skills he learned throughout his Special Ops training that made him a better entrepreneur, and how you can utilize the same ones in your own business, whether to think unconventionally, make decisions under pressure or to simply follow your gut. While he was unsuccessful the first time around, he then channeled his Special Ops training and built a flourishing $100 million digital media and e-commerce company.

After serving four active deployments, former Navy SEAL sniper and instructor Brandon Webb returned to civilian life and started his first business venture.

Nick ganju