Be the Calm or Be the Storm

Leadership Lessons from a Woman at the Helm

By: Captain Sandy Yawn

Narrated by: Captain Sandy Yawn

Everyone experiences a moment in life when they need to lead. Sometimes it's a team, sometimes it's a company, a classroom, a patient ward, a family, or simply your own individual self. Based on the leadership lessons she's gathered from her resourceful and resilient life, Captain Sandy, a superyacht captain and star of Bravo's Below Deck Mediterranean, shares the leadership skills and critical thinking inherent to being a captain that can empower anyone to navigate their way to a successful life.

Among some of the stories/lessons she'll share: How she selects and sizes up her crew even before embarking on a charter, deciding who to invest in and how to bring out their best.

Things happen at sea. No matter how much you plan and train, so much can go wrong so she'll discuss the level of persistence and faith that's required in solving an especially knotty problem.

Authority and discipline are required to lead, but they must be leavened with compassion, understanding, and a desire to see your crew succeed. She describes the seamless flow that happens in great teamwork and how she loves seeing the way her deckhands pitch in with the stews when needed. For Captain Sandy, this represents leading with empathy, figuring out who your teammates are and what motivates them, then communicating in a way that motivates and makes them feel understood.

As a captain, Sandy is constantly upgrading her knowledge and skill set, which is as much a part of her job as steering a vessel. Sustaining excellence requires constant effort, whether you find yourself at the end of a journey, halfway through or at the start of a new one. And the learning never stops.

Woven throughout her stories are Captain Sandy's optimism and abiding faith that, given the right tools and opportunities, individuals are capable of so much more than they realize, especially when they can find someone to believe in them.

This audio product contains a PDF with supporting material, and the PDF is available to download.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2022 Hay House (P)2022 Hay House

Critic reviews

"I have been fortunate to have competed against and worked with some very strong women, all with unique traits that have made them leaders in their respective fields. What stands out the most about Captain Sandy is that she is a true leader. One who leads with wisdom through experience—the wisdom to be passionate and compassionate, graceful yet strong, all while serving the ever-present roles of captain and mentor. As an author, Captain Sandy offers tools and tips on how to take control of one’s life and how doing so gives us the best chance of excelling at whatever we choose. In this compelling and engaging narrative, she proves that anyone is capable of navigating the storms of life." — Gigi Fernández, professional tennis player and Olympic gold medalist

"Captain Sandy is effectively the CEO of the vessel she captains, leading with calm, confidence, and humanity. For those looking to lead in any industry, or even to govern themselves, readers will be inspired by the unique and skillful way she navigates the stormiest of seas." — Lisa Lutoff-Perlo, president and CEO of Celebrity Cruises

"This is a leadership book that is as unique as Captain Sandy’s approach and life experience. She gets to the heart of what it means to be a servant leader—someone who puts the greater good above herself, whether that is taking care of charter guests, developing the skill sets of her crew, or assuring the safety of all souls on board. From harrowing tales of 20-foot seas to comic episodes with demanding and eccentric guests, these pages contain leadership lessons for anyone from a student of the navigation industry to a Fortune 500 executive." — Romaine Seguin, CEO of Good360, former president of UPS Global Freight Forwarding

Love Captian Sandy!

Ok she is a captain, not an author, but I found her story and experiences interesting! Proud of her and her accomplishments 👍🏼

Be the Calm or The Storm

I enjoyed the narrator. I liked the book. I would recommend this book. enjoy

Real world lesson from a real world leader.

Captain Sandy Yawn has been a joy to tune into on Bravo and catch a glimpse into the “edited” world of charter yachts and that is what lead me to her book. Not sure what this was going to be about, but with an open mind, I found myself captivated by the journey filled with anecdotes, insights, and advice from her numerous years of experience in the industry. Her passion for yachting shines through as you listen to her storytelling, and her no-nonsense approach to leadership. One of the reasons I enjoy audiobooks is because you can hear how the author wants the emphasis applied and Captain Sandy’s voice is both authoritative and soothing. Whether you’re a seasoned yacht adventurer or a just interested in an excellent book on becoming a better leader, this is a must-listen to book. I hope you enjoy this as much as I did.

Love a great inspirational story!

I really enjoyed this audiobook! I loved the stories of pirates and waterspouts!
You are living proof that there are different paths to success! Thank you, Captain Sandy!

Her leadership style is incredible!

I loved this book! The way she carries herself through adversity is something everyone can learn from. Being a female leader myself, I learned so much from her and will definitely use several of her tools in the future, not only in business, but in life! She is truly an inspiration and this books shows why she is where she is! Truly top notch!!

Loved it!!!!

Captain Sandy is amazing, I knew it was going to be great but this book exceeded all of my expectations!!

Great leader and captain.

interesting to learn the back story and proof you can overcome just about anything. Tools that can be used everyday in work and home life.

Captain Sandy

She is awesome! Great life lessons. I recommend this book. Well read and interesting. Good leadership lessons.

You helped me

As a fan of Below Deck I ordered the book because I was curious and noticed a substantial change in Captain Sandy when she stepped in for Captain Lee. She was asking better questions to crew, leading by example and drawing a clear line when those who were there to have fun were not getting the job done. I myself have been suffering through one bad choice in employee after the next because my business is flowers, everyone thinks they get to play all day! I was in the middle of a big financial decision after taking a small course and I decided to listen to this book while making mockups for Valentine's as the deadline for the course was approaching quickly and my head was a scrambled mess. Then, Captain Sandy starts telling her story about all the programs she had to take over the years and how important it is to not only educate but invest in yourself as a leader. Done! I walked to my computer and clicked "join now" then finished her book I'm a day. Great book for those of us who need a kick in the pants to level up, realize our traumatic past is just that...the past, stormy seas are ahead, but now you have all that experience to guide you through.

Motivating

This book is incredibly inspiring and motivating. Anyone can relate with their own journey. Very down to earth