Jesse Itzler Quotes

I don’t stop when I’m tired. I stop when I’m done. —SEAL

SEAL, I have a problem,” I say to him. “I didn’t bring any extra underwear.” “So what?” “I can’t run without underwear.” “Nah, bro, you can’t run without legs. It’s on.

Most of my successes in life have come from learning how to be comfortable with being uncomfortable.

If you don't challenge yourself, you don't know yourself. —SEAL

Every day do something that makes you uncomfortable. —SEAL

It doesn’t have to be fun. It has to be effective. —SEAL

Roger that. So go fuck your bullshit shoulders,” he says. “Whatever you got going on, someone else has more pain. You gotta learn how to fight through it. No matter what it is… Think about someone else and take a suck-shit pill.

I learned that by constantly doing things that are hard and making myself uncomfortable, I improve my ability to handle obstacles. I get comfortable being uncomfortable—and that’s real mental toughness.

I don’t do shit for applauses. I don’t do shit for fanfare. I do shit for me. —SEAL

I believe in life résumés. Do more. Create memories.

Don’t get too comfortable. Ever. —SEAL

SEAL says to me: “It’s not what you do, it’s when and how you do it. It’s all about the conditions. Remember that.

If you can see yourself doing something, you can do it. If you can't see yourself doing something, usually you can't achieve it. —SEAL

Coasting is for “pussies” as SEAL would say and it’s when you dig deep that you feel the most alive. He lives his life that way. And some of that rubbed off on me.

When you think you’re done, you’re only at forty percent of what your body is capable of doing. That’s just the limit that we put on ourselves.

Sara also likes to think of money as a big magnifying glass. If you are a good person before you had money… then money makes you an even better person. If you were a charitable person before you had money… then money makes you even more charitable. But if you were an asshole before you had money… well then, money makes you an even bigger asshole.

The elements are in your mind. I don’t ever check the temperature when I run. Who gives a fuck what the temperature on the computer says?

Even the way he spit was scary. If he hit you with it, it likely would leave a scar. He was intimidating. Physically, the man looked like someone sprayed muscle paint all over his body. Ripped. Flawless.

If you’re surrounded by greatness – take notes, pay attention, and ask questions.

I don’t stop when I’m tired. I stop when I’m done.

I don’t want the same shit you guys want. I’m not looking for anything else. I’m going to do the same shit I’ve been doing,” he says, “only I’m going to do it better.

People are always waiting for something to happen before they change their lives. But they have it backward; when you change your life, big things are more likely to happen

I don’t need new friends. I like to keep my shit lean and tight.

Every day, think as you wake up, ‘Today I am fortunate to have woken up, I am alive. I have a precious human life, I am not going to waste it. I am going to use all my energies to develop myself, to expand my heart out to others, to achieve enlightenment for the benefit of all beings. I am going to have kind thoughts towards others, I am not going to get angry or think badly about others. I am going to benefit others as much as I can.

I eat only fruit until noon. That’s been my thing since I read Fit for Life by Harvey Diamond in 1992. For over twenty-five years, just fruit till noon.

If you can’t do the basics, you can’t do shit.

Have a specific date for your goal 2) Have an accountability partner 3) Put the goal in writing 4) Have a detailed plan to accomplishing your goal 5) Execute your plan

When it is obvious that the goals cannot be reached, don’t adjust the goals, adjust the action steps.

If you can see yourself doing something, you can do it. If you can’t see yourself doing something, usually you can’t achieve it. —SEAL

their diet is made up mostly of fruit and leaves.

The silverback gorilla doesn’t eat turkey sandwiches, chips, and McDonald’s.

if you have a job to do, you do it with 120 percent effort. I

we can all do so much more.

If you can see yourself doing something, you can do it. If you can’t see yourself doing something, usually you can’t achieve it. —SEAL New York City

We spend endless hours doing things that make us happy but invest much less time working on changing the things that make us unhappy.

When you want to quit… get uncomfortable. And Remember Tomorrow.

And once the storm is over, you won’t remember how you made it through, how you managed to survive. You won’t even be sure, in fact, whether the storm is really over. But one thing is certain. When you come out of the storm you won’t be the same person who walked in.

strongest animals in the world thrive on a fruit-and plant-based diet. Silverback gorillas, for example, are thirty times as strong as man and three times our size. Their DNA is 99 percent similar to that of humans, and they are our closest living relatives next to chimps. How are they so strong? Oh

Man, I may need to borrow some gloves,” says SEAL. “You may need gloves?” “Yeah, or some kinda mittens or some shit like that.” “That’s it. Only gloves?” “That’s it.” “It’s fourteen degrees outside,” I say. “To you it’s fourteen degrees ’cause you’re telling yourself it’s fourteen degrees!” “No. It really is. It’s fourteen degrees. Like that’s the real actual temperature outside. It says so on my computer.

