Cover of Can't Hurt Me by David GogginsOne of My Favorite Books

One of my all-time favorite books is Can’t Hurt Me: Master Your Mind and Defy the Odds by David Goggins. I read it for the first time over the holidays and almost couldn’t put it down to go to sleep.

I haven’t stopped thinking about it since.

Who is David Goggins?

If you’ve never heard of David Goggins, here are just a few facts about him:
 

• He grew up in a physically abusive home with very little money.

• He’s the only member of the armed forces to complete SEAL training, U.S. Army Ranger School, and Air Force Tactical Air Controller training.

• He’s finished more than 60 endurance races and even won the Infinitus 88K, one of the hardest races in the world.

Pretty amazing, right?

In Can’t Hurt Me, Goggins tells his life story and shares his tips for success and mental toughness. These four really stood out.

The Lessons That Stood Out to Me

Lesson No. 1: Your past doesn’t define you. The odds were against Goggins at every stage of his life, but he overcame the obstacles to become the best person he could be. In the book, he preaches accepting the life you were given but without using your hardships as an excuse or letting them define you.

Lesson No. 2: Life isn’t fair — and that’s okay. Goggins says we all need to accept life’s unfairness instead of letting it limit us. The sooner we do this, the sooner we can push forward.

Lesson No. 3: Make time for the things you believe in. Goggins works full-time, but he still makes time to train for ultramarathons and advise his CEO friends. He teaches that we have to choose what we value and work hard for it. Once we do that, we can accomplish anything.

Lesson No. 4: Live by the 40% rule. The 40% rule claims that when you feel like quitting, you’ve really only used 40% of your potential. Goggins lives by this Jerry Rice quote: “Today I will do what others won’t, so tomorrow I can do what others can’t.”

Whether you’re trying to overcome business obstacles, the fallout of an injury, or the struggles of aging, I highly recommend reading Can’t Hurt Me. Its lessons are truly profound.

Russell Button
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Dallas, Houston, and Midland Texas trial and personal injury lawyer dedicated to securing justice for clients.
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