Abrashoff assumed command of the USS Benfold in 1997, a tenure that lasted for 20 months. He recounts his Naval career and the various roles he had occupied prior to becoming captain of the ship at the beginning of the book. Most notably, Abrashoff was the Executive Officer of the USS Shiloh, where he says he learned how to be an effective leader by seeing what not to do. While his time on Shiloh had practical value because of his job responsibilities, the theoretical knowledge of what leaders should do and how they should behave was clarified because of what he saw as evidence of the shortcomings of a traditional top-down command style.

Abrashoff is proud of what he accomplished during his tenure as captain of the Benfold, but he also wants the reader to connect personal achievement with collective achievement. Abrashoff contends that his success as a captain was entirely dependent on the success of the ship, a fact that could not have been achieved had it not been for a collective effort. In this way, he describes a reciprocal loop. Good leadership leads to good results that can only be achieved by collective effort, which is best achieved through good leadership.