WHO IS David Goggin’s ?
David Goggin’s is one of the toughest people in the world. He’s the only man to successfully complete, not only SEAL training, but the U.S. Army Ranger School and the Air Force Tactical Air Controller Training. He served in Iraq, ran 205 miles without stopping, and beat the Guinness World Record for most pull-ups in 24 hours with 4,030 pull-ups. This is just the tip of the iceberg. He’s definitely not an average person. But what makes his accomplishments even more significant is that he had an absolute, terrible upbringing, to say the least. He was abused both physically and mentally. But instead of accepting his condition, he used the suffering as a stepping stone to achieving greatness. If he could do everything that he did by starting so far in the negative, imagine what someone who didn’t suffer as much could do with the help of his teachings.
Can’t Hurt Me: Master Your Mind and Defy the Odds Summary By David Goggin’s
For David Goggin’s, childhood was a nightmare — poverty, prejudice, and physical abuse coloured his days and haunted his nights. But through self-discipline, mental toughness, and hard work, Goggin’s transformed himself from a depressed, overweight young man with no future into a U.S. Armed Forces icon and one of the world’s top endurance athletes. The only man in history to complete elite training as a Navy SEAL, Army Ranger, and Air Force Tactical Air Controller, he went on to set records in numerous endurance events, inspiring Outside magazine to name him “The Fittest (Real) Man in America.“
10 lessons From Can’t Hurt Me: Master Your Mind and Defy the Odds By David Goggin’s
Can’t Hurt Me chapter 1, I SHOULD BEEN THE STATASTIC
Face your bad hand. Goggin’s’ childhood was more brutal than most peoples. From being a victim of mental and physical abuse by his own father, to living in absolute poverty with his mother once they escaped. After so many years exposed to such violence and pain, he was diagnosed with toxic stress, leading to learning disabilities and total social anxiety. He was what society labels as an at-risk kid. What about you? What are the factors that are limiting your success? Were you bullied? Did you feel insecure? Maybe you didn’t have the support you needed. Or perhaps you had too much support to the point that you never took the initiative. Everyone was dealt some sort of a bad hand. What’s yours? Goggin’s says to write it down on a piece of paper or on your computer. “Give that pain shape. Absorb its power because you’re going to flip that shit,” Goggin’s tells us. The first step to change your circumstances is to recognize your bad hand.
Can’t Hurt Me chapter 2, TRUTH HURTS
Set up your accountability mirror. Did you ever think your dreams were impossible to achieve? Goggin’s did. He had the dream of joining the Air Force, but when he looked in the mirror all he could see was a boy with no physical and mental capacity. But then again, instead of accepting his condition, he decided to use the mirror as a device to hold himself accountable. Every night, he wrote down the goal for the next day on a sticky note and placed it on his mirror. The following day, he will put in the work to achieve those goals. For you, it’s about time to face your reality. Grab some Post-its and write down what you see in the mirror. What are your goals? What are your limitations? Be 100% honest. “Whatever your goal,” Goggin’s tells us, “you need to hold yourself accountable for the small steps it will take to get there.”
Can’t Hurt Me chapter 3 , THE IMPOSSIBLE TASK
Get used to discomfort. One morning, Goggin’s turn on the TV in the background and heard a strong voice coming from it. All he caught was, “Navy SEALs, toughest … the world.” He stopped and he watched. The longer he watched those brave men, the more he wanted to be like them. The SEALs were everything he was not. So he decided to put in the work, and in only three months, he lost 106 pounds and was ready for all the tests needed. It was extremely hard, but when you repeat the same task infinite times, your body gets calloused. The same applies to your mind. The first step on the journey towards a calloused mind is stepping out of your comfort zone on a regular basis. So go back to your journal and write out all the things that make you uncomfortable, especially those things that you know are good for you. Now go do one of them, and do it again, and do it again until your mind is calloused. Get used to discomfort.
Can’t Hurt Me chapter 4,Taking Souls
Hell Week is the hardest part of Navy SEAL training. Two-thirds of the recruits quit, and Goggin’s wasn’t going to be one of them. He was ready to face any challenge and he wanted to show the instructors that he was willing to go the extra mile. What about you? Perhaps your coach doesn’t give you enough time in the games. Or maybe your boss doesn’t give you the promotion you deserve. Use their attitude towards you as an inspiration. Goggin’s calls it, Taking Souls. The idea is to take their negativity and use it to absolutely dominate the task. Your coach, make them notice you by being the best player in the team during practice. And for your boss, work around the clock if you have to. Get to work before them, leave after they go home, and show them the best work they have ever seen. The best way to turn the tables and earn someone’s respect is to be excellent.
