Welcome back to Book Bites, where we take these big ideas and, well, we shrink them down. Into small, digestible bites. Exactly.
And today we are taking a look at David Goggins' book. Never Finished. Never Finished.
And I think a lot of people probably know David Goggins from his sort of public persona as... Ultramarathon runner. Yeah, ultramarathon runner, ex-Navy SEAL, all that kind of stuff. Yeah, definitely like the epitome of toughness.
But this book, I think, goes a little bit deeper than that. For sure. It's not your typical rah-rah kind of self-help book.
It's really about, I think, really embracing the suck. Yeah, he really does. And he's not afraid to talk about his past.
No. And how he's overcome these incredible things. I mean, you think about his childhood.
Oh, I know. The poverty, the abuse, and he uses those experiences to fuel these incredible feats. I know.
He ran 100 miles with broken bones in his feet. It's insane. It's absolutely wild.
It's all about embracing the struggle. Yeah. And he talks about that.
He does. And he has this quote that really resonated with me. He says, When you're locked into a sufferfest, there are times when the conditions will become intolerable, and a self-sabotaging impulse rooted in shock and fear will feel like clarity.
Right. And he's basically saying that when we are in that moment of extreme stress, we actually want to give up, and we think that's the right thing to do. Your brain is telling you to stop.
Yes. But your body can keep going. Yeah.
And so you can actually push past what you think you're capable of. Oh, for sure. Yeah.
And that's where I think that whole inner savage thing comes in. Exactly. We all have this primal energy inside of us that has kind of been dormant, because modern life isn't exactly a fight for survival anymore.
Right. But he argues that if we can tap into that energy, you can achieve this incredible determination and resilience. Okay.
So I'm starting to see how this goes beyond just ultramarathons. Are you telling me I have this inner savage just waiting to be unleashed? Oh, for sure you do. I'm intrigued, but also a little bit terrified.
Yeah. It's not about suddenly becoming some kind of wild animal or anything. Right.
It's just about tapping into that primal need to overcome obstacles. I mean, think about our ancestors hunting for food. Right.
Migrating across continents. That potential is still there. So how do we tap into that? I mean, is it like a switch we can just flip on? I mean, Goggins would say it's more about cultivating discipline.
Okay. Discipline is the key to unlocking your potential. Okay.
And he has a quote about that, too. Correct. He says that discipline does not have a belief system.
It transcends class, color, and gender. It cuts through all the noise and the strife. So it doesn't matter where you came from or your background or your circumstances.
It's really just the choices that you're making on a daily basis. Yep. That's what it comes down to.
So how do you do that though? Because I mean, that sounds really hard. Sure. When you're tired, you're busy, you're just not feeling it.
Yeah. And that's where I think you have to look at setting small achievable goals. Okay.
Sticking to a consistent routine. Not talking about crazy restrictive lifestyle or anything, but just creating structure. Okay.
And committing to small actions every single day. So it's more about building a habit than- Exactly. Trying to make some huge transformation overnight.
Yeah. It's like building a muscle. You start with small weights.
Right. Gradually increase the load. Yeah.
If you try and lift too much too soon, you're going to hurt yourself. Exactly. I like that analogy.
Yeah. I think it's true though. A lot of people are looking for that quick fix.
Oh yeah. And then they get discouraged when they don't see results right away. Definitely.
Consistency over intensity. I like that. I think Goggins would agree with that.
Oh, absolutely. So how do you challenge those limits? Well, he uses a lot of examples from his own life. Sure.
You know, like completing grueling ultra marathons. Yeah. Enduring brutal military training.
Right. One thing that really struck me was his honesty about his own struggles. You know, he even talks about a time during an ultra race.
Okay. Where he was in so much pain that he hid in a porta potty. Wait, what? Yeah.
He was in so much pain. He hid in a porta potty during a race. He hid in a porta potty.
Wow. He writes, pain had never stopped me in an ultra race before. Okay.
Yet there I was in a fugue state, ducking and hiding in the shitter. Wow. Quaking in my running shoes.
Wow. That's a very powerful image. Yeah.
Even Goggins has moments of weakness. Sure. But the point is, he didn't stay there.
