John Miles

One of my favorite questions that I've always gotten in an interview is, tell me about your strengths and your biggest weakness. And to me, when someone answers that question saying they don't have weaknesses or trying to lessen them, I always know that they're not a good fit because they're not being authentic with their answer.

One of my favorite questions that I've always gotten in an interview is, tell me about your strengths and your biggest weakness. And to me, when someone answers that question saying they don't have weaknesses or trying to lessen them, I always know that they're not a good fit because they're not being authentic with their answer.

I've been thinking a lot recently about Jimmy Carter, given he's kind of at the ending stages of his amazing life. He's a Naval Academy grad. And I remembered this story. He was interviewing to become part of the Spurgeon nuclear power program in the Navy. And this is back in the early 1950s. And during this time, you had Hyman Rickover, the longest standing military officer of all time.

I've been thinking a lot recently about Jimmy Carter, given he's kind of at the ending stages of his amazing life. He's a Naval Academy grad. And I remembered this story. He was interviewing to become part of the Spurgeon nuclear power program in the Navy. And this is back in the early 1950s. And during this time, you had Hyman Rickover, the longest standing military officer of all time.

He ended up being a military officer until his 80s. He was known and feared by For how demanding he was in interviews, people would lose their minds trying to think about how to prepare themselves for these interviews. In this case, Jimmy Carter had already graduated from the Naval Academy. He was in the fleet already and he applied. And he has this interview with the admiral and the admiral.

He ended up being a military officer until his 80s. He was known and feared by For how demanding he was in interviews, people would lose their minds trying to think about how to prepare themselves for these interviews. In this case, Jimmy Carter had already graduated from the Naval Academy. He was in the fleet already and he applied. And he has this interview with the admiral and the admiral.

is talking to him for about two hours, and he doesn't really do this in a set interview style. He asks Carter to start talking to him about areas of interest and areas that he knows best.

is talking to him for about two hours, and he doesn't really do this in a set interview style. He asks Carter to start talking to him about areas of interest and areas that he knows best.

And as Carter is going through everything from navigation to propulsion systems to stoicism and everything else, he realizes that Rickover is a master in every single one of these topics and an expert in them, and that he is basically being put to task. And so as they're ending the interview, Rickover asks him one final question.

And as Carter is going through everything from navigation to propulsion systems to stoicism and everything else, he realizes that Rickover is a master in every single one of these topics and an expert in them, and that he is basically being put to task. And so as they're ending the interview, Rickover asks him one final question.

And he said, while you were at the Naval Academy, did you always do your best? And Carter was about ready to answer yes when he reflected on the conversations that they had been having. And the demand for excellence that Rickover wanted out of the people who were part of the nuclear Navy. And he said, upon thinking about it, no, I didn't. I could have studied harder for tests.

And he said, while you were at the Naval Academy, did you always do your best? And Carter was about ready to answer yes when he reflected on the conversations that they had been having. And the demand for excellence that Rickover wanted out of the people who were part of the nuclear Navy. And he said, upon thinking about it, no, I didn't. I could have studied harder for tests.

I could have performed better in athletics. I could have learned more about our enemies. And then Rickover ended the conversation with, well, Why didn't you? And that really became this moment for Carter of realization that by him not always trying to do his best, it was limiting him in so many different ways. And it changed his whole approach on life.

I could have performed better in athletics. I could have learned more about our enemies. And then Rickover ended the conversation with, well, Why didn't you? And that really became this moment for Carter of realization that by him not always trying to do his best, it was limiting him in so many different ways. And it changed his whole approach on life.

So, I mean, that's just one example, but I've had so many mistakes and misfortunes and bumps along the way. And that is what has allowed me to learn and become better.

So, I mean, that's just one example, but I've had so many mistakes and misfortunes and bumps along the way. And that is what has allowed me to learn and become better.

constant learning being curious about how to do things differently but also deliberate action and when you combine those things meaning you're choosing growth time and time again whether it's in your personal life or in a business setting and then you're constantly taking actions that go in concert with that growth you're creating it's a perfect recipe for greatness.

constant learning being curious about how to do things differently but also deliberate action and when you combine those things meaning you're choosing growth time and time again whether it's in your personal life or in a business setting and then you're constantly taking actions that go in concert with that growth you're creating it's a perfect recipe for greatness.

Thanks for that question. As I was growing up, I had always had in my mind that I was going to be doing something of impact to others, but I always thought it was going to be in a way of some type of public service, whether that was being a police officer, an FBI agent, fireman. I never really saw myself sitting behind a desk of sorts.

Thanks for that question. As I was growing up, I had always had in my mind that I was going to be doing something of impact to others, but I always thought it was going to be in a way of some type of public service, whether that was being a police officer, an FBI agent, fireman. I never really saw myself sitting behind a desk of sorts.