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Never Enough: A Navy SEAL Commander on Living a Life of Excellence, Agility, and Meaning
In Never Enough , Mike Hayes―former Commander of SEAL Team TWO―helps readers apply high-stakes lessons about excellence, agility, and meaning across their personal and professional lives.
Mike Hayes has lived a lifetime of once-in-a-lifetime experiences. He has been held at gunpoint and threatened with execution. He’s jumped out of a building rigged to explode, helped amputate a teammate’s leg, and made countless split-second life-and-death decisions. He’s written countless emails to his family, telling them how much he loves them, just in case those were the last words of his they’d ever read. Outside of the SEALs, he’s run meetings in the White House Situation Room, negotiated international arms treaties, and developed high-impact corporate strategies.
Over his many years of leadership, he has always strived to be better, to contribute more, and to put others first. That’s what makes him an effective leader, and it’s the quality that he’s identified in all of the great leaders he’s encountered. That continual striving to lift those around him has filled Mike’s life with meaning and purpose, has made him secure in the knowledge that he brings his best to everything he does, and has made him someone others can rely on.
In Never Enough , Mike Hayes recounts dramatic stories and offers battle- and boardroom-tested advice that will motivate readers to do work of value, live lives of purpose, and stretch themselves to reach their highest potential.
Mike Hayes has lived a lifetime of once-in-a-lifetime experiences. He has been held at gunpoint and threatened with execution. He’s jumped out of a building rigged to explode, helped amputate a teammate’s leg, and made countless split-second life-and-death decisions. He’s written countless emails to his family, telling them how much he loves them, just in case those were the last words of his they’d ever read. Outside of the SEALs, he’s run meetings in the White House Situation Room, negotiated international arms treaties, and developed high-impact corporate strategies.
Over his many years of leadership, he has always strived to be better, to contribute more, and to put others first. That’s what makes him an effective leader, and it’s the quality that he’s identified in all of the great leaders he’s encountered. That continual striving to lift those around him has filled Mike’s life with meaning and purpose, has made him secure in the knowledge that he brings his best to everything he does, and has made him someone others can rely on.
In Never Enough , Mike Hayes recounts dramatic stories and offers battle- and boardroom-tested advice that will motivate readers to do work of value, live lives of purpose, and stretch themselves to reach their highest potential.
240 pages, Hardcover
First published February 9, 2021
178 people are currently reading
3049 people want to read
About the author
Mike Hayes
2 books37 followersMike Hayes is the former Commanding Officer of SEAL Team TWO, leading a two thousand–person Special Operations Task Force in Southeastern Afghanistan. In addition to a twenty-year career as a SEAL, Mike was a White House Fellow, served two years as Director of Defense Policy and Strategy at the National Security Council, and worked directly with both Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama. Beyond his military and governmental service, Mike is currently Managing Director at Insight Partners, a global software investment firm with $90B+ in regulatory assets under management and 800+ portfolio companies across every stage of growth. Previously, he was the Chief Operating Officer at VMware, where he led the company’s worldwide operations, their SaaS transition, and the successful acquisition into Broadcom for $94B. Before that, he was SVP and Head of Strategic Operations at Cognizant Technologies. Mike also served in Chief of Staff and COO roles at Bridgewater Associates, the world’s largest hedge fund. Mike holds an M.A. in Public Policy from Harvard’s John F. Kennedy School of Government and received his B.A. from Holy Cross College. His military decorations include the Bronze Star for valor in combat in Iraq, a Bronze Star for Afghanistan, and the Defense Superior Service Medal from the White House. Hayes is a lifetime member of the Council on Foreign Relations, a member of the board of directors of Immuta, a data governance company, and the founding board member of the National Medal of Honor Museum. He lives in Sunapee, New Hampshire and Westport, Connecticut with his wife and daughter.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 143 reviews
December 28, 2020
Full disclosure: I received a free ARC of this book from Celadon in exchange for an honest review. #CeladonReads, #partner, #ReadNeverEnough, @CeladonBooks
I’ll confess. I wasn't sure what to expect when this book arrived on my doorstep. Unlike the Goodreads giveaways, where I have some choice in that I select which ones to enter, Celadon books just show up out of the blue. Never Enough, aside from starting the song by the Cure running through my head, appeared to be of the Self Help and/or Business variety, two genres that I suspect of being boring--though, to be fair, I’ve very little experience with either.
I was pleasantly surprised to find the book quite readable. Going in, I definitely had a chip on my shoulder. But Hayes writes with clarity and sincerity. He tells stories from his own life and military experience that illustrate the points he’s trying to make. None of it feels forced or hokey or any of the other derogatory thoughts some of us may recognize from our prior experiences with motivational speakers. In the end, I was won over, and found myself enjoying the book immensely
Is reading it guaranteed to make you a better person? Honestly, I’m not sure that *any* book can promise that with one hundred percent accuracy. But one could certainly do a lot worse than trying to take the lessons of this one to heart. Recommended!
I’ll confess. I wasn't sure what to expect when this book arrived on my doorstep. Unlike the Goodreads giveaways, where I have some choice in that I select which ones to enter, Celadon books just show up out of the blue. Never Enough, aside from starting the song by the Cure running through my head, appeared to be of the Self Help and/or Business variety, two genres that I suspect of being boring--though, to be fair, I’ve very little experience with either.
