Values vs Goals in SOF Physical Performance
A Case for Dienekes in a Culture That Glorifies Polynikes
Written by Travis Pelletier
“Persian envoy - ‘our arrows will black out the sun...’
Dienekes of the Spartans…’Good, then we’ll fight in the shade.’”
Mythology to Meaning
Most people will remember the quote above from a similar line in the movie 300, circa 2006. I think many performance coaches remember all the hype around the people jumping on the 300 training plans, an interesting take on “couch to 5k” - Spartan warrior physique style; tan included, but I digress. Gates of Fire is a historical fiction novel set during the Battle of Thermopylae based on the same storyline as 300.
Spartan warrior culture, rooted in ancient Greece, was renowned for its military prowess. A few things that set the Spartans warrior culture apart were military discipline, fearlessness, equality among warriors, an austere lifestyle and its’ warrior’s sacrificial commitment to duty and honor.
The Spartan Agoge was both an educational and training system that played a fundamental role in shaping the character, discipline, and physical prowess of young Spartan males who desired to be warriors. I will spare further details but suffice to say Jonathan Haidt’s book “The Coddling of the American Mind” need not apply in Sparta.
Polynikes and Dienekes were legendary Spartan warriors during this time around the Persian army invasion but for different reasons. This contrast is evident in their attitudes and actions throughout the novel. For example, Dienekes is portrayed as embodying values-based behaviors including self-discipline, honor, duty, and the well-being of his comrades over personal glory. Alternatively, Polynikes is driven by individual achievement and glory, characterized by his love for valor and recognition.
Recently, I discussed the dichotomy between the Dienekes and Polynikes mindsets with an Operator I coach. We discussed how both mindsets affect Operators today. Specifically, we debated about how these differing mindsets relate to physical performance of Special Forces Operators.
“How much are we (all stakeholders involved within SOF) encouraging our Operators to live their values and not merely aim for the next goal? How much are our Operators’ characters and deep-rooted “whys” like that of Dienekes able to germinate versus being directed internally or externally to the achievement-seeking Polynikes approach? I think all the busyness and ‘business’ task saturation our Operators get inundated with is a significant frustrating issue.”
The disparity between the leadership styles of Dienekes and Polynikes was what their values were and how that shaped what they esteemed. Both were successful as leaders of warriors so who should our Operators seek to emulate?
A values-based approach, a “Dienekal” approach, should guide SOF Operators in their quest for peak performance and longevity.
Here is why:
This approach will have a greater impact on their peers, the Soldiers they are leading, and their families as it relates to taking care of their minds and bodies.
The “Dienakal” approach will also have a longer shelf life over their career compared to the goal-based, glory-seeking “Polynikal” approach.
Staying with Greek mythology here and pulling the same thread as I am, Peter Roberts and Sandor Fabian wrote about the dichotomy between Odysseus and Achilles in an article titled, More Odysseus, Less Achilles: Developing Special Operations Forces for the Challenges Ahead:
“Achilles was the finest warrior on the battlefield, a demigod among men. Odysseus was a strategic and operational magician, more cunning than fearsome. Achilles killed champions, princes, and kings. Odysseus won wars. Today, Western Special Operation Forces, collectively, look too much like Achilles, and not enough like Odysseus.”
While their argument is obviously different than mine. They argue for investing more time, money, and energy into the minds of soldiers versus investing so much into technology. The similarities in the juxtaposition of different Greek characters in both analogies is thought-provoking. Pressfield expounds upon this in Gates of Fire:
“His (Dienekes) was not, I could see now, the heroism of an Achilles. He was not a superman who waded invulnerably into the slaughter, single-handedly slaying the foe by myriads. He was just a man doing his job. A job whose primary attribute was self-restraint and self-composure, not for his own sake, but for those whom he led by his example.”
Goals, Values, and Success
Goals are appetizing carrots to motivate and inspire. Goals positively influence the glidepath of the SOF Operator’s career. Soldiers need specific goals for making it through various physical gates at various schools and selections not to mention being able to perform well in austere operational environments. However, goals alone are not as effective at keeping the momentum going or at encouraging Operators enough to get through times of doubt, injuries, or other setbacks. Knowing your values, especially those tied to peak performance and longevity, serve as a reliable source of motivation during tough times or when reassessing our purpose, beyond just aiming for another milestone.
