Book notes: Endure by Cameron Hanes

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Endure: How to Work Hard, Outlast, and Keep Hammering by Cameron Hanes

Synopsis:

“Cameron Hanes discovered his true passion for bowhunting when he was twenty. Inspired by the physical challenges of stalking elk in the Oregon wilderness—traversing mountainous terrain, braving erratic weather, and evading his quarry’s even more dangerous predators—he began an ever-evolving journey of self-improvement. To become the best bowhunter of wild elk, to the caliber he believed he could be, Cam realized he would need more than archery skills. He would need the stamina and strength that could only come from an athletic training regimen of long-distance running and heavy-weight lifting. And every day for more than thirty years, Cam has put in the work, building miles and muscles, pushing through pain with a single-minded focus on the only goal worth having—besting himself time and again.

Part memoir, part motivational manifesto, Endure reveals how Cam—a self-professed average guy—put himself through the paces to live the life of an expert bowhunter, respected writer, and family man. With discipline, sacrifice, resilience, a hard work ethic, and a belief in his own capabilities, Cam not only accomplished his dreams but continues to surpass them. There is no secret to his success except relentless determination and loyal dedication to his own self-worth.

If Cam can do it, we all can. Everyone has what it takes to endure adversity so we can rise above average, be the best we can be, and enjoy living life to the fullest.” -Audible

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Opening thoughts:

I’m actually not sure where I got this book recommendation from. Might have been from David Goggins’ last book, or maybe it was from Tim Ferriss’ podcast. Or maybe it was just an Audible recommendation. Either way, I’m continuing on my recent theme of reading books/memoirs of hardened individuals to get an insight on their life and possibly some inspiration for my own.

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Key notes:

Prologue: Answering the Call

• Life without passion is simply existence
• “Keep hammering” is a reference to reminding us to keep pounding at the lie of impossible

Part One: Prey

Chapter 1: Life Is Suffering

• We all have struggles, and those struggles define who we are
• The value in going out there and training (or beating yourself up) is that you learn a lot about yourself
• Do not ever prejudge who can and cannot make an impact on your life
• All you need to have is a passion, and a will to sacrifice greatly
• Love the struggle
  • Life gives perspective
  • Suffering grants power
    • Adversity from life gives you a perspective you won’t normally have

Chapter 2: Pushing Above Average

• Success starts with confidence

Chapter 3: Diving into the Deep Hole

Part Two: Predator

Chapter 4: Strange and Unexplored Territory

• He realized he needed to be in peak physical shape and ability in order to be a better bow hunter
• What’s your edge? And what are you doing to keep it?

Chapter 5: Don’t Let Them Outwork You

• Don’t make excuses
  • Give it your all
  • Show up when you’re supposed to show up
  • Speak your mind
  • Own up to your mistakes
  • Think with perspective
• Decide to do something everyday for a year to improve yourself
  • That’s how you build a work ethic
• If you set high goals, make sure they’re fueled by a passion for the journey 
• All rewards have to be earned the hard way

Chapter 6: Obsessed or Average

• In order to achieve anything, you’ll need to sacrifice
  • What are you willing to sacrifice?
• Study your craft and spend time excelling in it
  • Find others who share your passion and follow in their footsteps
  • Love the journey, and ignore thoughts of the finish line as this is a race that never ends
• Nobody cares
  • Whether you do amazing or terrible, nobody cares
  • Work harder

Chapter 7: Ramp It Up

• He found that generally, the better shape he was in, the easier success came
  • He’s found no ceiling to this approach
• It’s all mental 

Chapter 8: Believe to Achieve

• He was able to run a race and caught up to Lance Armstrong
• Visualize and expect success
• Easy seldom makes memories
• Cry in training, laugh in battle
• Do something that inspires you and makes you work hard

Chapter 9: Train Hard, Hunt Easy

• He finished the 100-mile ultra marathon Bighorn in just under 30 hours
• Even when you feel like you’re done, you’re not done
  • Endurance means you’re never done
  • To endure means to never end
• Find comfort in being uncomfortable
  • “It’s better to die on your feet than to live on your knees”
• Find something that helps you to become the very best you can be
  • Find inspiration somewhere and find what works for you. Then give it all you have

Chapter 10: Last Load

• He lost his dad to liver cancer, but his dad was always his biggest inspiration

