2. Evaluating Resources and Focusing on Personnel AUTHOR NAME: Admiral James Stavridis, United States Navy (Retired) BOOK TITLE: To Risk It All: Nine Conflicts and the Crucible of Decision The discussion focuses on evaluating resources and considering peo
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🗓️ 13 October 2025
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Summary
2. Evaluating Resources and Focusing on Personnel
BOOK TITLE: To Risk It All: Nine Conflicts and the Crucible of Decision
The discussion focuses on evaluating resources and considering people. David Farragut, known for "damn the torpedoes full speed ahead," was careful, effectively merging resources and utilizing new naval technologies like ironclads at Mobile Bay. Captain Lloyd Bucher of the USS Pueblo had "no way out" but destroyed material and saved his crew by surrendering. Captain Brett Crozier suffered career consequences for focusing on his crew during the COVID-19 crisis.
1939 REUBEN JAMES
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| 0:29.3 | This is CBSI in the world. I'm John Batch with Admiral Jim Stavridis. |
| 0:37.2 | United States Navy retired, a 37-year career, and lessons learn for leadership to risk at, nine conflicts in the crucible of decision. |
| 0:40.5 | We turn to lesson three, evaluate your resources. |
| 0:44.8 | The example here is David Farragut, which is old Navy, but it's a transition, it's a, it's a Navy in the Civil War. |
| 0:52.6 | And David Farragut is remembered now as part of the 1864 re-election campaign of Abraham Lincoln |
| 0:59.8 | because his victory at Mobile Bay was a major part of the campaign platform of Lincoln facing the exhausting civil war. |
| 1:09.0 | But I learned from Jim that David Farragut was a very careful man. |
| 1:13.2 | He had resources that he learned from, from the Battle of New Orleans to conquer the Confederate |
| 1:21.2 | forces at New Orleans to what he's remembered for is Mobile Bay. How did David Farragut, who has |
| 1:27.4 | a history that very much illustrates |
| 1:31.3 | early America, how did he evaluate his resources, military on the land and at sea? Jim. |
| 1:40.7 | David Farragut, of course, is most famous for this seemingly reckless phrase, damn the torpedoes full speed ahead. |
| 1:50.8 | He utters those immortal words memorized by generations of young midshipman at the Naval Academy. |
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