Built Under Load Real Performance When Pressure Is Real Performance is not proven when conditions are ideal. It is proven when pressure is real. Built Under Load is about operating in environments where mistakes carry consequences—where failure is not theoretical, cosmetic, or motivational, but measurable and permanent. Drawing from real-world experience across military aviation, aerospace engineering, and high-performance automotive systems, Roy Wragth examines what it actually takes to make sound decisions when systems are stressed, margins are thin, and responsibility is absolute. This is not a book about motivation, shortcuts, or hacks. It is about discipline, preparation, and execution. About why systems that look successful under light load often fail when pressure becomes sustained. About why margin is not waste, assumptions are silent liabilities, and peak performance is often a trap. From machines to organizations, from teams to individuals, the same principles apply: systems either hold under load, or they fail. Each chapter breaks down how pressure exposes structure—revealing where tolerance has eroded, where ownership is unclear, and where decisions relied on optimism instead of design. The book explores why shortcuts always send an invoice, why data without judgment creates false confidence, and why durable performance comes from boring, repeatable systems rather than dramatic moments. Written for builders, leaders, and operators who understand that pressure reveals truth, Built Under Load offers a clear framework for thinking, deciding, and leading when it matters most. It is a guide for those responsible for outcomes—where success must be repeatable, failure is costly, and excuses do not survive contact with reality. Pressure will show up either way. The only real choice is whether you are ready when it does.