Carnivore Leadership: Taking Charge Instead of Taking Shit

by Ramón Colón-López

If you want to lead in today’s world, you have to be a meat-eater. Take it from someone who knows from having been on the front lines. Ramón “CZ” Colón-López rose from special ops to become the highest-ranking enlisted member in the U.S. military (SEAC). In Carnivore Leadership, he lays out an action-first philosophy and twenty “Silver Bullets” forged under pressure—lessons that hit hard and translate from battlefield to boardroom. Praised for integrity, humility, and a warrior spirit, CZ shows leaders how to leave their comfort zone, build accountable teams, and act decisively when it counts.

200 pages, Hardcover

Published January 27, 2026

Reviews

[Matt · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dude is a beast! I would expect nothing less from a highly decorated operator with 2 decades of experience serving as a PJ and all the way up to being one of the highest enlisted leaders in the military.

All his silver bullets of effective leadership are common sense, no bullshit, ways to lead from the front. We all can take something from the book if we use these principles to take ownership and control of our personal vision.

My only critic is his choice of using the carnivore analogy as an overarching behavior of effective leaders. Put a carnivore in a room with only herbivores, and guess who gets eaten. In my own experience, very far removed from the combat operations he faced, I saw the Air Force as far less aggressive in its posture then what he saw. While top leaders preached warrior ethos and called for war fighters, we laxed physical fitness standards, we became complacent with military professional image, and we grew a forest of plants for herbivores to thrive. When I think of carnivore, in this environment, I do not think of loyalty, discipline, and dependable. I think of cut throats who look to get ahead. I understand the heart of his premise, but got wrapped up in his veloceraptor metaphor.

Still, great leadership book to pull quotes from.

[Heather W · Rating 5 out of 5]

Carnivore Leadership is a direct, unapologetic leadership manifesto forged under real pressure not theory, not corporate jargon, but lived experience. Ramón “CZ” Colón López draws from his rise through special operations to the highest enlisted position in the U.S. military to deliver an action first philosophy built on accountability, decisiveness, and moral courage. This is leadership stripped down to essentials: responsibility, discipline, and execution.

What makes this book stand out is its clarity and transferability. The twenty “Silver Bullets” are sharp, memorable, and practical, translating seamlessly from battlefield environments to boardrooms, startups, and high stakes organizations. CZ’s emphasis on humility, integrity, and service balances the book’s hard edge, making it as much about character as command. Carnivore Leadership is not about dominance it’s about ownership, standards, and doing the hard thing when it matters most.

[Tara]

Carnivore Leadership is a bold, unapologetic guide to leading with courage, accountability, and action. Drawing from his experience rising through the ranks to become the highest-ranking enlisted leader in the U.S. military, Ramón “CZ” Colón-López delivers leadership lessons forged under real pressure, not theory. His “Silver Bullets” are direct, practical, and designed to move leaders out of complacency and into responsibility.

What sets this book apart is its clarity and authenticity. CZ blends intensity with humility, emphasizing integrity, ownership, and team accountability as the foundation of effective leadership. The battlefield-to-boardroom translation is seamless, making the principles relevant across industries. Carnivore Leadership is a powerful, motivating read for leaders who are ready to stop hesitating, take charge, and lead when it truly matters.

[David Hardy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incredible book! Very practical advice and also a lot of common sense we need to be reminded about. The personal situations CZ adds will speak to people in ways a philosophical treatise on leadership wishes it could. I’ll be rereading this periodically, referencing it often, and hopefully practicing as many of the 20 Silver Bullets that opportunities offer on the daily!

As an Airman myself, I bought an extra copy to keep in my office and give to a squadron- or higher-level leader who isn’t “doing their time” to fulfill HYT or an ADSC before they retire. I’m sure these principles will be instructive to anyone, regardless of their position. I want to put them in the hands of someone who is around for the long haul and will model the Silver Bullets many years, providing the example for their Airmen to emulate. Just as iron sharpens iron, Silver forges Silver!

[Anne Fox · Rating 3 out of 5]

As a management skills trainer with 25 years experience, I was interested to see if this book had anything new to say about leadership. In my opinion, Carnivore Leadership has its origins in ACL (action centred leadership) a well established model. Leadership is about taking action not sitting in endless meetings talking about action. As an American soldier, CZ has definite ideas about military leadership. Whether that transfers to managing and leading teams in various industries remains to be seen. I would add this book to a library of leadership models to give potential managers different options.

[Albert · Rating 1 out of 5]

Over-hyped book unfortunately. CZ writes about 20 "silver bullets" aka rules to live and succeed by. The majority of these concepts are backed by anecdotal data from his time in the Air Force and Special Forces community. Most of the book felt like common sense explanations for the silver bullets and I found myself skimming through everything to find some sort of golden nugget of wisdom.

Save yourself a read and just look at the Appendix of the book where he outlines all 20 bullets in an annotated version.

[Arielle DeFile · Rating 5 out of 5]

And I’m not just giving it a 5-star rating just because I look up to Chief CZ. And, granted, some of his silver bullets are things that I’ve already known as a leader. However, despite common leadership beliefs such as, “in order to be a leader, one must be a follower”, almost seems like a lost art now-a-days. Definitely pick up this book and learn a thing or two from one of the humble giants that served in the Air Force. ✈️🫡

[Susan Cotten · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I pre-ordered Carnivore Leadership, I didn’t expect it to arrive so quickly! CZ is the epitome of a humble badass, and his collection of 20 Silver Bullets is excellent and easily digestible for leaders at all levels.

I am a better person for knowing CZ and Janet. Through this book, you can get to know them as well.

[Ty And · Rating 5 out of 5]

Clear and Concise Theory on Leadership

Chief CZ lays out his “Silver Bullets” of leadership in a clear and concise manner. Each “Silver Bullet” is backed up with short vignettes to illustrate the point in question. Formed over a long and distinguished career in the military and special operations community Chief CZ gives everyone a lesson in Carnivore Leadership.

[Kathleen McCool · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is book is exactly what Service Members need to hear, but it also applies to any organization that wants to succeed. It’s a quick read with advice and stories that can shape your own journey through tackling hard stuff.

[Christopher Pokorny · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you’ve ever had the honor of working with wise Senior Non-Commissioned Officers, you have likely benefited from some of their “pearls of wisdom.” CZ distills the wisdom of SNCOs and delivers them with leadership vignettes that illustrate their value and impact.

[Victor Lugo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good book to read if you’re an enlisted leader in the Air Force. The book is bit short but the lessons in it are valuable.

[Patrick McHenry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book

Listen carefully and you will learn many valuable lessons that will make you a better leader, colleague and co worker