I was pleasantly surprised to find the book quite readable. Going in, I definitely had a chip on my shoulder. But Hayes writes with clarity and sincerity. He tells stories from his own life and military experience that illustrate the points he’s trying to make. None of it feels forced or hokey or any of the other derogatory thoughts some of us may recognize from our prior experiences with motivational speakers. In the end, I was won over, and found myself enjoying the book immensely
Is reading it guaranteed to make you a better person? Honestly, I’m not sure that *any* book can promise that with one hundred percent accuracy. But one could certainly do a lot worse than trying to take the lessons of this one to heart. Recommended!
May 11, 2022
"I tell people all the time that I’m not afraid of aiming high and missing—I’m afraid of aiming low and hitting.
We have to aim the highest we can, and when we hit that goal, aim higher—or think about whether we ought to have a different goal entirely.
We can celebrate success, but also realize that our journey is never finished.
We can achieve greatness, but also understand that to truly fulfill our most important missions in life, the road never ends..."
Never Enough was a mixed bag for me... I am admittedly generally a fan of books from those in the military community, especially from the elite units, like the SEALs. So, I was excited to start this one.
Unfortunately, it just did not meet the high water mark established in other books I've read by other prominent voices in this field.
Author Mike Hayes is the former Commanding Officer of SEAL Team TWO, leading a two thousand–person Special Operations Task Force in Southeastern Afghanistan. In addition to a twenty-year career as a SEAL, Mike was a White House Fellow, served two years as Director of Defense Policy and Strategy at the National Security Council, and has worked directly with both Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama. Beyond his military and governmental service, Mike is currently the Chief Digital Transformation Officer at VMware.
Mike Hayes:
Hayes gets the book off to a good start, with a few notes, and a decent introduction. I wasn't really sure what to expect from the book as it progressed, tbh.
He writes with an engaging style for the most part, and while there was nothing really wrong with what he talked about, I felt that the book lacked a coherent thesis, continuity as well as flow.
He covers a few central tenets of the SEAL mindset here; dropping this quote:
I kept waiting for an overarching theme or clear thesis to emerge, but one never really did... Instead, the book is mostly a collection of anecdotal stories from his career, relating back to a message he conveys.
So, unlike many other contemporary books I've read, I felt that this one fell short. It lacked the grit of David Goggins' and Jason Redman's books. It also lacked the direct, actionable advice found in Jocko Willink and Brandon Webb's books.
**************************
Sadly, even though this was a shorter book, I found my attention wandering numerous times here, and was getting frustrated near the end, waiting for the author to tie a knot in the writing...
2.5 stars.
We have to aim the highest we can, and when we hit that goal, aim higher—or think about whether we ought to have a different goal entirely.
We can celebrate success, but also realize that our journey is never finished.
We can achieve greatness, but also understand that to truly fulfill our most important missions in life, the road never ends..."
Never Enough was a mixed bag for me... I am admittedly generally a fan of books from those in the military community, especially from the elite units, like the SEALs. So, I was excited to start this one.
Unfortunately, it just did not meet the high water mark established in other books I've read by other prominent voices in this field.
Author Mike Hayes is the former Commanding Officer of SEAL Team TWO, leading a two thousand–person Special Operations Task Force in Southeastern Afghanistan. In addition to a twenty-year career as a SEAL, Mike was a White House Fellow, served two years as Director of Defense Policy and Strategy at the National Security Council, and has worked directly with both Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama. Beyond his military and governmental service, Mike is currently the Chief Digital Transformation Officer at VMware.
Mike Hayes:
Hayes gets the book off to a good start, with a few notes, and a decent introduction. I wasn't really sure what to expect from the book as it progressed, tbh.
He writes with an engaging style for the most part, and while there was nothing really wrong with what he talked about, I felt that the book lacked a coherent thesis, continuity as well as flow.
He covers a few central tenets of the SEAL mindset here; dropping this quote:
"Doing the hard thing is how you win, how you grow, and how you end up getting the most out of life. If there’s one principle that has shaped my career, it’s this one, and that’s why I felt it was the perfect place to start this book. Doing the hard thing, choosing the hard path, moving toward the most difficult challenges, aiming high—and trusting that you’ll either succeed or you’ll learn something, so either way it’s a victory—got me to the SEALs, to the White House, and to senior roles in the private sector. It’s the first thing I believe everyone ought to think about when approaching their life’s trajectory. Am I letting myself follow the easy path, or am I moving up that mountain, looking for the difficult campsite that will give me the best chance to achieve my ultimate mission?"
I kept waiting for an overarching theme or clear thesis to emerge, but one never really did... Instead, the book is mostly a collection of anecdotal stories from his career, relating back to a message he conveys.
So, unlike many other contemporary books I've read, I felt that this one fell short. It lacked the grit of David Goggins' and Jason Redman's books. It also lacked the direct, actionable advice found in Jocko Willink and Brandon Webb's books.
**************************
Sadly, even though this was a shorter book, I found my attention wandering numerous times here, and was getting frustrated near the end, waiting for the author to tie a knot in the writing...
2.5 stars.
December 31, 2020
I read a lot about leadership these days. I do that because I'm a leader but I also do that because leadership is one of those areas that is the most fascinating to me because the needs of leaders are always changing. How we interact with people is always changing. How we need to adapt to the needs of an organization is always changing. For good leaders and for people to a value and continue to become good leaders you have to be continually learning. You have to be flexible, you have to be adaptable and this book really gets into that.
