“In the absence of clearly defined goals we become strangely loyal to performing daily acts of trivia.”
~unknown
So often I see people that seem to be motoring about at sea without a rudder. They say they have a goal, but it’s not specific, it’s something like “I want to be the best I can be”. While that is not a bad answer, it’s not a clearly defined goal. They seem to be doing most of the right things, but are going no where. They may make marginal gains in their conditioning, but never seem to develop to their greatest potential, or gain that heart of a warrior that it takes to grab their Brass Ring.
To get an idea of whether you are living your Brass Ring, answer these questions: What is the first thing that you think of when you wake up, or go to sleep? What book are you reading right now? What do you think about when you are training? How much TV do you watch, and what programs?
If you’re planning on being successful at reaching out and grabbing your Brass Ring, then at least some of the answers to these questions should involve elements of your main objective.
Today I want you to write out your ultimate goal (your Brass Ring) and put it in a place that you will often see it. Share it publicly in the comments if you want with others that may be on the same path as you are. By clearly defining your goal and posting it in a prominent place, you make it a constant reminder of why you are here.
Workout of the Day
I did this workout for the first time about a little under a week ago in Reno, NV. I think you’ll like it.
“Reno 911”
Run 1 mile
3 Rounds of:
- 10 Pull ups (dead hang)
- 10 Thrusters (30lb dumbbells)
- 10 Flutter kicks (4 count)
2 Rounds of:
- 50 Walking lunge (25 each leg)
- Walk back
50 – 40 – 30 – 20 – 10
- Squat
- Push up
50 Squat Jumps
Post your comments, questions, and time.
Sorry for getting this up late. I realize that some of you train pretty early in the morning. Unfortunately I had some internet problems yesterday, as I’m getting settled into a new place, and could not access the site until this morning. Rest assured that I’ll have the posts up the night before from here on out so you can get a look at them before bed.
Hoo-Yah!!
I like the questions asked today. My brass ring is to make it through BUD/s and eventually get assigned to a SEAL team. When I first wake up the first thing I think about, or do is eat. I eat 2 blocks every 2 hours that I am awake to help recovery while I am training. The book I am reading right bow is the SAS Survival Handbook, about 600 pages of how to survive basically any situation in any climate. The author is john wiseman, he served in the SAS for 26 years, and so far the book is great. While I am training I usually am either finding ways to block out the pain, simple meditation methods with my breathing or feeling light while I run, or towards the end it is usually a fight. Even during endurance workouts, I can’t feel like I did well unless I sprinted through the finish. as for tv, I don’t watch very much, when I am not training reading or eating I am usually sleeping. When I do it’s either college football or man vs wild. I know that my brass ring is attainable, I just have to be willing to spend every second I get working to prepare myself physically and mentally for it. 2 months ago I couldn’t swim, and it felt hopeless for about 2 seconds, then I got to work learning the side stroke then the combat side stroke. The only day of the week I take to unwind is sunday, the other six are spent training and suffering and growing. Palahnuik said “a gun does nothing but focus an explosion”, I’ve always had will and desire for challenges and been hungry for growth, I’ve just never focused it on one goal until now. It feels great. Hoo Ya!
When I wake up in the morning the first thing I think about is what my workout of the day is because it is always a mystery. This keeps me on my toes and never lets me get used to the program I am doing. When I go to sleep I am always thinking about what I could have done to make my workout better or what I can do to give my self an edge in BUD/S.
Right now I am reading “The Devil We Know: Dealing With the New Iranian Superpower by Robert Baer. Robert Baer spent many years in the CIA and had a focus on the Middle East. Where he is considered an expert. This is a book about Iran’s ability to use the revolutionary guard corps and the Quds (Jerusalem) Force to recruit proxies to do their bidding behind the scenes. All Iran does is give money and weapons to these groups. I just finished reading “The Warrior Elite” this book follows class 228 through BUD/S. This is a great read to get some insight on what to expect. I also just finished “The Finishing School” which follows students through SQT. I am also currently reading “Down Range” this book is about the SEALS in the war on terror. All three of these books are by Dick Couch, who was a SEAL himself.
When I am training the only thing I think about is pushing my self to the extreme so that I feel like I performed great after the workout. I feel that if I am not laying on the floor gasping for air or attaining that golden feeling of puking I did not perform as well as I could have.
I watch the news every morning before I go workout. If I am not watching the news I usually do not watch TV as I am usually reading if I have some free time. I did watch the documentary on BUD/S a while back on the History Channel, which was a great resource in seeing what I will be put through.
My Brass Ring is a successful career in the SEAL teams. I have different smaller goals on top of the ultimate goal which are making it through NSW prep, BUD/S, SQT, and finally a successful integration into a SEAL team. All of these combined will make my Brass Ring of a successful career in the Teams
Hey coach,
I liked the workout today. It took me 44 minutes and 35 seconds to complete. After finishing it I felt great and decided to workout a little bit more on my own. I did another mile and a half, a 10-15 minute core workout, and about a 20 minute swim.
The first thing I think about when I get up in the morning is how I am going to accomplish my tasks for the day (which is usually work, training, and coaching). I have to figure out my day so I can have enough time to complete my training and continue to improve physically and mentally.
When I train I try to think of ways to improve my workout like make sure to stop swinging when I’m doing pull ups or thinking about my running technique. When the pain really starts to hurt I always remind myself of a couple things. First, that so many others have dealt with the pain and have beaten it so why can’t I. Second, that the pain is only temporary and through it I will gain something that’s worth so much more than the pain, the chance to become a SEAL.
I don’t watch much TV, but when I do watch it, it’s usually either the news, Man vs. Wild, or the Military Channel.
My Brass Ring is to become a US Navy SEAL. I want to be able to accomplish this lifetime goal no matter how hard or difficult the journey is. Like it says in the SEAL ethos “I will never quit… I will not fail.”
Junkyard, you motivate me!
Hoo-Yah!!