Interview with Richard Marcinko
By Sonshi.com

If there was ever an interview we at Sonshi.com most eagerly looked forward to doing, this would be it. From reading his works and from our talk, we can emphatically say Richard Marcinko embodies the true warrior spirit...a rarity in the modern world. Honest, forthright, tough, and compassionate. A true leader.

Richard Marcinko retired from the Navy as a full commander, and is regarded as one of the world's foremost experts on counter-terrorism, intelligence, and special operations. Mr. Marcinko's explosive #1 New York Times bestselling autobiography, Rogue Warrior chronicled the wild, deadly adventures of his thirty years as a Navy commando and creator of the legendary Seal Team Six.

Mr. Marcinko also disseminates his Warrior’s wisdom as CEO of SOS Temps, Inc., a private security consulting firm whose clients have included the Detroit Metropolitan Airport, the White House Fellows and the U.S. Army War College. His motivational and team-building company, Richard Marcinko, Inc., counts among its clients General Motors, AT&T, Dominos Pizza, Motorola, Benfield-Blanche Insurance, Zachry Construction and BellSouth.

For more information, visit his official website: http://www.dickmarcinko.com. Below is our interview with Richard Marcinko.

Sonshi.com: We have three books in front of us right now: Rogue Warrior, Leadership Secrets of the Rogue Warrior, and The Rogue Warrior's Strategy for Success. Outstanding books! We can see there is a remarkable transformation from a man skilled in the art of weapons and warfare to a man skilled in the art of writing and business. The pen and the sword. Do you think the consummate warrior must conceptually have both skills?

Marcinko: The combat of WAR and an economic WAR have a lot of similarities. You do have to be skilled, aggressive, know your enemy and your strong attributes and limitations. Both skills are needed although one may be more natural.

Sonshi.com: Are true warriors born or made? What traits did you look for while commander of SEAL Team Six and Red Cell?

Marcinko: Like all athletes, some are "natural" others must train longer and harder. Those who work harder are my "sled dogs". They are constant because they have to work hard every day. When a crisis appears, "it's just another day". At SIX combat experience, foreign language skills, and union trade skills were the initial screening priorities. Loyalty and dedication were mandatory.

Sonshi.com: In Rogue Warrior, your career progression in the Navy to full commander was not only due to your level of efficacy to get the job done through some rather creative maneuvers -- damn the consequences -- but also to "punching your ticket" and following the rules. How did you strike that balance, and would you advise your children to do anything different?

Marcinko: I had to know the "system" and know where it was flexible enough for my personal interpretation. Once I committed, I had to know the potential consequences and be prepared to accept those consequences or have a plan to deal with them. (KNOWING THE ENEMY...whomever it is/was). I ask my children (all of them) to be what they want to be; just be the best they can at what they choose.

Sonshi.com: In Leadership Secrets of the Rogue Warrior and The Rogue Warrior's Strategy for Success, you quoted Sun Tzu's Art of War. In fact, Sun Tzu's principles can be found throughout your books, e.g., stacking the deck in your favor to ensure victory, and going to where the enemy does not expect. Share with our readers your thoughts about Sun Tzu's principles and how they relate to your main strategy philosophies.

Marcinko: I think knowing the enemy; being creative and unpredictable; using deception and attack to win. I don't follow the thought; "Winning is not important, playing the game is". If that is in fact true; then why do we keep score??

Sonshi.com: Currently, you are CEO of a security consulting company (SOS Temps, Inc.) and head of a motivational and teambuilding training company (Marcinko, Inc.). Fortune 500 companies use your services. From your experience, how prevalent are Sun Tzu concepts and their application in the conduct of business nowadays?

Marcinko: I can't tell the difference. The rules of war are the same. Victory and success are the same. In one it's life and/or death in the other it is success or failure. There really is little room for compromise of "gray matter".

Sonshi.com: We understand you are now a family man with a wife and six children...and an amazing cook. What's tougher: succeeding at being a husband and a father, or your two tours in Vietnam?

Marcinko: Ah!!! For the peace and quiet of a small war. War is clearly the easier. There are less variables to consider and the focus and goals are constant. Families stay in a fluid state as they grow and get introduced to the pressures of life and their own expectancies.

Sonshi.com: After having earned 34 citations and medals in the military, The New York Times best-selling book slots, and a Masters Degree from Auburn University, what is the next big project for Richard Marcinko?

Marcinko: More books; movie on the bio; CD-ROM game 2004; three collector figures (BlueBoxToys.com); insurance coverage for Terrorist acts along w/ Vulnerability Assessments that assist in the mitigation process. Work on "homeland security" and my radio show on Talk Radio Network each Saturday 5-8pm EST "America on Watch". Followed by the adaptation of technology to all of the projects I seem to find time for.

[End of interview]