University of Minnesota - UMN Executive Leadership Insights
Surf When You Can
Book

Surf When You Can

Lessons in Life, Loyalty, and Leadership from a Maverick Navy Captain

Brett Crozier and Michael Vlessides
Atria Books, 2023
First Edition: 2023
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Editorial Rating

9

Qualities

  • Concrete Examples
  • Insider's Take
  • Inspiring

Recommendation

When the Navy relieved Brett Crozier of his command early in the pandemic, he faced a firestorm of publicity. Then-president Donald Trump publicly bashed him for sending an unclassified email criticizing higher-ups’ response to the COVID outbreak on his aircraft carrier. In this breezy memoir, Crozier explains his side and shares some of the wisdom he gained during his military tenure. Crozier is a gung ho Navy man who flew helicopters and fighter jets before rising to command supersized ships. He proves himself to be an enlightened boss who understands work, believes in good training, puts his sailors first and urges you to take the time to go surfing – or to do whatever chills you out.

Summary

Working harder doesn’t always yield better results.

In 2010, Brett Crozer was stationed at a NATO office in Naples, Italy. The hard-charging Crozier worked long hours, seeking to show the military officers stationed there from around the world that he took his job seriously, and they should, too. When his colleagues invited Crozier to join them for espresso breaks at 9am, 11am and 2pm, he pointedly declined. Crozier regarded the frequent breaks as malingering.

Then an Italian lieutenant colonel told Crozier that to earn trust, he must relate to people on a personal level. Crozier then started joining his NATO colleagues two or three times a day for espresso. The breaks took only 10 or 15 minutes, and Crozier transformed himself from an aloof stickler into a real friend of the other officers.

Admit that you don’t know everything and commit to continual learning.

When Crozier graduated from the US Naval Academy, he longed to be a fighter pilot. However, the Navy needed only a handful of F/A-18 pilots and chose only the most elite students. Crozier became a helicopter pilot instead. He enjoyed the assignment – and when he...

About the Authors

Brett Crozier graduated from the US Naval Academy, flew dozens of combat missions over Iraq and commanded the USS Theodore Roosevelt. After serving in the US Navy for 30 years, he retired in 2022.

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