Summary of Can’t Hurt Me by David Goggins | Free Audiobook

Summary

David Goggins' story in 'Can't Hurt Me' is one of overcoming adversity. Born in 1975, Goggins faced childhood trauma, poverty, and racism, which led to toxic stress and academic struggles. Despite these challenges, he transformed himself from an overweight, depressed young man into a U.S. Armed Forces icon and top endurance athlete. Goggins completed elite training as a Navy SEAL, Army Ranger, and Air Force Tactical Air Controller, setting records in extreme endurance events and earning the title 'Fittest Real Man in America'. His narrative illustrates the power of self-discipline, mental toughness, and hard work, offering a path for anyone to push past limits and live life to the fullest.

Takeaways

• 😔 David Goggins had a traumatic childhood marked by an abusive father and extreme poverty, which led to physical and psychological challenges.
• 💪 Despite the odds, Goggins transformed his life through self-discipline, mental toughness, and hard work, ultimately becoming a US Armed Forces icon and top endurance athlete.
• 🎯 Goggins is the only man to complete elite training as a Navy SEAL, Army Ranger, and Air Force Tactical Air Controller, showcasing his commitment to excellence.
• 🏆 He set records in extreme endurance events and was named the 'Fittest Real Man in America', demonstrating what can be achieved through perseverance.
• 🤔 The concept of the 'Accountability Mirror' was pivotal for Goggins, helping him to confront his shortcomings and set achievable goals for personal development.
• 🏊‍♂️ Goggins had to overcome a fear of water and a predisposition to sickle cell anemia to achieve his military aspirations, highlighting the importance of overcoming physical limitations.
• 🚫 After leaving the military due to a medical condition, Goggins did not give up but instead turned his focus to becoming a Navy SEAL, illustrating resilience in the face of setbacks.
• 🏃‍♂️ Goggins' weight loss journey of over 100 pounds in less than three months to join the SEALs is a testament to his determination and ability to push physical boundaries.
• 🤯 The '40% Rule' introduced by Goggins suggests that most people give up at 40% of their capacity, underlining the potential for growth when pushing beyond perceived limits.
• 🏆 His success in ultra-running, including completing the Badwater 135, was a result of strategic training and mental fortitude, showing the power of preparation and mindset.
• 🧠 Goggins' story emphasizes the power of the mind in overcoming adversity and achieving goals, encouraging individuals to harness their potential through daily decisions and commitment.

Q & A

What challenges did David Goggins face during his childhood?

David Goggins faced numerous challenges during his childhood, including an abusive father, extreme poverty, and racial prejudice in rural America. He also experienced the traumatic effects of his father's abuse, which led to a nervous stutter, hair loss, and skin pigmentation changes due to toxic stress.

How did Goggins' early life experiences impact his physical and mental health?

Goggins' early life experiences had a profound impact on his physical and mental health. He developed a nervous stutter, hair started to fall out, and his skin lost pigment due to toxic stress. He was also placed in a special needs classroom by the fourth grade and struggled with reading.

What was the significance of the 'accountability mirror' in Goggins' life?

The 'accountability mirror' was significant in Goggins' life as it helped him to turn his life around. He used it to remind himself of his mission and goals each day, starting with small achievable tasks and gradually progressing to more challenging ones, which eventually led him to pass the ASVAB and join the military.

How did Goggins overcome his fear of water and other challenges to join the military?

Goggins overcame his fear of water and other challenges by committing himself to a strict fitness regime, which included waking up at 4:30 am for exercise, swimming, and circuit training. He also used mental toughness and determination to push past his limits and achieve his goal of joining the military.

What is the '40% rule' that Goggins refers to, and how did it help him in his ultra-running career?

The '40% rule' is a concept Goggins developed, suggesting that humans tend to give up after exerting 40% of their maximum power. By believing that he had more to give, even when he felt exhausted, Goggins was able to push past his perceived limits and complete ultra-marathons, such as the Badwater 135.

How did Goggins' life change after discovering he had a hole in his heart?

