For the past three decades, the Army Values (Loyalty, Duty, Respect, Selfless Service, Honor, Integrity, and Personal Courage) have provided a constant guardrail for professional Soldiers as they navigate their careers. Yet, oftentimes we see Soldiers challenging, arguing against, or failing to adhere to these values in and out of uniform. Over the years, I've found that sticking to these precepts is often a recipe for a successful career. However, those who stray from the Army Values may need to reorient their compass and make a course correction, or they risk falling into legal, moral, or ethical problems.

I've been fortunate enough to have served alongside many excellent subordinates, peers, and superiors in the Army. Many of these outstanding Soldiers have imparted their wisdom and experience, from which I have collected 10 life lessons or "Rules of the Road." These rules serve as an additional set of tools that complement the Army Values.

This article presents the 10 rules as they have been compiled over the years, serving as a foundation of solid principles to help balance vision, drive, integrity, resilience, and humility. These rules act as a compass for anyone aspiring to lead, or just trying to be a better person. Each one is simple at face value, but profound in application:

1. Always look for the silver lining.
Setbacks are inevitable in life, but it is essential to always look for positive aspects among unfavorable situations. Good leaders understand that adversity may often reveal opportunities that are not readily visible. Conversely, negativity is like a cancerous tumor that grows and spreads throughout an organization. When you maintain a positive attitude and focus on what can be gained, you and your team will be better prepared to persevere, innovate, and overcome life’s challenges. This positive mindset transforms obstacles into stepping stones. Looking for the silver lining fosters resilience and builds a can-do attitude that keeps the individual or organization charging forward to mission accomplishment.

2. Bring hope. 
Leadership is so much more than leading; leadership is about inspiring hope. Army leaders recognize that hope fuels morale and builds resilience. Hope adds to an individual's perseverance, which in turn uplifts their units by helping others see beyond immediate difficulties. Hope is contagious; it fosters determination and confidence, and it bolsters the efforts of change agents. Leaders who bring hope create psychological safety for their teams to thrive amid adversity.

3. If you set your bar high enough, success will find you.
When I was in high school, my best friend kept a poster of a Boeing 777 cockpit on the wall in his room. One of his life goals was to fly a 777, and he quickly earned his private, commercial, and airline transport pilot certificates as a young adult. It took decades of training and hard work before he was able to pilot a 777, but along the way he built a very successful career as an airline pilot with a major carrier. As an airline captain, he has logged thousands of hours of flight time. He is type-rated in multiple commercial jet aircraft, including Boeing and Airbus models. The point of this is that if you set and strive for high goals for yourself, don’t be too disappointed if it takes a long time or you are unable to achieve them – you will gain a hell of a lot by just trying to reach those high goals. The more difficult the journey, the greater the reward.

4. Define what success means to you and adjust as necessary. 
As a leader, you should be able to chart your own path, knowing what success looks like personally and professionally. And if you can’t manage your own success, you probably aren’t suited to guide and manage the achievements of others. Just like military planning, your own success should be planned with an end state or objectives in mind. Identify your goals and establish a desired state, regularly reevaluating these defined criteria in the midst of changing circumstances and new insights. Your path to success should include flexibility to account for branches (what if?) and sequels (what next?). This flexibility ensures that goals remain relevant and motivating, and it provides options as you navigate life’s challenges.

5. Always have a plan (and a backup).
Good Soldiers understand the necessity of a PACE plan (primary, alternate, contingency, and emergency) for communication plans, medical coverage, etc. Just as with a solid PACE plan, you should have a plan and backup plans for every challenge or mission you undertake. Planning and preparation are crucial for achieving a challenging objective. When objectives or desired states are difficult to achieve, good leaders know that chaos is often the enemy of clarity. This chaos can be mitigated through meticulous planning, while also recognizing that plans are only as good as their flexibility (think, branches and sequels). That's why they always develop contingency plans—backup options that can be executed when the unexpected occurs. This readiness minimizes surprises and keeps things running smoothly, demonstrating that foresight and adaptability are the hallmarks of a true leader.

6. Be a learner for life.
A commitment to learning enables leaders to remain adaptable and stay ahead of the curve. Being a lifelong student involves continued self-study, professional military education, training, and civilian education, as well as challenging your intellectual growth. Soldiers should strive to be perpetual learners; expertise is fleeting without continuous self-development. A lifelong learner will cultivate skills that empower themselves and others to achieve success through learning new technology, expanding strategic thinking, and developing emotional intelligence.

7. Don't stop yourself from trying (don't close the door on yourself / don't self-select).
Remember this: Others may be quick to close the door on you - don't ever close the door on yourself. Fear of failure or self-imposed limitations can be significant barriers to personal and professional growth. Great leaders never close the door on opportunities because of self-doubt or complacency. There is often great benefit in leaping into the unknown, where you can embrace uncertainty, take calculated risks, and learn from your mistakes. Know that true growth happens when you push yourself beyond your comfort zone, and a winning attitude can often turn setbacks into eventual triumphs.

8. Be a good dude / be a good person.
Army leadership is fundamentally rooted in the Army Values, and being a good person generally aligns you with those values. Being a good person builds trust and loyalty, and it helps keep your moral compass aligned. If you ever find yourself in need of a course correction, refer back to this rule. And remember this simple equation:
9. Don't ever think that you've made it.
Brash, cocky, or arrogant attitudes are detrimental to unit cohesiveness (refer to a 2025 Special Warfare Journal article, “Perspectives from the Force: No More Hot-Dogging” which highlights Col. Charles Fry’s article on quiet professionalism). We've all experienced this behavior, whether in garrison, in the field, or in combat. For the most part, people do not appreciate this kind of behavior, and humility can go a long way in building trust. The moment you believe you've "arrived" is the moment you stop improving. Good leaders understand that there is always room for growth, and they focus on continuous self-assessment and feedback. Leaders who stay humble remain open to new ideas and are eager to learn and adapt.

10. If you hang out with dogs, don't be surprised if you catch fleas (you are who you associate with).
Misery loves company, and this is especially true with whom you choose to follow or hang around. If you associate with negative, dishonest, or toxic individuals, you will oftentimes be dragged down to their level. The solution is to surround yourself with positive, dedicated, and principled individuals who elevate your standards and integrity. Leadership reflects your environment; choose wisely with whom you associate, and don't be surprised when your influences shape your outcomes.

Conclusion
I compiled these 10 rules over the span of a quarter-century of service, drawing on the knowledge and experience of senior Army leaders. To those leaders: I offer my humble gratitude. To the readers who find this useful: Stay optimistic, define your success, plan meticulously, aim for victory, keep learning, embrace risks, act with integrity, stay humble, inspire hope, and surround yourself with the right people. The art of leadership can be a demanding yet profoundly rewarding endeavor. Lead with purpose and resilience, and you'll find that the road becomes clearer and your influence deeper.
Author’s Note: Chief Warrant Officer 4 William Bryant is a career Regular Army Soldier and Special Forces Officer with more than 24 years of service. He is a graduate of the School of Advanced Military Studies, How the Army Runs Course, and the Air Command and Staff College. He also holds three graduate degrees (MA, MS, and MA) and an FAA commercial pilot certificate, and he currently serves as the Co-Editor-in-Chief of the Special Warfare Journal. The views, opinions, and analysis expressed do not represent the position of the U.S. Army or the Department of War.