And I also believe networking has become shallow,” I say. “Everyone is so concerned with connecting on social media, adding followers, collecting business cards, and shaking as many hands as they can at a cocktail party. But how strong is that network when you really don’t know the people? Sure, coffee is great, but I still think you need to go deeper. That’s why experiences are so important, especially experiences you do with others.

When you come to a point when you have to make a key decision, remember how that choice will make you feel tomorrow, and the tomorrow after that, and the one after that. You want to drop out of the marathon at mile 18? Okay, that’s fine, but… remember what it’s going to feel like tomorrow when you’re left alone to think about it. You want to get drunk and dance on the table at your holiday party? Cool, but… remember how it’s going to feel tomorrow when you walk into the office.

By the time we’re done you’ll be able to do a thousand push-ups in a day.

You ever spent any time in freezing water, Jesse?” SEAL asks. I’m thinking to myself, Like on purpose? But I respond with a “no.” “Well, is it freezing? OR is your mind just saying it’s freezing? Which is it?” He laughs again. “Control your mind, Jesse.

It’s not what you do, it’s when and how you do it. It’s all about the conditions. Remember that.

It’s All About the Push-ups

[Kevin] Garnett fires questions and SEAL parries them back... Hours pass. Not once do we talk about Zico. I'm just sitting there... Finally Garnett turns to me. "It's as simple as this, yo. Whatever you motherfuckers do," Garnett says, "I want in."p27

When you think you're done, you're only at forty percent of what you body is capable of doing. That's just the limit we put on ourselves." p53

As he makes his way in, SEAL is walking like he's stepping on broken glass. He's limping and in obvious pain. He's not wearing any shoes, and his toes are really messed up. SEAL is missing the toenail on his right big toe, and he has a few blisters that look like his toes swallowed giant red grapes. OUCH. "Man... that looks bad. You gotta do something for it," I say. "Nah, I'm just gonna sit on the couch and enjoy the pain," he says. "I earned it. Now I'm going to enjoy it." He starts to laugh to himself. p122

Monks do one thing at a time. 2. Monks don’t rush. They do things slowly and deliberately. 3. Monks don’t cut corners. They do it completely. 4. Monks do less… but do more. 5. Monks remain calm. They don’t panic. 6. Monks are okay being alone—they thrive at it. 7. Monks study all different kinds of topics to enhance growth. 8. Monks devote time to sitting. 9. Monks smile. 10. Monks live simply. 11. Monks don’t waste time. 12. Monks have a strong community and family unit. 13. Monks have a love affair with life.

It takes me a solid three miles to get going, but surprisingly, once we find out pace and break a sweat, my legs really loosen up. In fact, I go from feeling like a stick figure to [...] feel[ing] really good—real good. Odd. I mention it to SEAL as we run and he just replies, “Jesse, I really don’t give a fuck.

You're too pretty, man. Too cute. Fuck you.

I later learn it’s called an altitude-simulation tent, and when the generator is hooked up it sucks the O2 out of the tent and helps the body produce more red blood cells. It makes your cardio system work like you’re sleeping on top of Mount Everest. I’d have to bet I’m the only guy on the Upper West Side of NYC with an inflatable raft, an oxygen deprivation tank, a tent, and a SEAL in his apartment. I get into my bed and open the window in our room. I suck in the cold NY air coming into my apartment off Central Park. It feels great. As I fall asleep I think about the lack of oxygen in SEAL’s tent and again think to myself… I’m such a pussy.

As I fall asleep I think about the lack of oxygen in SEAL’s tent and again think to myself… I’m such a pussy.

The power and temptations of the outside

when you have a BIG goal, the work necessary to accomplish it has to become an obsession. It has to become a part of your daily lifestyle and remain that way for the duration of the goal.

If we can work gut and awareness at the same time—magic can happen.

When you come to a point when you have to make a key decision, remember how that choice will make you feel tomorrow, and the tomorrow after that, and the one after that.

It’s really very simple. Decide that you want it more than you’re afraid of it.

The greatest challenge in life is discovering who you are. The second greatest is being happy with what you find.” —UNKNOWN

It is in being alone where you find your strength. Not in others.” —UNKNOWN

I mean, do you think Thomas Edison would have ever invented electricity if he was on Instagram all day?” “I’m pretty sure Ben Franklin is the electricity guy. And he didn’t invent it—he discovered it, you jackass.

As you get older the game gets shorter. You, my friend, have hundreds of experiences in front of you. Your future is a huge canvas to paint on, and I’d trade it all to have that paintbrush back in my hand. Enjoy every minute of the process.

But maybe listening has a bigger meaning then simply being quiet and hearing others talk. Perhaps it means being less caught up with yourself and opening up to new opportunities, ideas, and perspectives. Brother Christopher referenced a wise monk: “When you talk, you are only repeating what you already know. But if you listen, you may learn something new.