After discovering the hole in his heart, which posed a serious health risk, Goggins had to stop his ultra-running career. However, he turned this setback into an opportunity by becoming one of the Navy's top recruiters, focusing on developing his public speaking and promoting skills.

What is the concept of 'uncommon amongst uncommon' as described by Goggins?

'Uncommon amongst uncommon' is a term Goggins uses to describe putting oneself in the top one percent of performers and becoming one of the few 'onlies' in a particular field. It represents the idea of striving to be exceptional even among those who are already exceptional.

How did Goggins' daily routine contribute to his success?

Goggins' daily routine, which starts at 4 am with a run, followed by a bike to work, a gym session or another run during lunch, and cycling back home, contributed to his success by ensuring he consistently worked hard and committed to his goals. This routine exemplifies the discipline and dedication required to achieve success.

What advice does Goggins give for overcoming obstacles and achieving goals?

Goggins advises that overcoming obstacles and achieving goals requires daily decisions, hard work, and commitment. He emphasizes the importance of not making excuses and winning the morning by starting the day with productive activities.

How did Goggins' mindset help him to break the world record for the most pull-ups in 24 hours?

Goggins' mindset, which involves pushing past perceived limits and believing in his ability to achieve seemingly impossible feats, helped him to strategize and persist through failed attempts until he successfully broke the world record for pull-ups.

Outlines

00:00

😔 Overcoming a Traumatic Childhood

David Goggins' early life was marred by an abusive father and poverty, which led to severe trauma and health issues. Despite the odds, he transformed his life through self-discipline, mental toughness, and hard work. Goggins went from being an overweight and depressed young man to becoming a US Armed Forces icon and a top endurance athlete. His journey includes becoming the only person to complete elite training as a Navy SEAL, Army Ranger, and Air Force Tactical Air Controller, and setting records in extreme endurance events.

05:02

🔄 The Power of Self-Reflection and Change

Goggins' turning point came when he met an Air Force recruiter, sparking a dream to join the military. Realizing he lacked the necessary education and skills, he used an 'accountability mirror' to set and achieve small, incremental goals that led to significant life changes. This method helped him pass the ASVAB and join the military, but he faced challenges like a fear of water and a misdiagnosed sickle cell anemia that initially derailed his progress.

10:03

🏋️‍♂️ Transforming Life Through Extreme Determination

After leaving the military, Goggins, then weighing 300 pounds, found a new purpose in becoming a Navy SEAL. He embarked on an intense fitness regime, losing over 100 pounds in less than three months. His determination led him to endure 'Hell Week', a grueling part of SEAL training, where he developed the 'Armored Mind' to overcome mental and physical challenges. This mindset helped him to push through and ultimately join the SEALs.

15:05

🏃‍♂️ Ultra-Endurance and the 40% Rule

Goggins' quest for challenges led him to ultra-running, where he discovered his '40% rule', the idea that most people give up at 40% of their capacity. With this in mind, he completed a 100-mile race and qualified for the Badwater 135 ultra-marathon, finishing it in extreme heat. His success in these events showcased his ability to push beyond perceived limits and achieve extraordinary feats.

20:10

💔 Facing Adversity and Finding New Purpose

A heart condition threatened Goggins' running career, but he responded by becoming a top Navy recruiter and setting his sights on a new challenge: breaking the world record for pull-ups in 24 hours. After two failed attempts, he succeeded on his third try, demonstrating his resilience and commitment to excellence. His story emphasizes the importance of responding to life's 'curveballs' with determination and seeking continuous self-improvement.

🧠 Harnessing the Power of the Mind for Success

Despite a troubled background that statistically could have led to a life of depression and violence, Goggins defied the odds through daily decisions and hard work. His transformation from an illiterate, overweight exterminator to a SEAL and ultra-runner is a testament to the power of the human mind and the importance of not being satisfied with the status quo. His disciplined routine and pursuit of continuous achievement serve as an inspiration to overcome obstacles and realize one's full potential.

🚀 From Trauma to Triumph

Goggins' story is one of rising above a traumatic and challenging childhood to achieve greatness. His use of the accountability mirror, losing weight, joining the military, and developing an unbreakable mindset allowed him to shatter barriers and accomplish the impossible. His narrative encourages others to work hard, get up early, and pursue their goals with unwavering commitment, no matter the hardships faced.

