"Unshackle Your Mind and Win the War Within"

50 up with these here Book Babbles! And what better way to celebrate our half-century than the return of none other than Mr David Goggins…

As you'll soon find out, David is Never Finished and his story rolls on. We covered his first book, Can't Hurt Me, a few months back and this is his latest work published in December of 2022 (and read by me a couple of weeks ago).

Can't Hurt Me was in my top 3 for 2019 (and one of the best of all time) and when I saw he had another book out, it was just a matter of time until I got it and devoured it. And I made sure he was one of only a couple of authors who made it twice into this series.

I won't launch into 'Who is DG' as I covered that in the last article. Briefly, he's a retired Navy SEAL, ultra runner and more who I came across a few years back on a number of podcasts and have followed some of his activity since. He's not to all tastes (swears a lot for a start) and is a bit old school and full-on with his attitude.

He does walk the walk though, and that's to be respected. He's also a much deeper character than you may first think. To some he may appear 'brutish' and one-dimensional. However, he's very smart, knows his psychology, is a master of mindset and an unwilling philosopher.

He's about the nitty-gritty rather than the airy-fairy, which may not quite be to the modern person's seasoned tastes ;).

Here he takes us on more of his journey since the last book and some further aspects of his past. We jump into principles of success and dig down deep to realise our potential.

Without further ado, let's see what he's up to…

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Great quotes and concepts from the book, followed by my thoughts…

Then there’s the belief born in resilience. It comes from working your way through layers of pain, fatigue, and reason, and ignoring the ever-present temptation to quit until you strike a source of fuel you didn’t even know existed.

A belief you tap into when you've done it before and built those callouses. He talked a bit about his 'cookie jar' in the previous book and that's drawing on your past achievements.

I’m haunted by my future goals, not my past failures. I’m haunted by what I may still become. I’m haunted by my own continued thirst for evolution.

What drives him. It's not so much what has or hasn't happened, but more his potential and what could be achieved that taunts him and pushes his limits.

I am not a theorist. I am a practitioner

This sums up the guy quite well. He is someone that's in the trenches and does a lot of stuff out of the public eye. His social media activities and becoming a minor celebrity were taken on reluctantly, and only as they may help others.

He's not for show and gets down and dirty (you might just see how dirty if you get the book). There is so much fluffy content out there with empty platitudes and people who haven't really done much, and Goggins is all about the action.

Like I said, this is definitely not a self-help book. This is boot camp for your brain.

He's quite clear that his books aren't in the 'self-improvement' realm. More a dungeon to go deep into. He and us don't need more of the regurgitated feel-good entertainment which doesn't really take us anywhere but only satisfies the urge that we're taking some sort of action.

Roger that. It ain’t your fucking fault that you were dealt a bad hand, but…it is your responsibility. How long will you allow your past to hold you back before you finally take control of your future?

Many things aren't your fault, but where you are and where you're going is absolutely your responsibility. As an adult, you now have a chance to do what you want and need to do, and no-one else will do it for you.

I was always destined to be that one warrior. Content to be the motherfucker who sharpens his sword alone.

In his first book, he referred to the one warrior. This was that one epic soldier out of 100 who stood out from the crowd. Most of those shouldn't be there or are easy fodder, a few are top notch… and then there's the standout savage.

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Understand, the clock is always ticking, and at some point, your golden hour will expire unless you take action.

The golden hour is when medics get to the scene of an accident, and they have around 1 hour from the time of the accident to get the patient critical care or otherwise they're done.

Likewise, you have that 'golden hour' ticking down and there needs to be some sort of action to keep you going.

distracting injuries

When a medic turns up at the scene of an accident they may be faced with something 'obvious' like someone's leg being where it's not supposed to be. That may be horrific and need to be addressed but not life threatening in that moment. They may have breathing difficulties, for example, and their airways need to be cleared imminently or the patient will die.

The point is, it's not always the obvious in-your-face stuff, that provides a distraction to the real priority.

Part of the problem is that they have become terrified of pulling that second cord because if it’s also fucked up, then they truly will be helpless.

Referring to jumping out a plane with a parachute. If it gets tangled, sometimes jumpers spend too long trying to fix it as they're in freefall and afraid of pulling their backup as if that fails they're screwed. Unfortunately they leave it too late and the consequences are obviously catastrophic.

We cannot afford to remain afraid of cutting away dead weight to save ourselves.

act with a sense of urgency

Like those medics turning up at the scene, you must also act with a sense of urgency to do what it is you need and want to do. A sense of certainty and purpose.

trailblazers never take the smooth roads thousands of others have already traveled. They go cross-country and dig their own path forward

Be a trailblazer. Most people follow the cookie-cutter plan which may well not be for you and there may be a better or more interesting way of doing something. You don't need permission, but a zest for life that helps you walk that path.

calling someone a “savage” is the highest compliment. A savage is an individual who defies odds, who has a will that cannot be tamed, and who, when knocked down, will always get back up!

