Mastery: Get Comfortable, But Not Too Comfortable

Issue No. 45 | November 6th, 2023 | Read Time: 2 Minutes

I think it's safe to assume almost everyone on my list of subscribers knows who David Goggins is.

And if for some reason you've been living under a rock, he's an ultra-marathon runner and motivational speaker with a history of being a bada** Navy Seal.

Long story short.

But surprisingly, even David Goggins takes breaks.

Not often of course, but whenever he's running in ultra-marathons that span over multiple days, he doesn't just power through the entire thing.

He stops at the

"inn"

(you'll figure out what this means soon).

And obviously, that isn't something you can hold against him. I don't expect anyone to not take a single break throughout a 72-hour marathon.

But it's during those "pit-stops" that people are most likely to quit altogether.

Because after running for 14 hours, that first break you make feels like heaven.

And for a lot of runners, they get too comfortable and decide to not enter back into the gates of Hell.

I'm not saying don't take a break. I'm not saying don't stop to catch your breath. But don't get so comfortable that you forget why you stopped in the first place.

Epictetus talked about this in his book

Discourses

where he broke down the idea of what he calls the

"inn."

"People act like a traveler headed for home who stops at an inn and, finding it comfortable, decides to remain there. You've lost sight of your goal, man. You were supposed to drive through the inn, not park there." [23 - 36, 37]

When I read this for the first time, it felt like he was talking to me. Because in more direct terms, he's pretty much telling you to get off your a**.He acknowledges the fact that everyone has to stop at the inn eventually as he says, "Those inns are not without value, but your goal lay elsewhere."So it's okay to take a break.It's okay to take that small vacation.But remember that your goals lay elsewhere. If you're willing to go back on the path and start running, you'll eventually achieve something greater than that inn could ever offer you.So this week's newsletter is for those who are posted up at the inn.Get back on the road.Because you can always take another break.But you can only succeed once.

Until next time,

Isaiah Taylor

Dive Deeper

What I'm Currently Reading -

Right now I'm in the middle of reading

Copywriting Secrets

by Jim Edwards, a book on how to use the power of words to get people to buy your stuff.

• If you'd like to see my book notes pertaining to this book or any others I have previously read, then check out my websiteisaiahctaylor.comto view my entire library of notes and summaries.

Quote Of The Week

• “When you say yes to something, it’s imperative that you understand what you’re saying no to.” — Gary Keller