Right. He found a way to push through the pain and keep going. So even when you feel like giving up, there's always that little reserve you can tap into.
Exactly. To keep going. And he also doesn't think we can do it alone.
Right. He talks about the foxhole mentality. Exactly.
What does he mean by that? He uses the analogy of being in a foxhole during a battle. You want people around you who are going to support you, encourage you. That's right.
Push you to be your best. Yeah. He says, whether you are at war, competing in a game, or striving in life, you never want someone in your foxhole who lacks faith.
Right. Or will try to steer you away from your full potential. Yeah.
By giving you permission to pack it in or wave the white flag when shit looks bleak. Right. So you got to surround yourself with people who are going to support you.
Exactly. But also challenge you. Yeah.
It's about creating a supportive and empowering environment where you can thrive. So it's almost like you have to evaluate who's in your circle. Absolutely.
And are they really supporting you or are they kind of bringing you down a little bit? A hundred percent. It's a constant process, you know? You're always kind of evaluating and reevaluating. Right.
Who's really got your back? Yeah. And Goggins, actually, he has this whole concept of the one second decision. Okay.
And he talks about those critical moments when you have to decide whether to persevere or give in. Okay. So like when I hit the snooze button instead of getting up for that workout.
Exactly. Or when you're tempted to scroll through social media. Yeah.
Instead of working on that project that you've been putting off. Oh, that's so true. He says we have the power.
Okay. To train our minds to make the right choice. Okay.
In those split seconds. So how do you do that? How do you train your mind to be that disciplined? He's big on visualization. Okay.
He talks about, you know, mentally rehearsing challenging situations. Right. So that when you actually face them, you're more prepared.
You're ready. He even suggests having a mantra or a phrase that you repeat to yourself. Okay.
Like embrace the suck or something. Yeah. Something like that.
Yeah. Just to stay focused. Find something that works for you.
Exactly. This is making me realize how many times I don't make those one second decisions correctly. Yeah.
I hit the snooze. I scroll endlessly. Yeah.
We all have our areas, right? Yeah. Goggins would not be proud. But that actually leads into another good point from the book.
Okay. Self-leadership. Self-leadership.
Okay. He doesn't want you to rely on external motivation or validation. Okay.
It's about setting high standards for yourself and holding yourself accountable, even when no one else is watching. So like be your own boss. Even if you have a boss.
A hundred percent. Take ownership of your life. Yep.
He talks about creating a personal mission statement. Okay. Almost like a contract with yourself.
Wow. Outlining your values and goals. So do you have a personal mission statement? I'm working on it.
It's not easy to distill everything down to a few sentences, but it forces you to really think about what's important. Okay. So you've got your mission statement.
Yeah. Visualizing success. Yeah.
You're making those split second decisions. Is that the Goggins formula for success? It's more nuanced than that. He also talks a lot about continuous improvement.
Okay. It's not about reaching some end goal and then coasting. Oh, so never finished.
Never finished. Exactly. That's the title.
Keep pushing yourself, challenging yourself. Always growing. Always growing.
That sounds exhausting. It can be. Is there a point when you just get to relax and enjoy what you've done? Well, he does talk about rest and recovery.
Okay. But it's about being intentional. It's not just vegging out.
Right. He says use that downtime to reflect, recharge, and plan for the next challenge. So even relaxing is like a form of self-improvement.
Pretty much. He's intense. He's the toughest man alive.
Yeah. Okay. This is a lot.
He doesn't sugarcoat it. No. But he offers a ton of practical advice.
Okay. And tools to help you get there. Yeah.
And I really like that he says that greatness is available to anyone. Yeah. It doesn't matter.
Doesn't matter your background, your circumstances. Exactly. He has this quote.
Oh, yeah. Greatness is a state of letting go of all your faults and imperfections. Scavenging every last bit of strength and energy.
Yeah. And putting it the fuck to use. Whoa.
To excel at whatever you set your mind to. Yeah. He doesn't hold back.
That's pretty intense. I'm feeling very motivated, but also a little overwhelmed. It's a lot to take in.
How do you apply all of this? Where do you even begin? I think it starts with identifying the areas where you've been limiting yourself. What are those dreams, those goals you've been putting off? Yeah. What are the fears that are holding you back? That's a good question.