Can’t Hurt Me chapter 5, Armored Mind
Visualize success. As part of SEAL training, the recruits need to run 60 miles per week, which is extremely hard. But Goggin’s had to do it with an injured knee. So how did he do that? He started visualizing all the challenges he would face, all the swimming, the paddling, the carrying heavy bolts and logs on his head. Then he visualized his success and what it would feel like to make it to the end as a winner. He still felt the pain, but painting the picture of what success will look like gave him the energy to succeed. You cannot predict every obstacle, but if you engage in strategic visualization, as he calls it, ahead of time, you’ll be as prepared as you possibly can. This includes asking yourself simple questions like, “What has calloused my mind before? What can I do to make my experience better?” This will help you, what the author calls an Armored Mind, “A mindset so calloused that it became bulletproof.”
Can’t Hurt Me chapter 6, Its Not About The A Trophy
Stock your cookie jar. Nowadays, many people love running, but how many people in the world can run 205 five miles nonstop? Well, the author did it. To complete such a challenge, you need more than just the outstanding physical capacity. Imagine a moment when you’re halfway through the race, your body’s absolutely destroyed but you still have another 100 miles to go, how do you face it? Goggin’s developed a concept that helped him overcome some challenges. He calls it the cookie jar. The cookie jar is a reminder of all the challenges you have overcome in the past. So, stock your cookie jar as much as you can. Get your journal out again and take an inventory of all your previous victories. Whenever you find yourself broken and with another 100 miles to go, you will find the strength to succeed in your own mental cookie jar.
Can’t Hurt Me chapter 7,The Most Powerful Weapon
Dismantle your governor. Goggin’s believes that most human beings are only living at 40% of their capabilities. When you face a challenge, the governor in your mind wants to protect you from suffering, which stops you from going 100%. So how do you dismantle that governor? It’s rather simple. Say you usually run 10 miles and you’re absolutely destroyed after that, run 11 tomorrow. If the most push-ups you ever did was 100, next time you go for 110. Adding that extra 5 or 10% every week will allow you to improve while avoiding any injuries.
Can’t Hurt Me chapter 8, Talent Not Required
Compartmentalize your time. High achievement does not require inborn talent, it requires hard work. Many people are willing to put in the work, but claim they don’t have the time. But the reality is you have enough time to do everything. It is absolutely unreal how much time most people waste in just one day, whether it’s on social networks, playing video games, or trying to multitask. Goggin’s has a three week challenge to help you make the most of your time.
During the first week, go about your regular schedule, but take notes. When do you work? When do you sleep? When do you check Facebook? Document every single activity and how much time it takes you. In the second week, lock everything into place in 15 to 30 minute blocks. Some tasks will take multiple blocks. When you complete one task, move to the next one with the same focus. Keep taking notes as you will still find ways to optimize your schedule. By week three, you should have a schedule that absolutely maximizes your time.
Can’t Hurt Me chapter 9 ,Uncommon Amongst Uncommon
This is for those who are already on top of their game. The ones who have achieved their goals and now are just sitting on top of the mountain. Don’t settle. Use your past successes as a trampoline, not as an armchair. If you’re a shark among sharks, dare to be different and go a step further. Just like Goggin’s did when, as a Navy SEAL, he decided to study weaponry and war because he wanted to make himself better. You have to keep putting obstacles in front of yourself to stand out. So what are you going to do differently?
Can’t Hurt Me chapter 10,The Empowerment Of Failure
According to Goggin’s, failure is one of the best feelings in the world. And if you’re not failing, that means you have set your goals to pass, which means you’re not setting your goals high enough. Many people know that Goggin’s beat the Guinness World Record for most pull-ups. What some people don’t know is that he had two failed attempts before he succeeded. So it’s time for you to work with your failures. Grab your journal and start writing. Write what actually went okay with your failures. It’s never all bad. Then write, how did you deal with the failure? Did it affect your relationship? Did you manage to sleep at night? Then analyse your preparation, did you do everything you could? Now go back and make a list of everything you can fix so you can attempt your task again. Now you know, what did it take for Goggin’s to go from a vulnerable kid to the superhuman that he became. There were no magic pills and there were no shortcuts. It took hard work and perseverance.
Can’t Hurt Me chapter 11 , WHAT IF?
We are all our own worst haters and doubters because self doubt is a natural reaction to any bold attempt to change your life for the better. You can’t stop it from blooming in your brain, but you can neutralize it, and all the other external chatter by asking, What if?
What if is an exquisite fuck-you to anyone who has ever doubted your greatness or stood in your way. It silences negativity. It’s a reminder that you don’t really know what you’re capable of until you put everything you’ve got on the line. It makes the impossible feel at least a little more possible.
What if is the power and permission to face down your darkest demons, your very worst memories, and accept them as part of your history. If and when you do that, you will be able to use them as fuel to envision the most audacious, outrageous achievement and go get it.
Whatever failures and accomplishments pile up in the years to come, and there will be plenty of both I’m sure, I know I’ll continue to give it my all and set goals that seem impossible to most. And when those motherfuckers say so, I’ll look them dead in the eye and respond with one simple question.
What if?
If you follow his lessons, you can surpass absolutely any challenge in your own life. We’re going to end the summary with the most powerful quote from the book,
“I don’t stop when I’m tired. I stop when I’m done.”