Mike Hayes... was the commander of a Seal team, has worked in the White House and he has also worked in the business community in the private sector. This book is a really good read because he distills the lessons that he's learned about leadership very succinctly and sort of puts them into pillars and categories that makes it much easier to understand the point that he wants to drive home and the things that he wants to emphasize as lessons that hes learned in leadership.
Serving in combat in the military puts you into a position where you have to be flexible. You have to be creative. You have to be adaptable and make decisions quickly. But at the same time you can also put processes in place.
As Hayes wisely emphasizes HOW and WHY people are making decisions can have just as great an impact upon an organization when decisions are made. Hayes also astutely points out that diversity of opinion is even more valuable today as organizations often become more homogeneous. A lot of small crucial insights are in this book that Hayes conveys through stories about his experiences. All of this makes for an outstanding addition to books that we all should read about leadership.
Mike Hayes... was the commander of a Seal team, has worked in the White House and he has also worked in the business community in the private sector. This book is a really good read because he distills the lessons that he's learned about leadership very succinctly and sort of puts them into pillars and categories that makes it much easier to understand the point that he wants to drive home and the things that he wants to emphasize as lessons that hes learned in leadership.
Serving in combat in the military puts you into a position where you have to be flexible. You have to be creative. You have to be adaptable and make decisions quickly. But at the same time you can also put processes in place.
As Hayes wisely emphasizes HOW and WHY people are making decisions can have just as great an impact upon an organization when decisions are made. Hayes also astutely points out that diversity of opinion is even more valuable today as organizations often become more homogeneous. A lot of small crucial insights are in this book that Hayes conveys through stories about his experiences. All of this makes for an outstanding addition to books that we all should read about leadership.
February 11, 2021
I won this book from BookishFirst as part of a giveaway and in exchange I am giving my honest opinion on it. This memoir from Mike Hayes titled Never Enough actually surprised me and turned out to be really engaging and I loved how this former commanding officer of U.S. navy seal team two wrote about his experiences in the navy seals and also his time in the White House. He writes about how anyone can live a life of excellence, agility and meaning if they follow some simple rules that he learned through his life experiences on and off of the navy seals. I like how he broke it down into 3 main sections of Never Enough through excellence, agility and meaningfulness. I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in memoirs.
May 2, 2021
I received an ARC of this through Celadon’s partnership with Little Free Library stewards.
This book was just ok. While in general I agreed with much of his leadership advice, I didn’t find anything terribly new or interesting in what he said. Many of the stories seemed self-congratulatory and a chance to toot his horn. Because it wasn’t a memoir, the stories at times were told in pieces as the different parts fit into points he was trying to make.
I think the hardest part was cringing through the stories from Afghanistan and Iraq. While I am grateful for our service women and men, I feel conflicted about our involvement overseas, and some of the ways the author described decisions that he made in regards to civilians and locals there.
I found myself rushing to be done with the book. I don’t think I was ultimately the right audience, as I could see others appreciating it.
This book was just ok. While in general I agreed with much of his leadership advice, I didn’t find anything terribly new or interesting in what he said. Many of the stories seemed self-congratulatory and a chance to toot his horn. Because it wasn’t a memoir, the stories at times were told in pieces as the different parts fit into points he was trying to make.
I think the hardest part was cringing through the stories from Afghanistan and Iraq. While I am grateful for our service women and men, I feel conflicted about our involvement overseas, and some of the ways the author described decisions that he made in regards to civilians and locals there.
I found myself rushing to be done with the book. I don’t think I was ultimately the right audience, as I could see others appreciating it.
January 6, 2021
Thank you to Celadon Books for this ARC for my honest review.
“Make it a great day”. This book by Mike Hayes lets the reader know that no matter the situation, each person is in charge of their own decisions, no matter if it is an everyday situation or if making a life and death decision. We are in charge of our own lives and those decisions can impact not only yourself but others around you, even strangers. Hayes includes stories of his childhood and becoming a Navy SEAL. To become an elite member of the military like the SEAL’s, one has to be motivated and determined.
This book relates to everyday life but it may hit closer to home to those that are in the military or have family in the armed forces. My uncles on my mother’s side were in the Navy, Air Force, and Marines. Both of my grandfathers were also in the military, my paternal grandfather was in the Army during World War 2 in the South Pacific and my maternal grandfather (whom I never knew) was in the Navy in the South Pacific, too. My paternal grandfather’s only brother-in-law was killed during the Battle of the Bulge. I also hold a BA in history with a minor in political science. Most classes I took for my history degree are centered on World War 2 and the Holocaust. With all of that said, I understand some of the military stories and concepts that Hayes shares in this book.
Hayes let’s the reader know that no one should ever give up on improving oneself. We should all strive to be the best we can be and reach higher to better ourselves and our fellow citizens of the world. One aspect that he points out is that in order to improve oneself, we need to be honest, true and give feedback. This concept is a must in every work environment and in relationships. He also reiterates throughout this book that one should take the hard paths to better oneself. This is true. If everyone took the easy path in life, you will not improve yourself because you are staying in a comfort zone....step out and you will have greater opportunities, better relationships, and improve yourself for the better; everything is earned and gives more meaning. Another valuable point is to be true to yourself; don’t conform to please someone - be you and the best you.