A savage is someone who rocks it. A hard-core doer, meeting life head on and taking it by the bal… horns. Getting in touch with the savage side is a great place to be!

I’ve kept a journal for years, but there are levels to this shit, and a written archive is the entry level. Audio recordings are more interactive and accessible and have a more profound effect on the mind.

He advocates a journal… but putting it on steroids. Writing one is great, but recording yourself on an audio and listening to it back adds an extra dimension and it really gets into the psyche.

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our words become actions, and our actions build habits

Watch your words, and try and keep in integrity between what you say and do. What you do over time forms habits which then become who you are.

there’s not nearly as much fuel in ass-kissing, atta’ boys, and accolades as there is in hate.

He even kept a record of some of the hate he receives. Not screening it and ignoring it, but very much consuming it and letting it drive him. Not letting it get him down of course and seeing it for the trolling it is, but also giving him a real fire.

Mental Lab

Going into the mind, almost like a laboratory. Dissecting the different elements like a scientist and putting it altogether to create a savage.

While money doesn’t always make you happy, it damn sure can make you feel satisfied. And satisfaction is a hop-step from complacency.

He started to get some success, and whilst it didn't go to his head as such, he felt he got a little soft. Money is great, but you may also lose some of that drive as you simply don't need to strive so much. You also have more comforts, which again sounds great, but you may lose an edge and a spark that got you there.

you are either getting better, or you’re getting worse. You’re not staying the same.

The old if you're not growing, you're dying. True though, progress is necessary and it's not likely you will ever just maintain. There are other people out there grinding too, so even if you do stay the same, they may well be jumping on leaps and bounds.

Because I don’t run to burn calories or maintain cardiovascular fitness. To me, it’s about achieving mental and physical greatness.

It's not about health and fitness in the traditional sense. Many runners experience this too. Whilst that's all well and good, there's a whole other level and can lean more into the mental and then spiritual side.

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One-Second Decision

This is another concept also discussed in Can't Hurt Me. Those moments when you may be on the edge and take a decision whether to continue or stop. They're over in a second but can have lasting consequences. Being aware and in control of our emotions here is key.

I was able to see that the life I desired was on the other side of surf torture.

In one of his Hell Weeks (a gruelling section of SEAL training) he had a nightmare during 'surf torture'. This was a drill they had to perform and it nearly derailed him. Goggins had a weakness with the water and that nearly did for him, but he knew if he could just get through, there was a whole utopian wonderland on the other side (although he wouldn't put it like that).

All I know is that, at some point, he rang the bell and lived to regret it.

If you quit during Hell Week you ring the bell and put down your helmet and off you go. His colleague was on the edge and unfortunately took that decision and may well live to regret it. If he was able to take charge of his mind and delay that one-second decision he might have got though those moments and reached the other side.

Life, like Hell Week, is built on seconds that you must win, repeatedly.

It's the continuation of winning each second. Making the ongoing decisions in the moment and moving onto the next one. Those added up over time make up a Hell Week, or any other kind of week/month/year.

If you must retreat, quit when it’s easy, not when it’s hard.

There will be times when it's right to quit. But the time to do it is when you can assess clearly that it's the right thing to do and you're not stressed or just reacting in the moment.

Day One, Week One

Always the first day. You're never a seasoned campaigner but showing up and proving yourself as if it's your first day with all to come. And doing the same tomorrow.

A prepared mind craves the worst conditions because it knows that pressure brings out its best and exposes almost everyone else.

Former cyclist Tyler Hamilton in his book The Secret Race talked about Lance Armstrong and his attitude to tough conditions. Both Armstrong and Goggins have the attitude of thriving off bad conditions as they know it's going to bring down everyone else, whilst they just hit it even harder.

Like Colonel Trautman said about Rambo, “What you call hell, he calls home”.

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Going into Leadville, I expected one long, hard motherfucking day. But how many inconsequential days had I lived by then? Why not spend one single day doing something I’ll be proud of for the rest of my life?

Leadville is a town in Colorado, USA and is the scene of one of the most famous ultra-runs – the Leadville 100 trail run. That would be 100 miles of pure agony.

An example of this too shall pass… something very difficult but once done you will always have it. Tomorrow it will be in the past, and that isn't that far away really. Just a little suffering in between though ;).

Plenty of wasted days out there, here we're focusing on doing something epic which won't roll round too often.

In nature, destruction always gives way to creation

The circle of life. Out of the ashes rises something new.

