Yacov Wrocherinsky is New York State’s Small Business Person of the Year for 2008. He is also the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Infinity Info Systems, which specializes in contact management and customer relationship management.

Hey, wait a minute. Why am I taking about Wrocherinsky?

It is because he is one of the 48 business persons who have recently taken the challenge of undergoing a one-of-a-kind leadership training – that which has been organized by retired US Navy SEALs. The Young Presidents’ Organization, a global network of leaders, and the Special Operation Training Group, Inc organized the ‘YPO/US Navy SEALs Challenge: Leadership under Fire’.

Business executives learn a different way of managing a different kind of stress. They were made to complete tough physical and mental challenges that pushed them to make quick decisions even when totally exhausted from mandatory push ups and open ocean swimming.

All participants were expected to prepare for the physical and psychological pressures of the training before the program even started. Some of them hired personal trainers just to ensure optimum health and fitness. This certainly does not sound like ‘business with pleasure’ to me.

Of course, our business leaders have already proven their outstanding skills in management. I believe one of the things that make them great leaders is the fact that they welcome unique challenges and are open to explore other learning methods. Choosing a training program such as this goes to show that entrepreneurs acknowledge the SEALs’ wealth of knowledge and skills.

Several US Navy SEALs find themselves in the world of consultancy after military life. With their remarkable leadership and survival skills, most have been professional trainers, inspirational speakers, book authors and even TV show hosts. The people who organized this training program are also no longer connected with the Navy or the US Military and are now working for or with the Special Operation Training Group, Inc.