Keywords

💡Toxic Stress

Toxic stress refers to a condition where children who have experienced severe abuse undergo changes in their brain chemistry, resulting in a permanent state of fight or flight. In the video, David Goggins suffered from toxic stress due to the traumatic beatings from his father, which led to physical symptoms like a nervous stutter, hair loss, and skin discoloration. This concept is crucial as it explains the early life challenges Goggins faced and how they influenced his mental and physical state.

💡Accountability Mirror

The 'Accountability Mirror' is a concept introduced by Goggins where he used a mirror as a tool for self-reflection and commitment to his goals. He wrote down tasks on post-it notes to remind himself daily of what he needed to achieve, starting with small tasks and gradually moving to more challenging ones. This concept is central to the video's theme of self-improvement and discipline, illustrating Goggins' transformation from a directionless life to one filled with purpose and achievement.

💡Hell Week

Hell Week is a term used to describe a particularly grueling part of the Navy SEALs' training program, known for its extreme physical and psychological challenges. In the script, Goggins faced Hell Week during his SEALs training, where he developed the 'Armored Mind' to overcome the intense pressure and sleep deprivation. This keyword is pivotal as it encapsulates the resilience and mental toughness that Goggins embodies.

💡Armored Mind

The 'Armored Mind' is a mental state that Goggins cultivated to push through seemingly insurmountable obstacles. It involves ignoring physical pain and focusing on the mental determination to succeed. This concept is highlighted during his Hell Week training, where he had to overcome his fear and physical exhaustion to achieve his goal of becoming a Navy SEAL. It's a key element of the video's narrative on overcoming adversity.

💡40% Rule

The '40% Rule' is a belief held by Goggins that people tend to give up when they have only exerted 40% of their maximum capacity. According to Goggins, most individuals mistakenly believe they have reached their limit when in fact they have much more to give. This rule is exemplified in the video when Goggins ran 100 miles despite having only ever run a marathon before, demonstrating that with the right mindset, one can surpass perceived limitations.

💡Ultra-Running

Ultra-running is a form of long-distance running that goes beyond the traditional marathon length of 26.2 miles. In the video, Goggins discovered ultra-running as a way to push his limits further after becoming a Navy SEAL. His participation in the Badwater 135, one of the toughest foot races in the world, is a testament to his commitment to testing and transcending his physical boundaries.

💡Sickle Cell Trait

Sickle Cell Trait is a genetic condition that Goggins was predisposed to, which can lead to a blood disease called sickle cell anemia. In the video, it is mentioned that a routine medical test revealed this condition, which could have been a reason for Goggins to walk away from the military on medical grounds. This keyword is significant as it presents a potential obstacle in Goggins' journey but also underscores his determination to overcome physical challenges.

💡Uncommon Amongst Uncommon

Being 'Uncommon Amongst Uncommon' refers to achieving a level of excellence that sets one apart even within a group of high achievers. Goggins used this phrase to describe his status as one of the few African Americans to become a Navy SEAL and a prolific ultrarunner. This concept is integral to the video's message of striving for excellence and distinguishing oneself even in highly competitive fields.

💡World Record for Pull-Ups

The 'World Record for Pull-Ups' is an achievement that Goggins set after his running career was halted due to a heart condition. He aimed to break the existing record of 4,021 pull-ups in 24 hours, which required a strategy of consistency and endurance. This keyword highlights Goggins' relentless pursuit of pushing his physical limits and his ability to adapt and excel in new challenges.

💡Winning the Morning

Winning the morning is a concept that emphasizes the importance of starting the day with productive and purposeful activities to set a positive tone for the rest of the day. Goggins exemplifies this concept by waking up at 4 am for a run, followed by a rigorous daily routine. This keyword is central to the video's overarching theme of discipline and the impact of daily habits on achieving long-term goals.

Highlights

David Goggins' childhood was marked by trauma from an abusive father and extreme poverty in rural America.

