Hi there,
Welcome to another book study, where I explore a quote from a book and interpret its meaning. In this post, I will be talking about a new quote from the book Can't Hurt Me by David Goggins, which says:
“Most people quit when they’re about 40% done.”
That is quite an intriguing quote that needs to be explored by me. I want to understand what the author is trying to say when he says almost 40% done. Is he trying to say people tend to quit because they have done 40% of the work, or they quit when they are almost 40% done? Words can be tricky, and during this era where single statement could be misconstrued into different things. This has even been the genesis of a lot of online conflict. A person said something while another misused it or misquoted it to mean something else. This is why I always try to pay close attention to what the person who gave the quote has to say, with the explanations and stories. This is very important in order to avoid getting the wrong message or even worse, passing the wrong message.
For the quote, the author, David Goggins, is taking a stand on the misconception that people to they think when their body has gotten to the exhaustion point, it simply means they are overwhelmed, mentally deranged, and tired, which in return they can no longer push further or at least try hard. Well, that is the thing, there is still more that can be done. David Goggins believes that at this point, you are about 40% done, and by my calculation, there is still 60% more that can be done.
Oh my, this sounds like a lot of pressure, given the fact that I am the kind of person who, when exhausted, shuts down completely. Now an author is telling me I am only 40% done, so there is still more that I can do. Then, on the other hand, it is quite motivating. When you look at it in the way of life throwing its challenges at you, and you keep fighting back with every strength you have, there is still more you can do that is way better than giving up. This is how I am taking a new look at the quote. Humans are more capable than we think, with the potential that we exhibit through our hard work.
A changing perspective from what the author also had to say in his book is the huge, eye-opening statement when he claimed that humans tend to give up way before the body does. People give up even before their body has reached its exhaustion point, all because of a setback encountered. When I apply this statement to life and its challenges, I come to understand that there is true logic in this statement. I remember certain times that I have been faced with challenges, and way before the problem was encountered, I was already in retreat mode.
A typical example for me was when I was playing in a chess tournament, and the player I was going to face next was a very strong player. Right before the match-up, I had already given up mentally on the game, fixated on my play with a losing mindset, and it was no surprise that I lost the game. Here is the thing: I gave up way before the game. Even though I would have lost the match, I did not put up a fight at all. Now this is a typical example of when I gave up even before my body was exhausted. I could never tell what would have happened if I had tried my best or at least 40% more.
I am 
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Thanks For Reading!