Life is not easy for anyone. It’s easy to look at someone and say, well it’s greener on that side of the fence. But is it really? Yes, someone may come from money, but they have problems and issues like anyone else...it may not be as dire as some go through; it could be worse or easier. No one knows unless they walk a mile in someone else’s shoes.
The point of this book is to live life to the fullest but by working harder and never settling for something. Be the best person you can be at work, for your family and friends, and strangers. Have compassion and help your community. Be honest with yourself and others. Work with others and not against them; we all have our opinions of the world but it’s ok to hear someone out and still have a difference of opinion. We are individuals and it’s ok to be different. We all are stronger together to build a better world, work environment, and in relationships.
Overall I think this was a good motivator book. I do not normally read books like this but it was sent to me by the publisher, Celadon Books, so I gave it a go. Even though there are a lot of military stories throughout, Hayes let’s the reader know that the strategies he used while in tough situations can be used in everyday life, too. I recommend this book to those that need that extra motivation to use some life skills discussed in this book to achieve higher goals. You cannot be get to the top without being a team player, being honest with oneself and others. It is up to you to make it a great day!
#ReadNeverEnough #CeladonReads
“Make it a great day”. This book by Mike Hayes lets the reader know that no matter the situation, each person is in charge of their own decisions, no matter if it is an everyday situation or if making a life and death decision. We are in charge of our own lives and those decisions can impact not only yourself but others around you, even strangers. Hayes includes stories of his childhood and becoming a Navy SEAL. To become an elite member of the military like the SEAL’s, one has to be motivated and determined.
This book relates to everyday life but it may hit closer to home to those that are in the military or have family in the armed forces. My uncles on my mother’s side were in the Navy, Air Force, and Marines. Both of my grandfathers were also in the military, my paternal grandfather was in the Army during World War 2 in the South Pacific and my maternal grandfather (whom I never knew) was in the Navy in the South Pacific, too. My paternal grandfather’s only brother-in-law was killed during the Battle of the Bulge. I also hold a BA in history with a minor in political science. Most classes I took for my history degree are centered on World War 2 and the Holocaust. With all of that said, I understand some of the military stories and concepts that Hayes shares in this book.
Hayes let’s the reader know that no one should ever give up on improving oneself. We should all strive to be the best we can be and reach higher to better ourselves and our fellow citizens of the world. One aspect that he points out is that in order to improve oneself, we need to be honest, true and give feedback. This concept is a must in every work environment and in relationships. He also reiterates throughout this book that one should take the hard paths to better oneself. This is true. If everyone took the easy path in life, you will not improve yourself because you are staying in a comfort zone....step out and you will have greater opportunities, better relationships, and improve yourself for the better; everything is earned and gives more meaning. Another valuable point is to be true to yourself; don’t conform to please someone - be you and the best you.
Life is not easy for anyone. It’s easy to look at someone and say, well it’s greener on that side of the fence. But is it really? Yes, someone may come from money, but they have problems and issues like anyone else...it may not be as dire as some go through; it could be worse or easier. No one knows unless they walk a mile in someone else’s shoes.
The point of this book is to live life to the fullest but by working harder and never settling for something. Be the best person you can be at work, for your family and friends, and strangers. Have compassion and help your community. Be honest with yourself and others. Work with others and not against them; we all have our opinions of the world but it’s ok to hear someone out and still have a difference of opinion. We are individuals and it’s ok to be different. We all are stronger together to build a better world, work environment, and in relationships.
Overall I think this was a good motivator book. I do not normally read books like this but it was sent to me by the publisher, Celadon Books, so I gave it a go. Even though there are a lot of military stories throughout, Hayes let’s the reader know that the strategies he used while in tough situations can be used in everyday life, too. I recommend this book to those that need that extra motivation to use some life skills discussed in this book to achieve higher goals. You cannot be get to the top without being a team player, being honest with oneself and others. It is up to you to make it a great day!
#ReadNeverEnough #CeladonReads
January 11, 2021
'Never enough' appears a zealous code. But never enough what? Never enough money? Accomplishment? Joy? Love? When I heard Never Enough was written by longtime Navy SEAL commander Mike Hayes, that colored my impression on what the title might mean. The SEALs have a reputation as the toughest of the tough, so perhaps 'never enough' referred to effort, sacrifice, or hardship.
But upon diving into Hayes's life story, I found the message of the title more generally ardent, more comparable to people who say they 'live every day to the fullest.' It's just a very SEAL-like way to say 'strive.' Never Enough is a self-help book where the messages are old but they're not empty. To summarize the core philosophy: seek the uncomfortable path, keep your mind open and adapt to circumstances, find out what's important to you and pursue it. There's nothing groundbreaking here but I found myself in agreement most of the time.
And in this case the messenger is more of a draw than the message. Hayes served around the world and his narrative includes anecdotes from Peru, Afghanistan, war-torn eastern Europe, and the White House. He's been held at gunpoint, befriended heroes, dealt with jerks in his chain of command, and led soldiers in a variety of dangerous circumstances. These stories tend to be brief and light on detail, but they're all interesting and heartfelt. And by the end I got a sense of the decisions a military commander has to make in non-combat situations.
