17 Dec 2025 · 3 min
Brian Johnson reflects on a maxim above Lieutenant Commander Jason McClinton's computer: "Whatever you do, strive to do it so well that no man living and no man dead and no man yet to be born could do it any better." The quote comes from Benjamin Elijah Mays, who mentored Martin Luther King Jr.
Hi, this is Brian. Welcome back to another heroic plus one. In our last plus one we spent some time with Trano and a young sailor on the USS Eisenhower recommitting to serving his great nation. And me and you and everyone who enjoys a life dependent on the freedom he and his fellow warriors helped defend. I mentioned the fact that Lieutenant Commander Jason McClinton, aka Trano, is one of the most incredible human beings I've ever met. His soul force breaks our 1 to 101 scale, clocking in at roughly a million and one. Seriously, I've never met anyone with more soul force than Treno. Just take a look at him here if you want to know what I'm talking about. He exudes joy, passion, self mastery and arete. Now, Treno is a tank of a man who clearly practices his philosophy and his philosophy is clearly a good one. You know that's post one. I promised I'd share the quote Treno has above his computer. Here it is. Whatever you do, strive to do it so well that no man living and no man dead and no man yet to be born could do it any better. Now I got goosebumps typing that out and fun fact, I typed that while taxiing on the Runway at Heathrow airport after a five hour layover after flying in from Bahrain at 2:15am As I make my way back home to Austin to see the wife and kids after a long trip. So I repeat, whatever you do, strive to do it so well that no man living and no man dead and no man yet to be born could do it any better. Now you know who said that? A guy named Benjamin Elijah Mays. You know who he is? Neither did I until Trano told me that Mays, along with his father, is one of his heroes. Benjamin Elizabeth Elijah Mays was Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. S spiritual father and essentially the intellectual inspiration behind the Civil Rights movement. He was the president of Morehouse College for decades and mentored MLK when he was a young man going to school there. Imagine that. Every hero gets a guide. MLK's Benjamin Elijah Mays. I got a biography on May so I can learn more about this incredible man's life. I am excited to share more on his heroic life soon. Today's plus one. I repeat, whatever you do, strive to do it so well that no man living and no man dead and no man yet to be born could do it any better. When today.
