Focus on the Step in Front of You -
Not the Whole Staircase

                         Looking from the top of Haiku Stairs in Hawaii

One step at a time will get you to your goal faster than sitting still worrying about the goal. Too many fail to realize their initial goal because they did not start moving forward. Maybe you don't have the best plan at first, but you can adjust course easier than you can create momentum to get moving.  Besides our plans look like this: 

As General Patton stated:

"A good plan violently executed now is better than a perfect plan executed next week."

When training for a goal, patience is a must.  But patience means taking action when you are smart enough to give yourself time to prepare mentally, physically, spiritually for what you are seeking to do.

Taking the impossible factor out of your goals is also a requirement. Often seeing is believing. Somehow that person if front of you has done what you are preparing to do. Do your research, ask questions, find a mentor, but by all means - keep moving forward. 

There will be set backs.  Expect them. Plan for these things to happen and give yourself a few contingencies when they occur. Instead of being something that requires a complete stop to your journey, it is nothing more than a mere bump in the road that you can work around. Whether these are injuries, illnesses, financial issues, or your current location, find another option to keep you moving forward with physical training, professional knowledge research, or another job to help make ends meet. There is nothing wrong with having a side gig while you focus on your main goal.  Many of us have had to work, go to school, and in our spare time prepare for other goals. These things only will make you tougher in the end and build a work ethic that will help you the rest of your life. 

Regarding Hellweek

Maybe it is Hellweek reminiscing for me right now. As I write, there is a hellweek going on  for over 50 BUD/S students - several of them I personally prepared for this journey. Hellweek is the fourth week of Navy SEAL Training. This current class started with over 200 people just a few weeks ago. The three weeks prior to Hellweek is no cake walk either and most of the class is lost due to injuries/ illness, quitting, or not meeting the physical standards. Getting TO and THROUGH this training requires a little bit of luck (not getting sick / injured) and a whole lot of preparation (building durability and physical capability).

How do you prepare for hellweek?  It takes your whole life and there is no preparing for this kick in the nuts. Eventually, the test of Hellweek is to endure the moment when it is Just You and Your Will.  There will be that moment when you cannot physically move without being in pain, discomfort, cold, wet, and sandy. You will be alone with your thoughts - what will you say to yourself?  What did you say to yourself when your alarm went off and you had to go train? What did you say to yourself when you had a choice to run a little faster or slow down and stop? What did you say to yourself after a long day of school and work and you still had to get your workout in? You may know the answer. 

Do You Want My Hellweek Advice?

Hellweek Advice - first of all good luck. You do need it. There is luck involved and you have to do all you can to avoid illness and injury by eating healthfully, sleeping when you can, and nursing your body every day of this year long journey (BUDS / SQT). You and your classmates / boat crew members need 3 things:

Fuel, Water, Electrolytes  

Make sure you are hydrating and adding salt to your meals as much as possible especially if seating profusely or seeing salt stains on your clothes, hat, getting chapped lips. Eat all you can when you can. You all need the fuel to stay warm and for energy. Remind your buddy to eat, drink, add salt / electrolytes because you will get through hellweek TOGETHER - not by yourself. Every meal matters! Everything else is up to you and how bad you want it. 

Advice to Early Teens Preparing to Serve in Special Ops

For All You Spec Ops Candidates Out There – Read

This is One Step at a Time Advice for goal achievement is very similar to the same advice I give for fitness and special ops goals. One workout at a time. Getting through training is one day at a time. During hell week it’s one meal at a time - every six hours. Eventually- you will accumulate five days of meals every six hours and you’ll be done. 

Other Spec Ops Programs / Training Options

Navy BOOKS / EBOOKS

Navy SEAL Workout Phase 1 Beginner Weeks 1-9 
Navy SEAL Workout Phase 2 - 3 - Intermediate Weeks 1-12
Navy SEAL Workout Phase 4 Grinder PT - Four weeks before Hell Week