Total Focus

Making Better Decisions Under Pressure

By: Brandon Webb, John David Mann

Narrated by: Johnathan McClain, Brandon Webb

Length: 7 hrs and 38 mins

Publisher's summary

A former Navy SEAL sniper turned media CEO and New York Times best-selling author teaches business leaders how to make the best decisions under pressure.

Over his four deployments as a Navy SEAL sniper, Brandon Webb learned all about performing while experiencing heart-pounding stress. After returning to civilian life, he started his first business venture - and failed miserably. He realized that his big mistake was neglecting to apply what he already knew about focus under pressure. By drawing on the lessons of his SEAL training and early business struggles, Webb went on to build a second business, a media network called Hurricane, which today has an audience of millions and a valuation over $100 million.

Now Webb deconstructs the decision-making DNA of the most effective snipers and shows you how to develop the same mental acuity in civilian life. Drawing on stories from his own experiences and those of other Special Operations warriors and great entrepreneurs, like Solomon Choi of 16 Handles, Matt Meeker of BarkBox, and Betsy Morgan of The Huffington Post and TheBlaze, he teaches you how to have total situational awareness to stay out of danger and adapt to changing circumstances, to avoid the trap of overanalysis, and to understand that pain is temporary and learning is priceless.

By following in the path of a generation of legendary snipers, you'll find the clarity of mind you need to make key decisions and accomplish your mission, whatever it takes.

©2017 Brandon Webb and John David Mann (P)2017 Penguin Audio

Critic reviews

“What an incredible ride! Watching as a former Navy SEAL sniper approaches the challenges and complexities in growing from start-up to $100 million-plus in five short years is a master class in business and leadership.” (David Bach, author of The Automatic Millionaire and Start Late, Finish Rich) 

“What do the training, leadership, and entrepreneurial skills of a Navy SEAL have to with running a successful business? As it turns out, just about everything. And you won’t find a better guide and mentor than Brandon Webb, former Navy SEAL sniper turned hugely successful CEO. In Total Focus, Webb and Mann provide a game plan based on the mind-set and skill sets that will result in a business that you’re passionate about, that is lucrative, and that provides extreme value to those you serve.” (Bob Burg, coauthor of The Go-Giver and author of Adversaries into Allies) 

“Brandon has done a spectacular job at paying forward proven principles that will help you achieve greatness in your personal and professional lives. I highly recommend this book!” (Jairek Robbins, performance coach, author of Live It!, recipient of the Congressional Award Gold Medal)

Biography/ sales pitch.

I tried my best to get through it. However, the book is nothing more than a biography where the author praises his success. It reads as if the author is pitching his business. A seven hour sales pitch.

Disappointed

I first want to thank Brandon for his service. Navy Seals are bad ass this world would be a lesser place without them.

The book however is a disappointment. Brandon speaks a lot about being laser focused. However,, as the book goes on, and he tells his story, it becomes clear that he is all over the place. Too many ideas and failed plans. Too many sticks in the fire, etc.

I myself am a self made business owner. My current business exceeds 1 million in revenue and has been running for 16 years. So I have some background in the business world. I did not come from a rich family and I started my business from the ground up, by myself.

Brandon, I’m sure is an amazing sniper and seal, and I believe he is trying to help people overcome obstacles in life and business. But be warned that his advice is not spot on and sometimes even wrong.

One example of Brandon’s failure is the small business association. Let me unequivocally state that the SBA does not lend money to small businesses with no capital, period. If you think, as Brandon states, you can just borrow the money, you’re wrong. The SBA is administers through a local bank. They treat us just like any other loan. You need cash or equity or both. The only difference is that the SBA guarantees to cover the bank of you default. Regardless, the bank won’t approve anything if you’re starting out and think you’re going to be the next big thing.

Anyway, if you really like self help books, then go for it. But be warned to not take it for more than it’s worth. It’s like when you go to a seminar and you’re all fired up after the key note speaker. Then an hour later you realize it was all just common sense.

Great read - life will not be the same

I'm glad that I grabbed this book on a whim before reading the comments. Man this guy has a small community that LOVES to hate him. he actually mentions it in the book. I have no knowledge of this ongoing feud but I gained a lot of positive perspective from how Brandon seems to have tackled the issue. The books was a compelling read. I didn't want to put it down. I got the book on audible and I'm looking for a notes companion or else I'll pick up the paperback to copy quotes from, highlight, and reference later.

I'm finding myself quite inspired by Navy Seals turned CEOs. There is a clear connection between successful traits.

I also loved Extreme Ownership.

Listen to Mastering Fear, but this one

Listen to his other book, Mastering Fear, if you want to gain anything useful. This book is just anecdotes about people addicted to work and how to be more like them. Not exactly a noble goal.

Excellent book

Highly recommended, one of the best books I've ever read or listened to. Must read!

crap

it is nothing about focus. it him afverising himself his business and network. A big disapointment

He nails the strategy

This book has the right strategy and even great tactical tips for your journey to running a successful business. The reader can tell the author has lived it themselves, I encourage you to check it out for yourself.

The first principle alone is worth the book, the other 6 are bonuses.

Stuck the landing in every way

My review will not do this book and the authors justice so please consider my intent to give the highest endorsement possible.

As a business owner, mom of 3 high achieving sons and the mom of a son with 10 deployments and 20+ years in active duty, I listened to this book from many perspectives and it did NOT disappoint. In fact, this book has raised in bar in many ways.

From the business perspective, Brandon Webb is brutally honest in revealing failures, sharing "secrets" to successes and in sharing the mindsets required for the later whether you have an MBA and 30 years experience or not. If you have SF or any military experience, I guarantee you will readily relate and welcome how he weaves his Navy SEAL mindset into the civilian world.

Lots of fresh but highly relatable examples of overcoming challenges, shocking updates on an old tragedy that shares grit beyond compare and very welcomed humor at unexpected moments are icing on the cake.

This book is a keeper. You won't want to delete this. I don't easily impress, but this is an exception. The narrator "gets" military humor and adds the swagger and sarcasm at exactly the right moments. Grateful for your service to our country, Brandon and John. Off to download The Red Circle

AMAZING BOOK

This book is life-changing. Mr. Webb tells his amazing story which is highly relevant and applicable to anyone's journey to success.

Just google “good advice”.

I hung in there for 3 hours (out of 6) hoping for some redeeming quality, then quit. It seemed like a waste of time, I have no desire to return to it at all. For a book about focus, this one rambles on a lot. Half of the time you will listen to him tell you how great he is. This isn’t an exaggeration, it’s about ½ of the time. For my three hours of listening, I don’t feel I took away very much. It’s not objectively bad but to me it seemed like a compilation of generic good advice that was all over the place and often contradictory. I think this book is about as good as reading the list of items you get after googling “good advice”.

This book raises the bar!

Without doubt one of the best books I've ever purchased. Blown away by the authors knowledge of handling business and personal situations with special ops training and experience offering a refreshing edge. The importance of looking after your own body is given credible consideration too. This is a must read and resonated with me on so many levels, particularly the need to be situationally aware in both business and personal life. This book raises the bar within must read business books but also should included under personal development.

Good set of leadership values for life and business.

I liked how Brandon talks about how he dealt with the challenges and obstacles he faced with lessons he learnt from the Navy Seals, life and business. He has a good set of values and principles which anyone can learn to learn to embrace. I was expecting more in depth stories from his time as a navy seal and actually fighting and dealing with that sort of pressure. I didn’t really feel the book was about pressure as such. He brings to light his perspective on some notorious public issues he and SOFREP faces. Nevertheless an interesting listen.