What it can teach us about failure

4,030 - that’s how many Pull-ups David Goggins made to break the world record. You may or may not know him, and he is certainly not someone who has risen the celebrity ranks through sport, acting or modelling, but David Goggins is a Navy Seal hardman who is better known for his crazy fitness antics and pushing his body to the ultimate limits.

His book Can’t Hurt Me, looks at how his astonishing life story reveals that most of us tap into only 40% of our capabilities.

Goggins calls this The 40% Rule, and his story illuminates a path that anyone can follow to push past pain, demolish fear, and reach their full potential.

He has become a Youtube sensation providing motivation to people that follow him, and if you have never heard of him and you want motivation or just inspiration, then you really need to start following David Goggins!

One of his inspiring stories from his book is about Goggins’ attempt to break the Guinness World Record for pull-ups in 2013, which was 4,020 in 24 hours at the time. The chapter was titled, “The Empowerment of Failure.”

Who is David Goggins?

David Goggins is especially well known for running ultra marathons, monster push-up and pull-up challenges, ultra-distance cycling, triathlons, motivational speaking, and more.

He is a retired Navy Seal who served in the war in the Middle East and has been voted by All Hands Magazine as being the toughest man alive.

“I thought this was my potential, came to find out that I wasn’t anywhere near that, what is in us, we have no idea until we start TRYING HARD - that's when u know you're trying hard”

David Goggins

The Empowerment Of Failure

The story began September 27, 2013, and takes place at the studio of The Today Show. In the prior six months, Goggins had done 40,000 pull-ups in training. Training could not and did not prepare him for the other elements of the challenge, however.

Goggins began his attempt for the world record right after his appearance on the show, on a set with hot lights and right in front of a large glass window facing the streets of New York City. This wasn’t ideal for Goggins, who typically likes to do his work out of the spotlight.

His second issue was the bar. It had way too much give, reducing his ability to explode and do pull-ups the proper way. This meant holding a tighter grip and finding more energy to complete each pull-up. In an endurance and strength challenge such as this, the wasted energy weighed on Goggins throughout the challenge.

After 2,500 pull-ups, Goggins had to pull out and ended his attempt due to lactic acid buildup in his muscles.

Second Attempt 

Of course, Goggins wasn’t done. He tried again in Nashville two months later.

He studied his first attempt hard and found a pull-up bar he liked. He worked smarter on making sure he had everything at arm’s length with boxes next to him for his water bottles.

It only took 150 pull-ups in his second attempt for Goggins to feel the burn on his hands. Ten hours into the second attempt, Goggins took his first break. As he pulled his three pairs of gloves off, layers of skin came off with them. Goggins kept going, though. He did a few hundred more pull-ups, most with just a few fingers or even his wrists, before eventually quitting.

He failed for the second time.

“I don't stop when I'm tired, I stop when I'm done.” 

David Goggins

Third Attempt

Goggins won’t give up. Goggins got back on the bar two months later. To overcome his largest obstacle, the blisters, he had a mattress company design custom foam pads for his hands.

Twelve hours into his third attempt, he was already at 3,000 –1,021 pull-ups short of the record. Goggins was exhausted, but after 17 hours (yes 17 hours!) and two failed attempts, David Goggins broke the Guinness World Record for pull-ups, going to 4,030 just to be sure. 

Takeaways

Between the training and three attempts, Goggins did more than 67,000 pull-ups in nine months. 

But more than his physical endurance Goggins showcased the power of repetition. 

• He tried three times to accomplish this goal 

• Learning from each attempt 

• Never accepting he couldn’t meet the challenge 

• Not listening to the negative comments - that he didn’t have the physical strength to do it

Collecting new perspectives and knowledge in the first two set him up for success in his final attempt.

Four pull-ups an hour doesn’t seem like much. Over time, it becomes increasingly more challenging to the muscles, but increasingly more empowering to the mind.

Small numbers grow through consistent repetition. Small numbers are boring and don’t seem useful in the grand scheme. But small numbers are a necessary step before getting to the large numbers.

“You have to callus your mind to overcome your doubts and failures and keep moving forward.” 

David Goggins

Challenging yourself is important. When you fail, take a look at why. Then, take that knowledge forward to guarantee your next personal record.

Don't give up!

Favourite David Goggins Quotes

“It’s so easy to be great nowadays because everyone is so weak. If you have any mental toughness, if you have any fraction of self-discipline and the ability to not want to do it but still do it, get through all the things you hate to do, then on the other side is greatness!”

“Self-talk and visualization are the keys to fighting negativity.”

“Motivation is crap. Motivation comes and goes. When you are driven, whatever is in front of you will get destroyed.”

“Every day, do something that makes you uncomfortable.”

“Most people who are criticizing and judging haven’t even tried what you failed.”

“I’m not crazy. I’m just not like you.”

If you would like to learn more and be inspired by David Goggins, you’ll enjoy his book: You Can’t Hurt Me.