So while this might not be the self-help tome to fix all the world's motivation problems, it's still a grand story breezily told. Maybe that's not 'enough', but it's plenty in my book.
Received a free review copy.
But upon diving into Hayes's life story, I found the message of the title more generally ardent, more comparable to people who say they 'live every day to the fullest.' It's just a very SEAL-like way to say 'strive.' Never Enough is a self-help book where the messages are old but they're not empty. To summarize the core philosophy: seek the uncomfortable path, keep your mind open and adapt to circumstances, find out what's important to you and pursue it. There's nothing groundbreaking here but I found myself in agreement most of the time.
And in this case the messenger is more of a draw than the message. Hayes served around the world and his narrative includes anecdotes from Peru, Afghanistan, war-torn eastern Europe, and the White House. He's been held at gunpoint, befriended heroes, dealt with jerks in his chain of command, and led soldiers in a variety of dangerous circumstances. These stories tend to be brief and light on detail, but they're all interesting and heartfelt. And by the end I got a sense of the decisions a military commander has to make in non-combat situations.
So while this might not be the self-help tome to fix all the world's motivation problems, it's still a grand story breezily told. Maybe that's not 'enough', but it's plenty in my book.
Received a free review copy.
May 26, 2023
Would 100% recommend!
June 5, 2021
(Disclaimer: I was provided an advance copy of the book "Never Enough" by Mike Hayes from the publisher, Celadon Books. I was not paid to write this review and the thoughts presented are entirely my own.)
Navy SEAL: those two words conjure up many other words upon reflection. Mental toughness, physical stamina, top of the class, a "don't quit" attitude, elite forces, etc, etc, etc. I could go on and on and on listing different words that describe this world-class group of highly-trained men. Hayes, in his recently released book, "Never Enough," goes in a different direction than other books I have read re: special forces or those who have spent time therein.
The book is broken into three sections: 1) Never Excellent Enough, 2) Never Agile Enough, & 3) Never Meaningful Enough. What I really enjoyed about this book is that the material conveyed can be applied to any sphere of life. One does not have to be a Navy SEAL or even in the Armed Forces to apply the principles laid out in the book. Hayes excels in supporting the principles/truths in each chapter with personal experiences from commanding U.S. Navy Seal Team Two, from the White House as a White House fellow serving under Presidents George W. Bush & Barack Obama, and from his stints in leadership roles in large companies here in the United States.
One of the things that impressed me with this book is that the author did not use profanity to share the truths contained therein. Too many books by military personnel (or former military) are filled with profanity. While they have every right to publish a book with that type of language, I was thrilled that Hayes kept this book free of that type of language. From that perspective, I could heartily recommend this book to a grandparent or a grandchild (in the near future) with no reservations. The Bible is clear that "out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh" (Matthew 12:34) and I appreciate this aspect of the book. This is not to say that this book is not hard-hitting and full of strong challenges!
I do have one disagreement with the author about life philosophy. Actually, it was surprising that he included this tidbit. In the third section entitled "Never Meaningful Enough," he states the following:
"No Matter What You Believe In, Believe in Something"
In my opinion, that mantra is much of the crazy philosophy being taught in much of public education today. And to read this from a Navy Seal surprised me. Why? He has fought against some radicals that actually REALLY believe in something. Something so much they are willing to blow themselves (and many others) up for. So, no, I disagree with that philosophy. It is key that a person believes the RIGHT things to believe in.
Apart from that one item, the author challenged me re: life principles throughout the entire read. Toward the end of the book, there were three principles the author seeks to live by that resonated with me. They are as follows:
1) Be intrusive in people's lives
2) Be a do-er rather than a be-er
3) Push to have real impact on the people's lives around you
As Hayes concluded his thoughts, there were several anecdotes that really got to me. Without giving them away, one of them brought me to literal tears while the other one had me saying, "No way! He's talking about that Dan?!"
I recommend this book to others and most likely will be giving some copies away myself.
Here are some excerpts I found inspiring:
"We are who we are at our worst. That's how you measure someone's character: you see how they respond not in the 99.9 percent of life when they're comfortable, but in the 0.1 percent when they're not...Seeing how someone acts when they're truly stressed in some way is a far better indicator of character. Some people think that those hard moments give them a good excuse to deviate from the highest moral and ethical standard, to mistreat others, to speak poorly about colleagues or friends, or to otherwise act illogically. Nothing could be further from the truth. When things are genuinely difficult - physically, intellectually, or emotionally - that's when you have the greatest opportunity to prove to others (and to yourself) what you are made of."
"However you get there, don't let your emotions control you. Do what makes the situation better, not necessarily what makes you feel better...emotions help us at times, allowing us to act with compassion and warmth, but during difficult situations, we need to put our emotions aside and approach our decisions in a clear-sighted, rational way."
"We need to remember that calm breeds calm."
"Being humble enough to admit what you don't know but still confident enough to explain where you can add value is a balance that is often hard to strike...our job in any room is to find the best answer for the problem we're working on, no matter whose answer it is."
"True excellence means accepting blame even more quickly than we take credit, and sharing that credit with everyone around us."
"Confidence and humility are not different points on the same line. They are entirely different axes and states of mind. You can be confident that you have something to contribute, and at the same time recognize that you're not the only one who has value to add."