The irony is you build those walls to protect yourself. You think they will make you hard and less vulnerable, but they isolate you in solitary confinement with your darkest thoughts and ugliest memories.

A lot of what we do to protect ourselves could in fact be in-prisoning us. so we just need to be a little bit careful and aware and bring ourselves out into the light.

You are the warden of your life… don’t forget you hold the keys!

there is no transformation without breakdown

Back to that cycle of destruction and creation. Things often need to break right down in order to form something new and even better. Although, you don't want to hit rock bottom, from that place is where everything can change, and in between you just stay reasonably comfortable and content.

Sgt. Jack was squared the fuck away, and he got there with a self-reliance on detail and discipline.

Sgt. Jack was Goggins' grandfather and was on it. We got to hear a little about their relationship and what happened after David, his brother and mother fled his father and attempted to start a new life. Things weren't to be smooth or easy, but different and helped David develop.

When a half-assed job doesn’t bother you, it speaks volumes about the kind of person you are. And until you start feeling a sense of pride and self-respect in the work you do, no matter how small or overlooked those jobs might be, you will continue to half-ass your life.

Not much to say on this quote, but worth keeping in to give us a jolt. Don't half-ass it! (Think ol' Matthew McConaughey's dad had something to say about that too).

Every single one of us is just another frog in the soon-to-be-boiling water that is our soft-ass culture.

It is very soft out there, and whilst things progress and we adapt, we also need to be careful it doesn't go too far. That being at a societal level, as well as within ourselves.

The boiling frog analogy is that we don't even notice as it happens over time… then it's too late.

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become a disciple of discipline

Speaks for itself, and discipline is a cornerstone of good living. This is about really hammering it home. Goggins has the mentality, as did Sgt. Jack, as well as many others. Of course, in the military it's all based around that. Things are different in civvy street, but we can take elements that improve us and the world.

When that’s the way you live your life, you no longer need a task list or an Accountability Mirror because when you see the grass is high, you cut the grass right then.

Initiative and just getting things done when they need to be done. Having techniques and tactics to keep you on task are great, but when it becomes who you are then it becomes automatic.

Every minute you spend feeling sorry for yourself is another minute not getting better

No more pity parties! Pity can be a soothing balm, but it turns toxic. You can stew for a short while I guess whilst you lick your wounds, but figure out a plan and get ready to go again STAT.

The only thing that ever matters is the present moment.

Forget the past and don't give to much credence to the future. Yes, look forward and plan accordingly, and learn from the past, but we should give most of our focus to right now and smashing that.

Don’t feel sorry for yourself. Get strategic. Attack the problem.

Leading on from above - attack is the best mode. Get back out there!

Humility is the antidote to self-pity.

Be humble or you will be humbled. Having humility helps with keeping you on track, honest and integrated.

you must appreciate what you have while staying hungry enough to learn everything you can.

Be grateful but always be pushing. Don't assume you know it all, but keep learning and know that everyone has something to offer.

The higher I climb in my life, the more I realize how much I need to mop that floor.

Again, with being humble. There was a story about a war hero cleaning the floors at a uni and none of the students knew until a few connected some dots. That's humility, and none of us are above mopping the floor, and it's good to get down and dirty once in a while to remind us where we came from, and where we could quite easily go back to.

I knew from experience that the best life lessons don’t appear when things go well. It’s when all your goals and pretty plans turn to shit that you can see your flaws and learn more about yourself.

You learn the most when things don't go well, about yourself and the plan. You would rather avoid it and bask in great achievements, but it's inevitable and you can really make the most of the lessons contained.

All I know is this: I am David Fucking Goggins. I exist; therefore, I complete what I start. I take pride in my effort and in my performance in all phases of life. Just because I am here! If I’m lost, I will find myself. As long as I’m on planet Earth, I will not half-ass it. Anywhere I lack, I will improve because I exist and I am willing.

This is following some chat about 'purpose'. Goggins - as you might have come to expect - takes a different view from many. Whilst a lot of authors etc talk about finding purpose, David suggest that perhaps there isn't one. It's a nice idea that sells books and courses but that may not be quite what we're here for. As ever, the truth is probably somewhere in between. The above quote being DG's 'purpose'.

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Incremental progress is still progress, I said to myself. One step is all that is required to take the next one.

The concept of one small step at a time and making small amounts of progress over time. Sometimes all you can do is take the next step.

In military speak, the foxhole is a fighting position. In life, it’s your inner circle.

It's important to get your 'foxhole' right. Only have people who want to see you evolve and want to evolve with you. That inner circle is crucial, so we need to keep refining.

Unfortunate situations never last, but I knew that a bad attitude always lingers and can turn any setback into a tailspin.