Goggins defied statistical odds of a life of depression and poverty through self-discipline, mental toughness, and hard work.

He became a US Armed Forces icon and one of the world's top endurance athletes.

Goggins is the only man in history to complete elite training as a Navy SEAL, Army Ranger, and Air Force Tactical Air Controller.

He set records in extreme endurance events and was named the fittest real man in America.

Goggins' early life was filled with physical and emotional abuse, leading to toxic stress and its detrimental effects.

He moved to Indiana with his mother at age eight, where he faced racism and bullying as the only black child in town.

Goggins developed a nervous stutter, hair loss, and skin discoloration due to the toxic stress from his abusive childhood.

In high school, Goggins met an Air Force recruiter, sparking his dream to join the military.

Goggins created an 'accountability mirror' to track his progress and hold himself accountable for his goals.

He lost over 100 pounds in less than three months to join the Navy SEALs' BUD/S training program.

Goggins developed the concept of the 'armored mind' to push through the mental and physical challenges of SEAL training.

The '40% rule' suggests that we tend to give up after exerting 40% of our maximum power, leaving significant untapped potential.

Goggins completed the Badwater 135 ultra-marathon, showcasing his ability to push past perceived limits.

Despite a hole in his heart diagnosed later in life, Goggins continued to push himself in new ways.

He broke the world record for the most pull-ups in 24 hours, demonstrating relentless determination.

Goggins emphasizes the power of our minds to overcome obstacles and achieve success, regardless of our circumstances.

His daily routine of early mornings, rigorous exercise, and commitment to work exemplifies the discipline required for success.

Goggins' story inspires continuous improvement and the pursuit of new achievements after reaching initial goals.