I must live as if I’m going to die tomorrow…

I always say experience is overrated. It takes too long. Start the process and figure the rest out. If you wait too long someone else will beat you to the punch or that bully in your head will talk you out of pursuing your idea.

By consistently doing things you may not want to do, you create an environment in your head that says you’re okay doing hard things. You’re training yourself to go through obstacles rather than let them deter you.

We begin doing our one to eighteen push-ups and then eighteen to one. So our first set has one push-up with a fifteen-second rest; then we do two push-ups with a fifteen-second rest. All the way to eighteen and then back down to one. In case you’re counting, that’s 342 total.

I don’t think about yesterday. I think about today and getting better. —SEAL

there are a lot of self-help books on happiness, being present, and getting more out of life. However, I don’t think you can master anything from reading a book or watching a seminar. All these “Here Are Five Simple Steps” books provide good insight, but unless you take action—nothing happens.

Every task is important. Every moment has purpose.

Coca-Cola had recently established a division called VEB, Venturing & Emerging Brands. This is the branch of Coke that looks for the next billion-dollar brand and partners with them during their early growth period.

I’d always wanted to complete the Badwater race. It is considered the toughest footrace on Earth, and rightfully so. 135 miles. 130-degree heat. Plus, the last thirteen miles of the race are a straight ascent up Mount Whitney.

Now I finish the first thing on my list with 100 percent focus and then attack the next.

Effort is the true source of pride—not results.

Just after he’d won the Nobel Prize, Albert Einstein was staying at a hotel in Japan. When the bellboy brought up his luggage he realized he didn’t have any money. So he found a piece of scrap paper and wrote his theory of how to have a happy life. He handed it to the bellboy as a tip. The note read: “A calm and modest life brings more happiness than the pursuit of success combined with constant restlessness.

He that is taught only by himself has a fool for a master.” —BEN JONSON

A thought came to me, the first of several that would lead me to a monastery. This one was as clear as the mountain air, and it was delivered in a voice that was like a whisper in my ear: My relationship with time is out of balance. When I’m in my routine—time flies. When I’m not in my routine—time slows.

Also, though it may sound ironic, I believe monks have completely captured the idea of freedom—free from everything—distractions and attachments. It’s like they’ve unlocked the secret of life’s meaning. Who knows? Maybe by the time I’m done here, they’ll have given me the keys.

The checklist behind a Krav Maga first strike boils down to three basic elements: One, has someone violated your space? Two, is there a direct threat? And, three, get them before they get you. Sounds reasonable—right?

Money—money—money… I’ve learned that money can be a real awkward instrument. It changes relationships. When you don’t have any, you can be perceived one way—and when you have a lot of it, you can be perceived in another. It can be intimidating and defining. My mother always used to say: “Don’t ever borrow money and don’t ever lend it. It will only cause problems. If you want to gift it, that’s fine, but remember it’s a gift.

I guess I probably have thirty or forty years left on earth. And how many of those am I going to be young enough and healthy enough to do things? I want to experience the best stuff I can. I've never jumped off a cliff - I should just jump off a cliff because I'm only here once.

When you're young you have to laugh when everyone at the table laughs to get the deal done. Even if the joke isn't funny. When you don't have to laugh at those jokes any more, you've made it.

The power and temptations of the outside world are great. Train yourself from the distractions. They are the enemies of your goals. Learn to move past the distractions, and you will succeed.

There are a lot of self-help books on happiness, being present, and getting more out of life. However, I don't think you can master anything from reading a book or watching a seminar. All these "Here Are Five Simple Steps" books provide good insight, but unless you take action - nothing happens.

If you don't take time for yourself - you'll resent the people who are taking those things away from you.

Besides, failure was never a big thing for her. At the dinner table growing up, Sara’s father had a weekly ritual where he would ask her what she failed at that week. Maybe she had tried out for the school play, cheerleading, or a sports team. When she’d tell her dad how poorly it went, he would give her a high five. Whether she had succeeded or failed wasn’t important. All that mattered was that she tried. That ritual changed Sara’s definition of failure, and failure became tied to not trying rather than the outcome.

I agree. And I also believe networking has become shallow,” I say. “Everyone is so concerned with connecting on social media, adding followers, collecting business cards, and shaking as many hands as they can at a cocktail party. But how strong is that network when you really don’t know the people? Sure, coffee is great, but I still think you need to go deeper. That’s why experiences are so important, especially experiences you do with others. Right now I can call and count on people who I have deep connections with, not because I bought them a bagel and followed up with a thank-you email. It’s because I have true connections, moments if you will, and experiences that will last a lifetime. If you ever climb Mount Washington with someone, they’ll be your friend for life. An experience is like making a deposit in the bank. We can draw on it at any time.