“Don’t aim at success – the more you aim at it and make it a target, the more you are going to miss it. For success, like happiness, cannot be pursued; it must ensue, and it only does so as the unintended side-effect of one’s dedication to a cause greater than oneself or as the by-product of ones surrender to a person other than oneself.”
While goals are best defined with specificity in terms of when, what, and where. How someone shows up day to day to aim for their goals speaks to their values and attitude. “There are only two things you can control; attitude and effort.” I know this is a mantra perhaps overused. However, the truth within it is very relevant, because it relates to one’s values. Values that transcend the next wavetop of achievement. Success for Dienekes was less about being the best and more about showing up as his best every day.
Do you value the ability to embrace discomfort to challenge your attitude and effort when things are not easy or clear?
To use a ship as an analogy, purpose helps to anchor or stabilize someone as they tread through rough waters of doubt, unfavorable fortune, and setbacks along the journey. Goals are what direct the sails toward the destination. Values will be how someone “shows up” to execute the tasks and decisions necessary to sail the ship through those rough waters.
Sailing the Ship…
“Sailing the ship” encapsulates the essence of undertaking day-to-day actions that serve as someone’s compass, guiding them through the unpredictable swells and currents of life. It signifies the art of skillfully piloting yourself, making thoughtful decisions, and adjusting your course as needed to navigate the challenges and opportunities that arise on the voyage.
Values shed light on the how and connect back better to the foundational purpose.
When entrusted by the Operators, our position as coaches is serving as a guide who can give perspective on the Operator’s purpose in achieving their performance goals. Sometimes it is to remind them their purpose is more than their position as it relates to goals yet realized or when they fail. There does not need to even be a goal for them to live their values.
“When we think about HOW we want to live our life, we are focusing on values. Values are like a compass that keep us headed in a desired direction and are distinct from goals. Goals are the specific ways you intend to execute your values. A goal is something that we aim for and check off once we have accomplished it. Being responsible is a value. Owning a home is a goal. You can engage in responsible behavior each day that may lead to achieving your goal and continue to live that value even after you have achieved the goal.”
Introspection
When I reflect on all the times I was involved in the goal-setting process, people were more likely to achieve their goals when their motivation (why) was big and their values were recognized initially, remembered consistently, and realized ultimately.
This is the backside of a card I gave out to my athletes from my time in the collegiate setting. For context, “Mo’ Better” was the outcome goal. It is not hard for athletes to be most excited about this section. This is the sexy part of setting goals and sometimes referred to as “Big Hairy and Audacious” in the most Polynikal glory-seeking ways at times.
Even though it has been almost twenty years since the movie 300 came out, it is interesting to still see some soldiers training in a way that they think will get them “the look” of a Spartan warrior. Yet many of these soldiers fail to embody the ideals of what Spartan warrior ethos represents.
Nevertheless, the most important part of this “HARD” goal writing assignment is the Heartfelt section. Athletes who related their three reasons to values they embodied or values they wanted to develop through this process were the most successful. This is where recognized initially happens.
Living the values daily (remembered consistently) enabled them to be successful more than the mere hunt of chasing the desired outcome. Polynikes’ goal was to be the best warrior on the battlefield and to be known for that. Dienekes valued leading his men honorably for them, not him.
In pursuit of any goal, it is essential to gaze out the window, seeking growth and opportunities for exploration.
More importantly and foundational is the act of turning inward, examining one's values in the mirror through introspection to understand why you are seeking that growth and exploration.
SITREP Vignette
One of my Operators, who arrived to his Special Forces team earlier this past year, set a goal on passing the gruesome Combat Diver Qualification Course. He earned the coveted combat diver badge despite being deployed for most of the year in poor training conditions. As you can imagine, he was very proud and so was I as his performance coach. However, when I talked to him soon after graduation his question was, “Now what?”