Stopping anything festering and mutating. Small (and even big) things happen but in themselves are nothing much. But they can escalate if we let them, or nip them in the bud.

No matter what life serves me, I say, “Roger that.” Most people think “Roger that,” simply means, “Order received.” However, in the military, some people infuse ROGER with a bit more intention and define it as, “Received, order given, expect results.” When used that way, it is so much more than an acknowledgment. It’s an accelerant.

He does say "Roger that" a lot. I like that it's a simple way of acknowledging something, and saying the order is received and the situation is in hand. Didn't know about the acronym part, but why not.

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Whatever happens to us in life, we must aim to keep things net positive.

Always try and remain in the positive side and do all that can be done to get there.

Whatever it takes to go to bed in the black, get it done.

After a shitty day, it's a good idea to get something good in before turning into bed, so you've ended on that net positive.

Sympathy has no power. Humor, on the other hand, picks everyone up.

Humour was mentioned in the last BookBabble (Viktor Frankl et al) and it is a great way to be in most circumstances. Not being the clown as such, but injecting some fun and light-heartedness where possible and appropriate.

Sympathy is a bit weak and wishy-washy. It's pleasant but doesn't do all that much. Humour does have huge power when used wisely.

When you deliberately and consistently confront your fear of heights or particular people, places, and situations that unsettle you, those seeds germinate, and your confidence grows exponentially.

Do the thing and you will have the power… I believe Emerson uttered those words. We know this but doesn't hurt to be reminded. Hunt those fears down and take them head on.

Captain Connolly did not require external motivation. He trained to his own standard and used the existing structure for his own purposes.

Captain Connolly was someone Goggins trained with and he didn't just do the assigned reps, he did a load more as he had his own standard to hit. There was structure given, and he took that and used it to his ends.

Setting an example through action rather than words will always be the most potent form of leadership, and it’s available to all of us.

It's the only way. Words can inspire, but it comes down to monkey see, monkey do. What we see and admire, we want to emulate.

“I’m not crazy. I’m just not you.”

A Goggins classic. Many people call him crazy for doing all these things. Nope… just not you. Everyone is entitled to do what they want and many 'normal' people just wouldn't consider even half of some of this stuff. Each his own.

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While mindset has always been number one for me, I achieved my mindset through physical training and monumental physical challenges that provided an immediate return on investment.

Mindset is the main thing here, and physical training is the best vehicle. You only have to go for a run and you come face-to-face with yourself. You can learn more in 40 minutes than any number of books and conversations. Step that up a bit and a whole new world opens up.

Not for everyone of course, and this can be applied outside of fitness pursuits; in the workplace, academics etc.

Privileged kids say, “I have too much, so I cannot develop the skills that you have.” The kid that came from nothing will tell me, “I don’t have enough. Therefore, I cannot develop the skills that you have.”

Perspectives. Reminds me of the story of 2 brothers who were sons of an alcoholic. They met years later, one was now an alcoholic himself, and the other didn't touch a drop. The sober one said, "how could I ever drink with a father like that?". And the drinking one said, "why wouldn't I be a drunk with a father like that?" or words to that effect.

There’s got to be someone who demonstrates greatness and makes everyone around them think differently. Why not you?

Why not? Good question. You can become a beacon and really excel and hopefully inspire others too.

The bottom line for everyone is to evolve into the very best versions of themselves. And that's a great place to wrap up…

Thanks David! Anything Else?

A fantastic follow up to Can't Hurt Me. This extends on that but adds something new… and you can't get quite enough of Goggins mentality.

The first book was more in-depth, but this still offers plenty. I would say it's best to read both at some point but this is fine to read on its own.

As ever, it's predicated on having a liking of and interest in the author (or at least not an active dislike) and a willingness to face yourself and the truth. Knowing it will be tough and take work but be ready and willing to do what it takes. This is one of the few works out there that is genuinely motivational/inspirational. You will have an urge to do something whilst and after reading… whether that's sustained or not is another matter.

I'm on my second reading as I write this and will be sure to get the audio soon. As mentioned in his other article, the audio version was phenomenal, and added another dimension. I don't doubt there will be a similar standard here and I'd recommend the audiobooks of both as you get a fuller flavour and plenty of ad-lib discussing things not covered in the book.

Great book and character to finish this season of BookBabbles. I might take a break here for a bit… and maybe set forth on heading for 100! We'll see.

Either way, like our ol' mate Goggins, we're never finished! :)

First image my own, others linked to source

Check out the others in the series…

BookBabble #50: "Never Finished" by David Goggins

Great quotes and concepts from the book, followed by my thoughts…

Thanks David! Anything Else?