Goggins would say it's time to confront those head on. That's easier said than done. It is.
But yeah, I like that he really emphasizes action. Yeah. It's not just thinking positive thoughts.
No. It's about doing the work. It's about actually getting out there.
Right. Stop making excuses and take ownership. What about you? What's resonating with you the most from all of this? One of the biggest takeaways for me is the importance of mindset.
Mindset. Okay. Goggins constantly emphasizes the power of our thoughts.
Yeah. And how they shape our reality. Okay.
It's not just about positive thinking. It's about actively challenging that negative self-talk. Right.
Replacing it with empowering beliefs. So if you believe you can do it, you're more likely to be able to do it. He would definitely say so.
Our minds are incredibly powerful. Yeah. And we can train them to work for us instead of against us.
I like that. That's a really empowering idea. Yeah.
I can see why this book has had such an impact on people. Yeah. It's definitely thought provoking.
It really makes you think about where you're holding yourself back. It does. Like what are those areas? Yeah.
After going through all of this with Goggins, is there an area where you're like, man, I really want to kind of push myself here? For me, it's setting bigger goals. I tend to play it safe. But Goggins really challenges that.
Yeah. He's like, go big or go home. Yeah.
Like what are those goals that seem almost impossible? Right. And it's so easy to get comfortable. Oh, yeah.
You know, and just kind of stay in your little lane. Stay in your comfort zone. He's like, no, break out of that.
He's all about breaking through those limits. So how do you do that? He's not saying it's going to be easy. Right.
He pretty much guarantees it's going to be hard. Yeah. But he argues that that's where the growth happens.
Right. Embrace the struggle. Embrace the struggle.
That's where we come back to that. Full circle. Yeah.
He wants us to reframe challenges as opportunities. Instead of seeing a roadblock, you see a stepping stone. Exactly.
Something bigger and better. He's constantly pushing himself to the edge. Yeah.
And he's like, you can do it too. We can all do it. I really liked his emphasis on self-awareness.
Yeah. He's not just saying like blindly push harder. No.
He's like, listen to your body. Yeah. You got to know when to rest.
Know when to recover. Absolutely. Because you can't go hard all the time.
It's easy to get caught up in that no pain, no gain. Yeah. Hustle culture.
But you can't operate at 100% all the time. Right. Goggins recognizes that.
Sustainability. Yeah. Got to be sustainable.
And I like that he talks about using your downtime. Yes. Strategically.
Strategically. So it's not just like, you know, vegging out on the couch. Yeah.
It's about reflection, recharging. Getting ready for that next challenge. Planning for the next challenge.
Yeah. So it's like even relaxing is a form of self-improvement. Kind of.
Yeah. It's all connected. It all ties together.
So you've got to have the right mindset. Mindset. You've got to have a strategy.
Strategy. And you've got to be willing to put in the effort. And the effort.
Yeah. I think that's really the Goggins formula. It's not a quick fix.
No. But it's a roadmap. Yeah.
For anyone who's willing to put in the work. Well, I think we've covered a lot of ground today with Never Finished. We have.
Yeah. Any final thoughts before we wrap up? It's a book that will challenge you. Yeah.
It'll inspire you. It might even make you a little uncomfortable at times. Yeah.
But if you're looking to tap into your full potential. Yeah. And achieve things you never thought possible.
Yeah. I highly recommend giving it a read. Yeah.
This is not your typical self-help book. No, it's not. It's raw.
It's honest. It's real. And I think that's why it's so motivating.
Goggins doesn't sugarcoat anything. He tells it like it is. Yeah.
But I think that's why it resonates with people. It's authentic. Yeah.
And it makes you believe like, okay, well, he did it. Exactly. I can do it too.
We're all capable of more than we think. That's a great way to put it. Yeah.
Well, that's a wrap on this episode of Book Bites. That's it. We hope you enjoyed this breakdown of David Goggins' Never Finished.
If you're ready to embrace the struggle. And unleash your inner savage. Check out the book.
And if you enjoyed this episode of Book Bites, we would love for you to subscribe. Yeah, subscribe. For more big ideas and small bites.
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Absolutely. Until next time, keep pushing your limits and never stop growing.
