Never Finished by David Goggins is a raw, intense follow-up to Can’t Hurt Me, diving deeper into his mental strategies and ultra-endurance feats. While packed with motivational insights, it sometimes feels like a collection of leftover stories from the first book.
Overall a decent read, but start with Can’t Hurt Me if you want an introduction to David Goggins.
RATING: 3.7/5
CHECK IT OUT:
GOODREADS | AMAZON
KEY TAKEAWAYS:
• I am David 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.
• It ain’t your 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?
• You may be waiting on a confession or an apology in order to move forward, but I’m sorry to say the apology—that tearful confession you’ve been dreaming of—will never come. The good news is you don’t need anybody else to free you from your trauma. You can do it on your own.
• Denial is self-protecting, but it’s also self-limiting. Accepting your full truth, including all your faults, imperfections, and missteps, allows you to evolve, expand your possibilities, seek redemption, and explore your true potential. And until you unpack your baggage, it will be impossible to know what your potential really is. The whole truth can’t haunt you if it serves you.
• You cannot be afraid to disappoint people. You have to live the life you want to live. Sometimes, that means being the person who can stand alone in a crowded room and be totally comfortable with that.
• Nothing is permanent. Life is the ultimate competitor. It takes no days off, and it won’t care if you’ve made some money or got a promotion at work. All that means is you are good to go for a moment or two. No matter how tough and successful you think you are, trust me, there is a semi coming around a blind curve, ready to smack you in the mouth when you are comfortable as all hell.
• Mental toughness and resilience fade if they aren’t used consistently. I say it all the time: you are either getting better, or you’re getting worse. You’re not staying the same.
• Respect is earned every day by waking up early, challenging yourself with new dreams or digging up old nightmares, and embracing the suck like you have nothing and have never done a damn thing in your life.
• Allow discipline to seep into your cells until work becomes a reflex as automatic as breathing. With discipline as your medium, your life will become a work of art.
• Incremental progress is still progress, I said to myself. One step is all that is required to take the next one.
• Whether we realize it or not, every interaction, each task is a reflection of your mindset, values, and future prospects. It’s an opportunity to be the person you’ve always wanted to be.
• 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.
• I live with a Day One, Week One mentality. This mentality is rooted in self-discipline, personal accountability, and humility. While most people stop when they’re tired, I stop when I am done. In a world where mediocrity is often the standard, my life’s mission is to become uncommon amongst the uncommon.
Bullet Point Reading 