"Do the hard things, get comfortable with discomfort, orient yourself in the service of others, and live a life of honesty and integrity."
"The higher up you are in an organization, the more you need to understand that it's not your job to make the best decision - your job is to ensure the best decision gets made."
"If we never fail, we're clearly not pushing ourselves hard enough."
"The tone of an organization starts with the leader. The tone of any team, of any size, starts with the leader - so if you are the leader, you need to be especially conscious of what tone you set."
"The best leaders don't need credit, and aren't afraid to accept blame."
"Real leaders know that any one person's success is their success. Real leaders are happy when they're able to step aside and put others in a position to receive credit. Real leaders just need their people and their organization to win."
"People who are insecure in their role don't want to work with people better than themselves, don't want to delegate tasks to others who might actually do them well, and aren't putting the needs of the team first."
"The only reasons not to hire someone better than you center around discomfort and fear."
"We have to be willing to intrude, to ask the hard questions and have the hard conversations - or we're not really making a difference...small talk is easy, but getting someone to be vulnerable, emotional, and honest can be hard. And yet without those deeper conversations, we can never really get to know each other."
Navy SEAL: those two words conjure up many other words upon reflection. Mental toughness, physical stamina, top of the class, a "don't quit" attitude, elite forces, etc, etc, etc. I could go on and on and on listing different words that describe this world-class group of highly-trained men. Hayes, in his recently released book, "Never Enough," goes in a different direction than other books I have read re: special forces or those who have spent time therein.
The book is broken into three sections: 1) Never Excellent Enough, 2) Never Agile Enough, & 3) Never Meaningful Enough. What I really enjoyed about this book is that the material conveyed can be applied to any sphere of life. One does not have to be a Navy SEAL or even in the Armed Forces to apply the principles laid out in the book. Hayes excels in supporting the principles/truths in each chapter with personal experiences from commanding U.S. Navy Seal Team Two, from the White House as a White House fellow serving under Presidents George W. Bush & Barack Obama, and from his stints in leadership roles in large companies here in the United States.
One of the things that impressed me with this book is that the author did not use profanity to share the truths contained therein. Too many books by military personnel (or former military) are filled with profanity. While they have every right to publish a book with that type of language, I was thrilled that Hayes kept this book free of that type of language. From that perspective, I could heartily recommend this book to a grandparent or a grandchild (in the near future) with no reservations. The Bible is clear that "out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh" (Matthew 12:34) and I appreciate this aspect of the book. This is not to say that this book is not hard-hitting and full of strong challenges!
I do have one disagreement with the author about life philosophy. Actually, it was surprising that he included this tidbit. In the third section entitled "Never Meaningful Enough," he states the following:
"No Matter What You Believe In, Believe in Something"
In my opinion, that mantra is much of the crazy philosophy being taught in much of public education today. And to read this from a Navy Seal surprised me. Why? He has fought against some radicals that actually REALLY believe in something. Something so much they are willing to blow themselves (and many others) up for. So, no, I disagree with that philosophy. It is key that a person believes the RIGHT things to believe in.
Apart from that one item, the author challenged me re: life principles throughout the entire read. Toward the end of the book, there were three principles the author seeks to live by that resonated with me. They are as follows:
1) Be intrusive in people's lives
2) Be a do-er rather than a be-er
3) Push to have real impact on the people's lives around you
As Hayes concluded his thoughts, there were several anecdotes that really got to me. Without giving them away, one of them brought me to literal tears while the other one had me saying, "No way! He's talking about that Dan?!"
I recommend this book to others and most likely will be giving some copies away myself.
Here are some excerpts I found inspiring:
"We are who we are at our worst. That's how you measure someone's character: you see how they respond not in the 99.9 percent of life when they're comfortable, but in the 0.1 percent when they're not...Seeing how someone acts when they're truly stressed in some way is a far better indicator of character. Some people think that those hard moments give them a good excuse to deviate from the highest moral and ethical standard, to mistreat others, to speak poorly about colleagues or friends, or to otherwise act illogically. Nothing could be further from the truth. When things are genuinely difficult - physically, intellectually, or emotionally - that's when you have the greatest opportunity to prove to others (and to yourself) what you are made of."
"However you get there, don't let your emotions control you. Do what makes the situation better, not necessarily what makes you feel better...emotions help us at times, allowing us to act with compassion and warmth, but during difficult situations, we need to put our emotions aside and approach our decisions in a clear-sighted, rational way."
"We need to remember that calm breeds calm."
"Being humble enough to admit what you don't know but still confident enough to explain where you can add value is a balance that is often hard to strike...our job in any room is to find the best answer for the problem we're working on, no matter whose answer it is."
"True excellence means accepting blame even more quickly than we take credit, and sharing that credit with everyone around us."
"Confidence and humility are not different points on the same line. They are entirely different axes and states of mind. You can be confident that you have something to contribute, and at the same time recognize that you're not the only one who has value to add."
"Do the hard things, get comfortable with discomfort, orient yourself in the service of others, and live a life of honesty and integrity."
"The higher up you are in an organization, the more you need to understand that it's not your job to make the best decision - your job is to ensure the best decision gets made."
"If we never fail, we're clearly not pushing ourselves hard enough."
"The tone of an organization starts with the leader. The tone of any team, of any size, starts with the leader - so if you are the leader, you need to be especially conscious of what tone you set."
