David Goggins

Biography

There is no one quite like Chief Petty Officer David Goggins. The Navy SEAL, one of an elite group of military men regularly sent on some of the toughest missions in the world, needed more of a challenge for himself, so he set about conquering the hardest sporting events known to man. Today he is considered to be one of the greatest endurance athletes in the world.

In less than four years, David has completed more than 30 endurance races, including multiple ultra-marathons, triathalons, ultra-triathalons, bike races, and arduous mountain ascents, setting new course records and regularly placing in the top five. In 2007, shortly before he was diagnosed with a hole in his heart, he completed 203.5 miles in the 48-Hour National Championship endurance foot race, beating previous records by 20 miles and earning a spot among the top 20 ultra-marathoners of the world. His exceptional achievements made him the subject of a lead feature in Runner’s World, where he was named, “Running Hero.” The Navy even asked him to be their poster boy and appear in a recruiting commercial.

David’s military record alone is astonishing. He is the only member of the U.S. Armed Forces to complete SEAL training (including two Hell Weeks), the U.S. Army Ranger School (where he graduated as Honor Man) and Air Force tactical air controller training. He’s faced combat in Iraq and served as the bodyguard for Iraqi Prime Minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari. And those are only the missions he can openly discuss. This modern-day G.I. Joe has been involved in some of the most sensitive deployments in the military, including top-secret assignments that can potentially alter the course of international geopolitics and American foreign policy.

But all the awards, medals, accolades and magazine articles mean nothing to David. That’s not why he does what he does. Other than the more than $2 million he’s raised for the Special Operations Warrior Foundation, none of this recognition is relevant to him. He’s not trying to be number one in the world. He’s not interested in how many races he’s run. He doesn’t keep track of the miles he’s gone through. There’s no scoreboard; there’s no finish line.

Instead, it’s all about achieving his personal best and pushing himself well past his comfort zone. David chooses to run the toughest races and put himself through some of the hardest military training programs in the country for no other reason than to test himself and see what he’s made of. For him, physical suffering is a journey of self-discovery, and endurance is a meditation that strengthens his faith and brings him closer to his God. No other experience makes him feel more clear, focused and alive.

To understand what makes this inspirational individual tick, it’s first necessary to know where he comes from. Born in 1975 in Buffalo into an abusive household, David was put to work in his father’s roller rink business from the time he could crawl. From kindergarten to his senior year in high school, he was almost never his class, and the neglected latchkey kid endured every kind of cruelty, from his own father’s psychological and physical abuse to the rampant racism of small-town Indiana, where he’d been raised by a working single mother since middle school.

Barely graduating with a 1.6 GPA, David was constantly told he was too dumb, too sick or too fat to make it in his chosen military career. In Brazil, Indiana, mere miles from a major KKK stronghold, he was threatened and called the “n-word” almost daily. He struggled with obesity, severe allergies, sickle cell trait, and a congenital heart defect. But he never allowed these circumstances to hold him back or make him a victim. He chose to overcome and prove the doubters and naysayers wrong.

It’s why David is such a sought after public speaker to this day. His “no excuses; suck it up” approach has made him a favorite of the talking circuit, and he’s regularly invited to speak at college campuses and business forums, and address top sports teams like the Seattle Seahawks. What his audiences get is a crash course in personal accountability. David is all about owning his failures. For him, today’s norm of coddling, entitlement, and blame is simply not acceptable. He’s pure old school, and that’s precisely what makes him one of a rare and extraordinary breed of men.

Videos

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=at-fpCODF4I

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Testimonials

In my pursuit to understand and learn from the greatest competitors in the world, David Goggins is one that sets the standard.

– Seattle Seahawks Head Coach

Rarely do you get to hear such an incredible story of determination. Simply put, we were all blown away.

– Greg Goble, Cisco Systems

Booksby David Goggins

Can’t Hurt Me

Never Finished: Unshackle Your Mind and Win the War Within

For Meeting Planners

Photos

Speaker Documents

Speech Description

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Blog Posts

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Reviews & Ratings

     Excellent  
     Based on 56 reviews 
    
 
 
   
 
 
        
   Waldo Waldman 
 May 19, 2024
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I’ve been Speaking professionally for 21 years and work with the largest agencies in the world. I’m a Hall of Fame keynote speaker and a New York Times best selling Author. I have can honestly say in full confidence that Seth Dechtman and his team at Keynote Curator is the best agency I have been honored to work with.
I’ve witnessed Seth’s client focused relationship skills On multiple occasions. His clients love him and he’s detail oriented and has great communication skillls.
But most importantly, I’ve been on the receiving side of his servant, focused leadership style. He treats me like a valued partner and emulates everything a wingman is.
  
 
       
   David Allison 
 May 17, 2024
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Seth and the Keynote Curators team are tenacious and determined to do right by their clients and their speakers. I appreciate our relationship so much, and highly reccomend this group to anyone looking to book a speaker for an event.
  
 
       
   Meir Statman 
 May 10, 2024
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. It is wonderful to join Seth in helping people reflect on their financial and life well-being and enhance them.
  
 
       
   Trevor Wilde 
 April 24, 2024
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. This was an amazing experience. the Keynote Speaker we had was perfect for our event and will definitely be having another for our next one!
  
 
       
   Sandro Forte 
 March 22, 2024
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Brilliantly hosted, with great content. An absolute ‘must add’ to any podcast list!
  
 
       
   Jon VanDeventer 
 November 18, 2023
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I've been working with Seth at The Keynote Curators for over 3 years. I always look forward to our meetings because of both his professional expertise and his enjoyable, engaging personality. We have fun during our virtual meetings while developing innovative strategies and accomplishing goals. It's obvious from working with Seth over a number of years that he is always making event planning and booking services an easy process and providing responsiveness that sets him apart. He's an excellent partner who gets invested in your business and collaborates through every step of a process that can sometimes feel overwhelming.
  
 
       
   Jason Galaska 
 November 7, 2023
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Seth and his team were fantastic to work with in 2023 and we look forward to working with Keynote Curators to find potential speaker matches for our events in the future.  Thank you, Seth, for your professionalism!
  
 
       
   Hailey Wilson 
 October 23, 2023
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. A Treasure Trove for Anyone Involved in Speaker Selection!

As someone deeply involved in the intersection of marketing and technology at AImpact, I find the process of selecting the right keynote speaker to be a critical part of any successful event. Seth Dechtman's "The Keynote Curators" podcast is nothing short of a godsend for anyone facing the challenges and opportunities that come with this task.

Seth brings an almost poetic understanding to the power of words, acknowledging that a speech isn't just a scheduled event but a transformative experience that can change the dynamics of an entire room. His enthusiasm for the craft is contagious, making each episode a joy to listen to.
  
 
       
   Nicole 
 September 14, 2023
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Seth is super knowledgeable about the needs of meeting planners to have a successful event and partners with you to find just that right fit!
  
 
       
   Duncan Sigurdsson 
 August 28, 2023
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED! Working with Seth Dechtman and The Keynote Curators is always true partnership.  In the three plus years that we have been involved in various projects, I can tell you that they always deliver.  We have done some really cool stuff together.  Any meeting professional, conference planner or event producer will greatly benefit from partnering with The Keynote Curators.  High praise to Seth and his team.