Transcripts

summary of can't hurt me by david

goggins

written by lee shuleri and quick read

narrated by alex smith

introduction for goggins childhood was

far from innocently playing outside

without a care in the world

instead he experienced trauma from an

abusive father

and extreme prejudice and poverty in

rural america

statistically goggins was going nowhere

and he was destined for a life of

depression and poverty

however he defied all odds through

self-discipline

mental toughness and hard work no longer

was he a depressed

overweight young man with no future by

committing himself to losing weight and

improving his test scores

goggins became a us armed forces icon

and one of the world's

top endurance athletes he has become the

only man

in history to complete elite training as

a navy seal

army ranger and air force tactical air

controller

he didn't stop there however and he went

on to set records in extreme endurance

events

and has been named the fittest real man

in america

in can't hurt me goggins shares his

incredible story

and reveals a path that anyone can

follow to push past limits

eliminate fear and to live life to its

fullest

chapter one the early life of goggins

born in new york in 1975 goggins didn't

have the typical carefree childhood

that many people experience instead of

playing outside with friends and

living innocently among his peers

goggins was a slave to his abusive

father

his father trueness was a self-made

businessman who owned a roller disco

ring

however to make his business run

smoothly

trunus forced his family to work almost

every night of the week at the skating

rink

at the young age of six goggin's job was

to look after the skating shoes

meanwhile his mother would cook dinner

over a hot plate in the office

and once the children finally finished

working at around midnight

his mother would put goggins and his

brother to bed in the office too

of course the dance floor played loud

thumping music into the early hours of

the morning

so goggins hardly slept at night and

would frequently fall asleep in class

instead

as if working each night at the skating

rink wasn't enough goggins also became a

punching bag for his abusive father

both he and his mother fell victim to

countless violent beatings

sometimes for even the smallest things

for instance goggins once contracted a

bad ear infection

so as a responsible parent his mother

took him to the hospital

trunus being the businessman that he is

hated when the family spent money

even when his children's health was at

risk

upon returning goggins witnessed his

father beat his mother senseless with a

belt

when he intervened his father would beat

him too

he went to school too often hiding the

bruises and red welts from his father's

belt

at the age of eight goggin's mother had

had enough

and she took him and escaped to indiana

where they started their new lives

together

however as he would soon find out he and

his mother had walked into the center of

a racist

rural america he was the only black kid

in town

and he quickly became the target of

hatred often hearing the n-word spat at

him by neighbors

who waved guns in his face now dealing

with bullying and poverty

his life didn't seem to be getting any

better

to make matters worse goggins began

experiencing the traumatic effects of

his early years

because of the suffering he experienced

from his father he developed a nervous

stutter

his hair started to fall out and patches

of his skin lost pigment

and turned a different color at the time

goggins didn't know why this was

happening but as an adult

he realized that he was suffering from

toxic stress

this is a condition in which young

children who have undergone severe abuse

experience changes to their brain

chemistry resulting in a permanent state

of fight or flight simply put goggins

had suffered so much trauma

that his brain and body were on

permanent high alert for danger

children who suffer from toxic stress

also exhibit memory loss

and even the most gifted children will

struggle to learn and remember what

they've learned in school

by fourth grade goggins was placed in a

special needs classroom

and started cheating his way through

school while his grades improved

his education suffered and by the time

he was heading into his teenage years

goggins could still barely read

chapter 2 the accountability mirror

one day during his high school career

goggins met up with an air force

recruiter

this recruiter was a pararescue jumper

and goggins thought he was a badass who

could jump after downed pilots

and bring them home he now had a dream

of joining the air force

but it was simply that a dream joining

the air force would require talents and

education that goggins didn't think he

possessed

to simply pass the asvab the armed

services vocational aptitude battery

he would have to relearn everything he's

learned in the past decade

this realization made goggins hate

himself

he took a long look in the mirror and

felt disgusted by who he had become

so he grabbed a razor and shaved his

head

refashioned his wardrobe and grabbed

some post-it notes

on each post-it goggins wrote down the

things he needed to do

if he ever wanted to pass the asvab

he began his notes with small easily

achievable items like

clean your room every day and gradually

progressed to harder tasks like

run x miles this week this is what

goggins calls an accountability mirror

the accountability mirror helped turn

his life around

he began a ritual of standing in front

of the mirror and reminding himself

each day of his mission every day he

studied

and began training and didn't allow a

spare moment to go by

without working towards his goals while

goggins had

several limiting factors in his life he

believed that he had the power to change

his future

in the end goggins passed the asvab

and was on his way to joining the

military

however to complete his training goggins

would have to face

one of his toughest tests swimming

growing up goggins didn't even see a

pool until the age of 12

and he was deathly afraid of water so

when he began his military training

he became paralyzed by fear and failed

to overcome his swimming challenges