"The best leaders don't need credit, and aren't afraid to accept blame."
"Real leaders know that any one person's success is their success. Real leaders are happy when they're able to step aside and put others in a position to receive credit. Real leaders just need their people and their organization to win."
"People who are insecure in their role don't want to work with people better than themselves, don't want to delegate tasks to others who might actually do them well, and aren't putting the needs of the team first."
"The only reasons not to hire someone better than you center around discomfort and fear."
"We have to be willing to intrude, to ask the hard questions and have the hard conversations - or we're not really making a difference...small talk is easy, but getting someone to be vulnerable, emotional, and honest can be hard. And yet without those deeper conversations, we can never really get to know each other."
February 13, 2021
“Never Enough” by Mike Hayes is a great read for those seeking good motivational books. Applying the lessons learned from his time in the SEALs, he offers readers great advice and tips to apply in career and family life.
January 27, 2021
4.5 stars
Thanks to Bookish-First and the Publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review!
This book takes on a whole new meaning of never enough. It’s not about perfection or never feeling accomplished, it’s about understanding that whatever you are striving for, you can always grow in your ability. It’s also about understanding what motivates us and how we can align ourselves to achieve our goals. This book is about helping us to never give up on what matters most to us. To feel we still haven’t done enough.
It’s amazing how he relates a situation or experience that is high stakes, like choosing to kill someone or not, to something that we all relate to, to take action or not, even in simple things. I also appreciate the range of people that can benefit from the lessons in this book. No matter what path you’ve taken in life, this book is made to benefit you in whatever you have chosen.
For a non-fiction, this book is highly engaging. It’s a page turner, which is rare for a book like this. The stories and experiences in the book are captivating and moving. Even if you’re not into motivational books like this, the stories are worth reading the book.
The writing style is amazing. The way the author talks directly to us is unique and also perfect for the type of book this is. The way the author gets across his point is profound and makes us think. He asks us questions so that we can contemplate what he is saying. The logic behind his reasonings was very well expressed and it was easy for us to understand what he wanted us to take away from what he was saying.
The organization of the book is broken down into different sections of larger sections, and single ideas of larger ideas. There are 3 sections, each broken down into 3 chapter, and each chapter is broken down into subheadings. It keeps us focused on a specific aspect and allows us to mentally get organized. It also allows for a deeper dive into individual lessons. It’s clear that this structure was though through and it payed off. This allowed the book to be strategic and not a crazy mess of information.
I like the emphasis on not just being better for others but being better for ourselves. To prove to ourselves that we are more than we think. There are so many lessons that can be taken away from this book. I fully recommend that you discover them for yourself.
Thanks to Bookish-First and the Publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review!
This book takes on a whole new meaning of never enough. It’s not about perfection or never feeling accomplished, it’s about understanding that whatever you are striving for, you can always grow in your ability. It’s also about understanding what motivates us and how we can align ourselves to achieve our goals. This book is about helping us to never give up on what matters most to us. To feel we still haven’t done enough.
It’s amazing how he relates a situation or experience that is high stakes, like choosing to kill someone or not, to something that we all relate to, to take action or not, even in simple things. I also appreciate the range of people that can benefit from the lessons in this book. No matter what path you’ve taken in life, this book is made to benefit you in whatever you have chosen.
For a non-fiction, this book is highly engaging. It’s a page turner, which is rare for a book like this. The stories and experiences in the book are captivating and moving. Even if you’re not into motivational books like this, the stories are worth reading the book.
The writing style is amazing. The way the author talks directly to us is unique and also perfect for the type of book this is. The way the author gets across his point is profound and makes us think. He asks us questions so that we can contemplate what he is saying. The logic behind his reasonings was very well expressed and it was easy for us to understand what he wanted us to take away from what he was saying.
The organization of the book is broken down into different sections of larger sections, and single ideas of larger ideas. There are 3 sections, each broken down into 3 chapter, and each chapter is broken down into subheadings. It keeps us focused on a specific aspect and allows us to mentally get organized. It also allows for a deeper dive into individual lessons. It’s clear that this structure was though through and it payed off. This allowed the book to be strategic and not a crazy mess of information.
I like the emphasis on not just being better for others but being better for ourselves. To prove to ourselves that we are more than we think. There are so many lessons that can be taken away from this book. I fully recommend that you discover them for yourself.
February 26, 2021
This was my 4th or 5th book I have read that written by a military personnel and I have really enjoyed them all. I have such respect for military men and women who sacrifice their lives to allow us to live ours. Their family members also deserve our respect as they are the ones who have to worry while their loved ones are away or grieve in their loss.
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This book detailed some important lessons learned by the author during his time in the Navy. Each section of the book focus on a different strategy. The author will start by telling a story from his experience in the Navy and then show how it relates to everyday business situations.
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There was so much I took out of this book and I highly recommend it if you are a manager or work in a team. I learned some great tips from this book that I will definitely be implementing in my everyday life. This book resonated with me as a workplace team can be similar to a military team (obviously without the consequences). They have to make quick informed decisions that can have a major impact. This happens similarly in the workplace and you need to make sure your team is properly motivated, knows their roles and follows a process in order to execute a plan.
.
This book detailed some important lessons learned by the author during his time in the Navy. Each section of the book focus on a different strategy. The author will start by telling a story from his experience in the Navy and then show how it relates to everyday business situations.
