Welcome back to One Marine’s Perspective on How To Play The Game Of Life. We all have to play, we’re all on the same team, we  play by God’s rules, and we win with teamwork.

In this discussion we're going to answer the question: Wiifm? (What’s in it for me?), but from a Marine Corps perspective. First, we'll look at what One Marine means by the term Perspective.  Then segue into some words on Teamwork and finally Wdtdfm? (What does this demand from me?), which is Marine Corps speak for wiifm?.

Listen to Story 1.

Consider these words from Doug Baldwin: “The greatest tragedy for any human being is going through their entire lives believing the only perspective that matters is their own.”  

Douglas Dewayne Baldwin Jr. is a former American football wide receiver. He played college football at Stanford and was signed by the Seattle Seahawks as an undrafted free agent in 2011. 

Baldwin enjoyed a fantastic eight year career with the Hawks, and while he'll never make the Hall of Fame, his performance will go down as one of the greatest careers in NFL history for an undrafted receiver. 

“The greatest tragedy for any human being is going through their entire lives believing the only perspective that matters is their own.” We need to break down those walls and barriers that separate us and realize that there are perspectives outside of our own eyes. 

                                                       Perspective

So, what is One Marine’s take on perspective?

Perspective is the way we see the world. It comes from our personal point of view and is shaped by our life experiences, values, current state of mind, and the assumptions we bring to life's challenges.

With more maturity and experience, we gradually acquire a sounder perspective. The better defined our values, the better defined our perspective and the more positive our state of mind, the more positive our perspective. The assumptions we bring to a situation will greatly influence our perspective in that situation. 

Culturally, individuals of different backgrounds, religions, and nationalities possess different ideas of truth, even if it's as simple as what one deems a good afternoon snack or a good type of music.

So, life perspective is the way we see life, including the way we approach life. While some may see life from the perspective of “anything goes as long as it makes us happy,” others may see life as “there are boundaries we should not cross.” One Marine sees life through the lens of a game to be played as a team following a given set of rules.

There are those who say that our perspective is our truth and One Marine certainly would not dispute that characterization. We view the world through our own truths. They are as individual as any other characteristic we may possess.

We develop our own beliefs and truths through conscious examination of the world in which we live and, at the end of the line, how we will be judged will be determined by our thoughts and actions, not the opinions or truths of others. Life is neither good nor bad, fair nor unfair, true nor false. Life is just the gift given to us – the rest comes from what we do with our gift, and living what we believe, living our truth, is the key to a purposeful life – we could say that living our perspective is the key to a purposeful life.

​We should consider that the perspectives/truths of others may differ from our truths, however, if our various truths do not harm any of God's creation, we should be able to accommodate the perspectives/truths of others without negative judgment. 

                                                       Teamwork

Listen to Story 2.

If these people worked together as a team, they might have been able to put their perspectives together and describe that elephant more accurately. What, then, is One Marine’s perspective on teamwork, and why is it important?

Those questions can probably be best answered by looking through the eyes of Flip Saunders, former NBA head coach of the Washington Wizards, Detroit Pistons and Minnesota Timberwolves.

Listen to ​Story 3. 

                                                        ​Wdtdfm

Let’s take a look now at Wiifm, What's in it for me? aka Wdtdfm, What does this demand from me? From One Marine’s perspective - Asking the question “What’s in it for me?” should imply the question “What does this demand from me?”.

If we take a look at recruiting websites - The Marine Corps site states: “Earned. Never given. We don’t ask for anything more than everything you’ve got … You will not be given anything other than the opportunity to prove that you have the courage to stand on an impenetrable line of warriors stretching almost 250 years. Our title is earned, never given. And what’s earned is yours forever.” 

The other services tend to focus on what they can do for the men and women who join. One Marine was actually guaranteed, in writing, electronic technician school upon graduation from boot camp by the Navy recruiter. The Marine Corps recruiter promised only a "hard time".

Of course, One Marine later discovered that there are just as many opportunities available in the Marine Corps as other services. The difference being that in the Marine Corps, there were no guarantees. One has to work for them. And the "hard times" were really challenges to find out how badly one really wanted that for which he or she was striving. The Marine Corps focuses on what we can do for the Corps: something larger and more important than ourselves. 

Let’s recall from the last discussion that One Marine offers only his perspectives (his truths), and those only on what he considers the most important aspects of life - those that focus on leading with character as we play the game of life by God’s rules.

Listen to ​Story 4.

​So, why should we emulate the U.S. Marine Corps and incorporate these traits into our lives? Well, that’s a personal question for which each of us will have his/her own answer. If history is an indicator, there is no doubt that mastering these traits will improve our leadership abilities and, if that is our goal, (and it really should be our goal.) the Marine Corps approach will be of great benefit to each of us.

This quote by Barack Obama pretty well sums it up:

"We, the People, recognize that we have responsibilities as well as rights; that our destinies are bound together; that a freedom which only asks WHAT'S IN IT FOR ME?, a freedom without a commitment to others, a freedom without love or charity or duty or patriotism, is unworthy of our founding ideals, and those who died in their defense."                  

In summary: Our Perspective is our truth and we view the world through our own truths. They are as individual as any other characteristic we may possess. One Marine sees life through the lens of a game to be played as a team following a God-given set of rules.

At every level of play in the game of life, Teamwork and good sportsmanship are key elements. Some roles might be more prestigious, and some of us might have to do more dirty work, but ultimately, it’s not the individual glory that matters, it’s the team’s success.

And, how does One Marine answer the question of Wdtdfm?

Everything I've got!

Here is a quote from Dr. Jagadeesh Kumar, who is the first world citizen to receive multiple international doctorates (in Engineering, Science, and Philosophy) from the top universities in the world, and is a distinguished Professor at Stanford University in California. 

“If you are playing the game without wounds, you are not playing the game, you are watching the game. If you are playing the game with wounds, you are not playing the game, you are mastering the game.” 

 

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​Wiifm

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