soon after a routine medical test

revealed that goggins was predisposed to

a blood disease called sickle cell

anemia

using this as an excuse goggins walked

away from the military

on medical grounds

chapter 3 turning his life around

after leaving the military goggins was

now working as an overnight exterminator

in indianapolis

where he weighed an astounding 300

pounds

at 4 am goggins recalls entering a dirty

restaurant

to spray for cockroaches after

approaching a nest of cockroaches

he aimed his cockroach spray in the

center of their nest

and struck suddenly thousands of

cockroaches

swarmed out of the woodwork pouring over

him in the room

sprinting out of the building swatting

at cockroaches and cursing

goggins started to question how he wound

up here

300 pounds and spraying cockroaches for

a living

where was he headed that same morning

goggins got home and stumbled upon a tv

documentary

about the navy seals the most lethal

fighting force

with the toughest training in the world

to become a seal you had to be among the

best

he watched as they struggled through mud

sweat and tears

and was amazed at their mental toughness

and determination to keep going

before the show even ended goggins was

making calls to recruiters

around the country to become admitted to

seal's training

called bud s buds

basic underwater demolition seal

soon goggins would learn that he was too

heavy to join the navy

and that the buds program was shutting

down in just three months

weighing in at 297 pounds goggin would

need to lose 107 pounds in less than

three months if he wanted a fighting

chance at becoming

a navy seal that's more than a pound a

day

for 90 days over the next three months

goggins implemented a strict fitness

regime

every day goggins would wake up at 4 30

am

and hit the exercise bike for two hours

after that he would drive to the nearest

pool and swim

for another two hours then he would head

to the gym

for some intense circuit training that

included at least five

sets of 200 reps for all major muscle

groups

his day was still not over however and

he'd spend the rest of his day

on the exercise bike both before and

after dinner

additionally he created a new

accountability mirror

and fought through the depression and

negativity that told him that he

couldn't do it

believe it or not goggins lost the

weight and joined the bud's six-month

program aimed at choosing 30 of the

toughest 120 candidates

most of the dropouts occur during the

third week referred to

as hell week throughout the week

candidates are exposed to extreme

life-threatening conditions at sea and

are incredibly sleep-deprived

in fact it is so hard that people often

die during

this week it was during this week that

goggins developed the concept

of the armored mind he had failed hell

week twice already

and his third attempt would be his last

he realized that if he wanted to reach

his goal he would have to penetrate the

minds of the instructors

standing in his way when tasked with one

of their toughest challenges of lifting

a boat above their heads

and marching across the beach with it

goggins encouraged his team he shouted

at them to keep going

and they began to chant and show their

instructors that they were relentless

they would never give up goggins

referred to this as

taking souls which refers to the act of

demoralizing your competition

and showing them that their attacks are

ineffective

chapter four the forty percent rule

goggins achieved his ultimate goal and

became a navy seal

but soon he found himself craving the

challenge that training in hell week

once gave him

how could he push himself further in

2005

goggins discovered the answer he was

seeking through extreme

long-distance running also known as

ultra running

for goggins he simply woke up one

morning and began

running and continued running for 100

miles

if you were to wake up tomorrow and

decide to run a hundred miles

do you think you could do it we would

immediately say

no that's impossible but goggins was

determined

and he knew that his mind was the only

thing stopping him

he became interested in ultra running

when several of his fellow navy seals

were killed in a military operation in

afghanistan

to raise money for their families

goggins chose to combine charity with

running the toughest foot race in the

world

the bad water 135. of course

you can't just simply enter the bad

water 135

you have to qualify so he set out to run

the san diego one day

a 100 mile race in the heart of the city

his only training 20 minutes a week on a

cross trainer in the gym

before this he had never run farther

than 26 miles of a marathon

and at his 70 mile mark goggins was not

looking good

at this point he had lost control of his

bladder and bowel movements

due to sheer exhaustion he was

experiencing double vision

and was running on broken bones in his

feet

the average person would have stopped

long before getting to this point

bagoggins is no average person

to explain how goggins pushed through

and completed the 100 mile race

simply imagine that feeling that you get

at the end of a long workout

when you feel like you just can't do any

more

well according to goggins you still have

60

left to give he calls this the 40

rule according to this rule we as humans

tend to give up after exerting 40

percent of our maximum power

for instance if you think the maximum

number of miles you can run right now is

four

it's actually closer to about ten that's

why

even though goggins had only ever run 26

miles

he believed 100 miles was possible

because he'd only ever given 40 percent

of his effort

once you feel as if you've given all

you've got keep going

it's when you push past this point that

you grow and

break down those limitations and

barriers that are holding you back

in the end goggins completed his race in

just 19 hours

he even ran an extra mile to make sure

he had truly finished

this qualified him for the 2006 bad

water 135

ultra marathon this time he would be

running through california's death

valley

and finishing the race at an elevation

of 8

374 feet even worse

the race is in july when death valley is

at its hottest

this time goggins trained by carefully

