I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. This was an interesting book to read with the self-help style advice coming from a retired SEAL with all his background and expertise. It is very anecdotal but contains some interesting ideas and is broken down into easily digestible chapters. I also found that the quotes at the beginning of each chapter were a nice touch.

Based on the title alone, I was eager to dive into an advance copy of, Be Different: How Navy SEALs and Entrepreneurs Bend, Break, or Ignore the Rules to Get Results!, set for release on December 1, 2024.

This is the third installment in Marty Strong's nonfiction series, following Be Visionary and Be Nimble, which are now on my reading list. Though I have no military background, I thoroughly enjoyed the lessons shared by this former Navy SEAL turned entrepreneur. The analogies drawn are clear and relevant to anyone navigating corporate culture today, especially those striving to foster innovation without losing sight of execution.

The ideal reader for this book is someone frustrated with the status quo that has led to stagnation in their company’s culture and strategy. This book delivers if you’re looking for advice on influencing senior leadership to loosen their risk-averse grip on outdated rules and procedures.

At its core, Be Different drives home a key lesson: We need to think and act differently. The author encourages readers to embrace intellectual disobedience—questioning norms, traditions, and rules that stifle creativity and bold action. Success, he argues, lies in the willingness to challenge the status quo, no matter what "winning" looks like in your context.

Some of the most potent themes include:

- Humility and curiosity as the foundation of innovation: The author emphasizes that we must first acknowledge what we don’t know. This intellectual humility paves the way for curiosity, allowing us to explore ideas beyond the familiar and push boundaries.

- The value of simple, flexible planning: Complex plans are fragile and prone to failure in real-world conditions. Instead, we should focus on flexible strategies that adapt to variables we can’t control, enabling more effective execution.

The book also explores breaking the cycle of obedience, the power of collaboration and diverse thought, and the importance of having a bias toward action. A convenient takeaway is the author's guidance on challenging the status quo productively—without blindly accepting outdated processes or rules. Acting boldly, he warns, is crucial. Waiting too long leads to “comfortable inaction” and missed opportunities.

In closing, this book encourages the divergent thinker, who often feels isolated or misunderstood. It reminds you to stay the course and manage the inevitable backlash of being an innovator. By fostering self-awareness and development, you’ll weather the resistance, attract allies, and ultimately achieve the breakthroughs you seek.

Disruptive and divergent thinking become keypoints from how to be different from others and this is a very good lesson to start. Thanks to Marty with his leadership experience from many years to make such this book.

A leadership and creativity book that uses lessons learnt in the Seals and applies to business leadership. The writing is quite dense and it didn’t leave me with key takeaways. Thank you to #netgalley and the publisher for an ARC.