Part Three: The Ultimate Predator

Chapter 11: The Best Never Rest

• The point of life: learn, experience, share, value, teach, and build

Book reference: Can’t Hurt Me by David Goggins

• Surround yourself with those who push you to be a better human
  • Strive to find people you can model yourself after and you can see qualities and characteristics that you want to possess yourself
• Those who say “must be nice” would never do it regardless

Chapter 12: Beast Mode

• Reference to Kobe Bryant & Manny Pacquiao
• Know your value

Chapter 13: Hating Me Won’t Help You Win

• Your body gives what you ask of it
  • Don’t ask much, and it won’t give you much
  • Ask a lot and it will give you a lot 

Nobody hates the good ones, they hate the great ones

Kobe Bryant

• He taught his son a lesson after helping an injured woman while they were on a run
  • “This is what we’re here to do above all else, to help those in need”
• If you live for the praise and acceptance of others, you’ll conversely die by their criticism
  • Don’t give them that power

Chapter 14: The Fickle Winds of Fate

• He explains how an animal in the wild being killed by a skilled hunter is the most merciful death oftentimes compared to the alternatives 
• To him, counting coup is deep, emotional, and meaningful
  • This is when you attempt to touch the being you wounded before it dies at risk of your own injury or death
• He talks about getting Joe Rogan into bow hunting, and how his platform put Cameron in from of millions of people
  • He explains how Joe gets it, and how he’s one of the most generous people in his money and words and has become an advocate for hunting

Chapter 15: Legends Never Die

• You have to gain respect for people to listen to you, for you to have an impact on them
• Roy died in an accident during a hunting trip, falling 750ft in an area he was familiar with

Reader’s note: Damn, this part is tough. You can tell he’s trying to keep it together while he’s reading the words, and talking about attending Roy’s funeral and speaking from his heart about what Roy meant to him

• Roy had a strong faith in God and believed the strength he got would make a positive impact on others
• When you experience loss of unexpected failure, how do you keep going?
  • Who and what makes you continue to persevere?
    • How will you endure?
• Love one another
  • Take time to think about what you’re grateful for
  • Pray for people going through hard times
  • Be grateful to know the stories and suffering others have to go through
  • Think about those you’ve lost and honor their memory
  • Make sure the people you love know that you love them
    • If you love someone, tell them
    • If you value someone’s friendship, tell them
    • If someone inspires you, tell them
    • If you’ve hurt someone, apologize
    • Life’s too short to be bitter, prideful, or vengeful. Tell them sooner rather than later as tomorrow isn’t guaranteed

Chapter 16: The Invincible Imposter

• He feels like he has imposter syndrome
  • But as the mantra goes, become obsessed or be average
  • He like many other high achievers are obsessed with their craft
• “I’m an example”
  • He wants to be a good example to his kids and show them what hard work can mean
• Life is a competition. If you want to excel, you have to sacrifice

Epilogue: Relentless

• Without firsts, there is no progression
  • Live, learn, and enjoy the journey. You never know when it’s going to end

Afterward by David Goggins

• “Cameron Hanes is a man who leads by example”

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Closing thoughts:

Fantastic book. I thoroughly enjoyed this one and can see why it has so many good reviews. His story was very inspirational, but it also had a lot of great insights about how to live one’s life.

In retrospect, I can see why people like David Goggins and Joe Rogan really like Cameron and are inspired by his story. He strives to be the best he can be, and hopefully, through his example, he can inspire others to bring out the best in themselves. And just like David Goggins says, his example is a good way to help get rid of other peoples’ excuses.

Overall, I highly recommend this to anyone who either wants some inspiration to chase their full potential or simply wants really good life advice to live by.

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One Takeaway / Putting into practice:

In a book with multiple great takeaways in every chapter, choosing one was really difficult. However, I have to select this one:

The point of life: learn, experience, share, value, teach, and build

I think this point is self-explanatory, but a very concise takeaway that the author clearly wanted the reader to take away from his book. The point of life is to grow and add value to the world around you. That’s the whole point of enduring life’s challenges and struggles. It’s the only way to get the most out of life and unlock your own potential.

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Nutshell:

Legendary bow hunter Cameron Hanes shares his approach to living life to the fullest and how to bring out the best in yourself.

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Similar books:

• Can’t Hurt Me by David Goggins
• Never Finished by David Goggins
• Open by Andre Agassi
• The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck by Mark Manson
• Girl, Wash Your Face by Rachel Hollis
• The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho

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Rating:

4.5/5

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