He had spent most of the last three years becoming Special Forces and dive qualified. This young Green Beret has a good balance of Dienekes and Polynikes in him. This is the most opportune time for me as his coach to encourage him to do more reflection. My hope is that he can realize the answer is not chasing more carrots he or his leadership might be tempted to have him pursue.
Having an arm full of badges is enticing. With reference to badges, one operator asks the question, “Do they wear it or do they bear it.” One of the SOF truths is “Humans are more important than hardware.” Soldiers are more important than badge-wear.
It is one thing to earn a badge that honors someone’s hard work and sacrifice but it is a higher calling to bear those badges; to embody and honor the legacy those badges represent. Even without the badges, someone’s values and virtue should remain unchanged.
Another way to think of this is reflecting about our own influence as coaches. Soldiers do not care much about what colleges or teams we came from, or all the credentials and certifications we have, or even how many championships we helped teams win. They care about how we show up for them today. They care about (and see) how much we care about their individual and team’s performance and longevity. This is how we earn their respect.
“Be and Not to Look Like”
Coach Nate Palin’s tactical athletes were surprised if he ever mentioned he was in the Ranger Regiment. He understood they cared more about him being an expert with their physical performance as their coach. He knew he did not need to relate to them with a “been there, done that” attitude in relation to their tactical jobs.
I care about this young Green Beret and what is on his professional horizon. Right now, is the best time for him to lead himself and others by simply doing the external work because he has already completed the internal work of contemplating who he is and how he wants to lead moving forward. A key part of that reflection will be solidifying his values around what he needs to do day in and day out to be in peak physical performance no matter what task lies ahead. It will also involve remembering to honor the reasons why he signed up to be a Green Beret in the first place.
Meaning in Mythology
Being able to write this has been an encouragement and created a level of accountability as well. It has helped in how I have engaged my Operators to re-frame what they plan to achieve in the New Year. My goal is to inspire your goal-setting approach both personally and with your Operators too.
While the direct application of Spartan warrior history and mythology may be limited, extracting timeless principles from their culture can be a productive effort. Adapting these principles to contemporary contexts can provide meaningful guidance for our Operators for professional growth, organizational leadership, and personal values today.
There is no denying Polynikes was noble in the ultimate sacrifice of his will, body, and life for the greater good of his fellow warriors and Sparta. In the end, Polynikes realized the difference between wearing the scarlet cloak for respect versus bearing it as a way of life as Dienekes did. Dienekes was able to achieve the same acts of nobility as Polynikes but knew he need not wear the scarlet of the Spartans to still embody his values of virtue, honor, and duty; ultimate realization.
“Never forget, Alexandros, that this flesh, this body, does not belong to us. Thank God it doesn’t. If I thought this stuff was mine, I could not advance a pace into the face of the enemy. But it is not ours, my friend. It belongs to the gods and to our children, our fathers and mothers and those of Lakedaemon (Sparta) a hundred, a thousand years yet unborn. It belongs to the city which gives us all we have and demands no less in requital.”
Carpe Ferrum!
TRAVIS PELLETIER
I am a devoted husband and proud father of four energetic boys, consistently pursuing "arete" in both my professional and family life.
Currently, I serve as a Strength and Conditioning Specialist at the 7th Special Forces Group, where my primary responsibility is to empower the men and women of the unit to reach their peak mental and physical capabilities for optimal performance in mission-related duties.
My journey in developing comprehensive training programs began with collegiate sports teams and evolved into tactical coaching from 2012 to 2014, a transformative period that allowed me to support military personnel with diverse abilities, limitations, goals, and motivations. This experience was not only a career changer but also a profound honor, and I am grateful to be back in a similar role today.
My passion extends beyond professional coaching; I am dedicated to positively influencing individuals in their performance goals and personal growth. In addition to my primary career, I am actively involved in fostering the character, commitment, and courage of my boys through their thriving local business venture, Monkey Rollers.
I thrive on the opportunity to make a positive impact through coaching, whether in the military setting or within my family and community. My commitment lies in creating programs that enhance operational readiness, overall health, and well-being while instilling values that extend beyond the realm of fitness into every aspect of life including setting up a healthy foundation for my boys and their futures as men.
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