A common mental feature in successful SOF candidates is that it's not just about them.

When they reflect on their reasons for being there and suffering for the sake of a long-term goal, their thoughts often go to other people in their lives: people like their close friends, their teammates, and their loved ones back home. 

This helps them to view the world through "self-distanced perspective-taking," which shifts their perspective toward long-term goals, rather than reactive short-term logic. In the ultra high-stress world of SOF selection, this helps to reduce impulsivity and keep people from making a rash decision and quitting when they hit low moments. 

Researchers as early as WWII came upon this phenomenon while they were seeking to understand what motivated soldiers in battle, and it still holds true today. 

In this episode, we look at some of the factors that make good teams, and good team members. These characteristics of effective teams are part of the reason that special operations units are so effective. They're made up of highly capable individuals who become even more capable as part of a tightly-knit team.