Who is this guy?
I’m listening to Jesse Itzler talk about having a Navy Seal live with him. On this podcast in my ear, Jesse’s running into a frozen pond in the dead of winter, doing push-up ladders until his arms melt, and doing workouts at completely random hours of day, while this hard-ass Seal guy shouts at him.
Is this real?
It sounds insane.
I had to learn more.
I immediately bought Jesse’s book, Living With a Seal. Kudos to Jesse for being a human guinea pig and also a true entrepreneur.
Entrepreneurs constantly try new things. We’re testing. We’re learning. We’re failing. All in the journey of building.
After devouring this story and learning about the physical and mental toughness of this trained killer, I had to learn more about this Seal- David Goggins.
Turns out he has a book. So I read his words.
His remarkable story in his autobiography You Can’t Hurt Me is an unbelievable story of hardship, resiliency, and stamina.
Growing up with an abusive father and a supportive mother, David’s adult life leads him to be depressed, overweight, in an unhappy relationship, and to work an unfulfilling job killing rats in restaurants.
Throughout his life to this point, he had been the only.
It didn’t help him.
It got him teased in school. It put him under constant attach from bullies. It turned him into a victim.
This was David’s life until he took accountability. He set out to do more. To change his direction.
Within the span of a decade, David lost over 100 pounds, became a Navy Seal after 3 attempts, an Army Ranger, an Air Force Special Forces airman, an ultra runner, and a Guinness World Record pull-up holder.
Any one of these things is difficult to achieve. But to do them all? How is it possible?
David’s book challenged my own limiting beliefs. It made me consider what I’m capable of accomplishing.
Here are 5 key lessons from David Goggins that I’m going to use in order to push myself further.
The 40% Rule
When you think you’re done, you’re not done.
You’re not even close.
You’ve only actually accomplished 40% of what’s possible.
If you’re working on a project for your work and you hit a wall, what do you do?
If you’ve just run a marathon and are sore, limping, and exhausted, could you possibly run more?
David tells us that we are able push through and accomplish 2 1/2 times more than what we thought was possible.
Callous the Mind
Do you know how to avoid blisters?
By getting blisters.
Each oozing bubble dries out and forms more skin.
More skin forms more layers.
Eventually you have a callous and you stop getting blisters.
Can you do the same thing with your mind?
You actually do and may not realize it. Every time you learn something new, overcome an obstacle, or accomplish a hard goal, you’re forming a pattern in your mind.
You’re strengthening the mind for the next time.
This is a calloused mind and it will help you go further than you think is possible.
What If?
Look around you.
Suppose you wanted to quit your job, start a new business, go traveling around the world for a year, or dye your hair purple.
What would those around you say?
Would they say, hell ya, go for it?
Or would they say, what if you can’t get another job? What if you fail? What if you get made fun of? What will the neighbors say?
Turn it around.
What if you don’t do it? How will your future self feel about not trying?
The Cookie Jar
What’s better than a jar full of cookies?
I love oatmeal raisin cookies, so much in fact that I don’t buy them because I’ll eat all of them in one go.
Eating a cookie is like a little reward. It can be a celebration or a way to get through a tough day.
In David’s concept, he used the cookie jar to keep all of his victories.
Each accomplishment, whether it be receiving the award of Enlisted Honor Man in Army Ranger school, dropping 100 pounds in 3 months in order to qualify for the Navy Seals, or getting onto the Guinness Book of World Records for the most consecutive pull-ups (4,030!).
He’d use that mental cookie jar full of his achievements to remind himself of who he is and what he’s capable of.
Life is a Mind Game
After building a reputation as a successful military man and someone who achieves remarkable physical feat, I thought David would tell us about the importance of physical fitness and building strength and endurance.
I was wrong.
David’s story is all about the mind. He tells us that life is a mind game.
Any difficulty in your life will end.
Tough day at work? A painful injury in your foot? You’ve lost a loved one? You’ve been told that you’ll fal?
All of these are things that we may not be able to
control.
What is in our control is what we do about it.
Once you realize that if you control your thoughts and strengthen your mind, all situations become bearable.
The achievements and successes come from the adversity.
Soaking in David’s story and his approach has definitely changed my mindset.
I’ve never lacked a belief in myself, but I didn’t realize that I can achieve so much more.
I can push myself more mentally. I can pursue my goals with greater speed, focus, and intensity.
And I can do more pull-ups.
It’s all up to me.
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