Can't Hurt Me by David Goggins
I originally read this book in 2019, and now five years later, the message continues to resonate as powerfully today as it did back then. If you find your motivation running low, follow Goggins.
Following is my original article from Jan 7, '19. If you followed me there, you know I've posted a few times on Goggins.
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Goggins went through SEAL hell week 3 times in one year. In addition to SEAL training, he completed US Army Ranger School and Air Force Tactical Air Controller training. He has competed in several 100 mile+ ultra-marathons and at one time held the record for most pull-ups in 24-hours.
Goggins story is powerful. From his very challenging upbringing, to battling obesity and having surgery for a congenital heart defect, Goggins story is an inspiring one.
Go out and read this book. You can find it on Amazon, or read it online from the library at Hoopla.
After you've read the book, if you want a quick refresher of Goggins tips that he ends every chapter with, here they are:
- List your limiting factors. Journal everything that is holding you back in minute detail. You aren’t doing this to lay blame on others or to make excuses. This list will fuel your training and empower you to overcome.
- Start an Accountability Mirror. Look at yourself in the mirror, and be brutally honest. If there is something you don’t like, don’t sugar-coat it. Then, list your insecurities, dreams, and goals on post-it notes and stick them around the mirror. Remind yourself constantly. Each point of self-improvement should be broken down to its own stickie. This will require research. When you look yourself in the mirror, hold yourself accountable.
- Write down all of the things you don’t like to do, the things that make you uncomfortable that you know would make you better. Now go out and do one of them. This is the first step to callousing your mind. You only get tougher by doing the things you aren’t comfortable doing. Starting with small things will help you build to bigger ones.
- Taking Souls. Choose any competitive situation. Identify an opponent. There is only one way to earn their respect. If it’s a teacher, it may mean acing a test. If it’s a coach, it may mean putting extra training to own the practice. Whoever you are dealing with, your goal is make them watch you achieve what they could never have done themselves. Take their negativity and use it to dominate the task.
- Visualize. Visualize achieving your goal in crystal detail. Visualize the challenges on the way. This will help with your preparation. This helps in creating what Goggins calls the Armoured mind.
- Cookie Jar. List your accomplishments. Include the details of the obstacles you overcame. Set ambitious goals before each workout and use those past victories to carry you to new personal bests.
- The Most Powerful Weapon. Remove the governor from your brain. Goggins says we are using 40% of our potential. A secret to success is to continuously challenge yourself, pushing your limit till you realize you can go beyond what you think is currently your limit. This involves taking command of your internal dialog.
- Schedule your day. List what you are doing, and what you want to do. Optimize it.
- Uncommon amongst uncommons. Don’t settle. If you have achieved a measure of success, great. Don’t settle. Set your next challenge and get after it. Strive to be the best among the best.
- Learn from your failures. Write an After Action Review. Document what went right, and in detail where things went sideways. Then list how you are going to address those shortcomings.