studying the terrain

and running in the extreme conditions

that he would experience on race day

when he finished goggins completed bad

water 135

in just 30 hours and finished in fifth

place

because of the 40 rule he was able to

push his limits

and accomplish something incredible

chapter 5 uncommon against uncommon

after completing the bad water 135

goggins was thriving

entering himself into multiple races a

month for months on end

however as life does he was thrown a

curveball that changed his love for

running forever

during one of his races goggins noticed

an irregular heart rate and a trip to

the hospital revealed a lifelong

condition a hole in his heart

the condition is a serious one and

deprives the body of oxygen

and can lead to sudden death the risks

increase if you are a regular diver for

the past decade goggins had been

training as a navy seal

putting his body through the impossible

and of course

diving miraculously his condition hadn't

killed him

life will inevitably throw us curveballs

and things will fall

apart but it's your response to these

situations

that are important goggins had achieved

being just one of 36

african americans to become a navy seal

and was the united states

only african-american prolific

ultrarunner

as he puts it he became uncommon amongst

uncommon

in other words he had put himself in the

top one percent of performers

and had become one of few onlies

but now that his running career was over

how would he continue to push himself

once the navy found out about his

success in marathoning they quickly

turned to goggins into one of their top

recruiters

his job was to make becoming a navy seal

more appealing to young

black men of course goggins took on the

role with pride

and focused on developing his recruiting

public speaking

and promoting skills but he needed more

how could he continue to push himself

and become another top performer

he certainly couldn't continue running

with a heart made of swiss cheese

goggins took to the internet to find

that the world record for the most

pull-ups in 24 hours was only 4021.

he discovered that he would need to

complete five pull-ups a minute for more

than 12 hours to break this record

after two failed attempts one of which

was nationally broadcast

he went back to the drawing board he

came up with a new strategy

and on january 20th 2013 goggins broke

the world record for pull-ups

so how can you be uncommon amongst

uncommon

what is your goal and what sets you

apart from the rest

perhaps you're the first person in your

family to go to college or

the first female at your school to be

valedictorian or the first immigrant

from your country

to hold public office in the u.s get

specific

and become amongst the top performers

chapter 6 the power of our minds

goggins defied all odds statistically

goggins was doomed for a life of

depression violence and

unfulfilled potential those raised in

abusive households like goggins have

higher rates of depression chronic pain

ptsd and

more additionally many turn to smoking

drinking drugs and other unsafe

behaviors that lead to addiction

legal trouble and even death

so how did he do it goggins will tell

you

it was his daily decisions that allowed

him to overcome his obstacles

and to live a successful life despite

being dealt a bad deal in life

so how can you harness your true

potential

there's no secret to success you simply

need to work hard

and commit yourself to achieve your

goals at one point

goggins could hardly read and he was

working as a cockroach exterminator

and he weighed 300 pounds he lost the

weight

and studied hard to get into the buds

training program simply by waking up in

the morning

and getting it done many of us have our

excuses

you have a family that you need to spend

time with and a job that you need to pay

the bills

and put food on the table that's a part

of life but not an excuse

if you want to accomplish something you

need to win the morning

a typical day for goggins begins at 4am

when he wakes up

and goes for a 6 to 10 mile run

he can then be home by 5 15 where he

showers

eats breakfast and gets ready for work

he then bikes

25 miles to work and arrives at his desk

by 7 30. during his lunch break he will

either complete a gym

session or go for another six mile run

on the beach

he then cycles the 25 miles back home

after work

by 7 pm goggins has cycled at least 50

miles

run at least 10 miles and worked his

nine-to-five job

everyone has 24 hours in a day so it's

up to you to use them wisely

you'll find once you own your mornings

you'll be more likely to achieve your

goals

but it shouldn't stop after you've

achieved it let's say your goal is to

run a marathon

once you've accomplished that don't stop

you should always be looking forward to

the next achievement

perhaps look to improve your time or run

a few more marathons a month

when you become satisfied with something

you stay in the moment and never move

forward

by pushing your limits and looking for

your next achievement you'll not only

crush your goals

but find peace and happiness knowing

that you've lived life

to its fullest

final summary despite growing up in an

abusive home

goggins overcame his traumatic

improvised childhood

by simply working hard and committing

himself to his goals

he started with his accountability

mirror when he placed his goals in plain

sight on post-it notes

from there he was able to pass the asvab

and joined the military

however goggins didn't stop there after

failing to overcome his fears of

swimming

and then gaining weight he realized his

life was heading nowhere

and committed himself to join the navy

seals

in just three months he lost over 100

pounds

and was accepted into the training

program

there goggins learned the power of his

mind

even when his body was shutting down he

could keep going if he blocked the pain

and told himself anything was possible

this mindset allowed goggins to

accomplish the seemingly impossible

and become a successful ultra-marathon

runner

of course you don't need to run a

hundred miles instead

you can crush your goals through simple

hard work

and getting up early

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