.
There was so much I took out of this book and I highly recommend it if you are a manager or work in a team. I learned some great tips from this book that I will definitely be implementing in my everyday life. This book resonated with me as a workplace team can be similar to a military team (obviously without the consequences). They have to make quick informed decisions that can have a major impact. This happens similarly in the workplace and you need to make sure your team is properly motivated, knows their roles and follows a process in order to execute a plan.
February 2, 2021
When I read the first look of this book I thought, “Wow! This sounds really interesting, and I would like to know more about Mike’s life!” I read the blurb and also saw it was listed as biographies and memoirs. So I figured it was going to mainly focus on Mike’s career as a SEAL.
WRONG! This book was a complete disappointment! I do NOT read self help books or motivational books. Sure, this world needs more positivity. However, when you pick a book up thinking it is biographical or a memoir, and are tricked I don’t feel that is quite right.
With that said, I won’t be sharing this poor review across multiple platforms. I’m sure the book may be great if you are in a rough spot, and trying to improve on yourself. Nonetheless, it was not branded as such, and I felt duped into reading a book I was not interested in.
I will only give Never Enough by Mike Hayes one star out of five. The blurb is absolutely misleading, the content is not as expected, and the genre category is incorrect. Also, the writing was simply alright. It was not very eloquent, and very simplex. It felt like reading a textbook. I will not be recommending this book to others.
WRONG! This book was a complete disappointment! I do NOT read self help books or motivational books. Sure, this world needs more positivity. However, when you pick a book up thinking it is biographical or a memoir, and are tricked I don’t feel that is quite right.
With that said, I won’t be sharing this poor review across multiple platforms. I’m sure the book may be great if you are in a rough spot, and trying to improve on yourself. Nonetheless, it was not branded as such, and I felt duped into reading a book I was not interested in.
I will only give Never Enough by Mike Hayes one star out of five. The blurb is absolutely misleading, the content is not as expected, and the genre category is incorrect. Also, the writing was simply alright. It was not very eloquent, and very simplex. It felt like reading a textbook. I will not be recommending this book to others.
May 31, 2021
This is a great book. Most of the time when it comes to books on life and leadership you can get the gist in about one chapter. And then the rest of the books is rehashing and fillet . Not so with Mike Hayes. His book is full of lessons on life and leadership that apply to both civilians and SEALS alike. Interspersed with real stories and teachable moments from his career, he reminds us about what is important in life and how to live one full of purpose. . Few are going to have the experiences he has had, but everyone can benefit from reading this book.
April 23, 2021
Love the book has he written any other books I would love to read more by him.
September 17, 2021
Lettlest og mange eksempler konkrete lederskapssituasjoner som forfatteren reflekterer godt rundt.
Anbefales til troppsnivå, eller for alle som en intro til den type lesing.
Anbefales til troppsnivå, eller for alle som en intro til den type lesing.
July 2, 2025
Great read on leadership and lessons to apply to daily life.
February 14, 2021
It’s refreshing to read from someone who embodies the same principles and values you have. I always know I can grow more, evolve more, be better, and I loved reading about Mike’s past and his experiences and how those values have played out over his life. We can all learn something from him!
January 9, 2021
I really enjoyed reading this story of leadership stressing excellence, agility, and meaning. I especially liked the section on meaning. I recommend this book to anyone who wants to make a difference in other people's lives and the world. The stories of heroes and of tough decisions are inspiring. Mike Hayes has diverse experiences in the military as a SEAL, as a White House Fellow, and in private sector business. There is something for everyone.
I did receive this copy from the publisher but this is my opinion. My husband will be reading and enjoying this book as well. I keep reading him bits and pieces. He even had me tag a couple of sections for him to use with his team (He is a VP of Finance.)
I did receive this copy from the publisher but this is my opinion. My husband will be reading and enjoying this book as well. I keep reading him bits and pieces. He even had me tag a couple of sections for him to use with his team (He is a VP of Finance.)
January 7, 2021
The Good
Already, it has made me come at certain situations differently.
My favorite chapter was when it got to meaning because it hit me the most.
Ideas found interesting=
Being committed to old traditions is a negative when it is going against what would get the best results.
Creating a environment where the “lowest” member can do the job of the “highest” member.
Is the punishment being dulled out about ego instead of creating room for actual change?
The Bad
Repetitive- many points felt like they were getting repeated.
Are the ideals revolutionary enough? Are the ideals explained thoroughly enough? Is there enough depth given to some of the ideals? Is it full of right answers and not messy enough?
Things got a bit (a lot) ugh when it got into some moments about military work done on Afghanistan…
The Meh
It is very military centric- that is not my bag generally.
Is promoting big business>self. Most of Never Enough is ideals is based around the military so it is understandable why this is focused the way it is in terms of collective over individual.
Good= ideally wise it is something that needs to implemented more the collective working to benefit the collective. In general pushing for the betterment of everyone is a good sentiment.
Bad= this ideal of family/community/etc over individual does not work because businesses care for the money and select few/one over everyone while putting façade of being for everyone.
Putting logic over emotion.
Good= there is this aspect of emotion getting in the way of handling issues.
Bad= makes sense for a business/military because there is a bottom line sacrifice aspect to both that is messy. One of my thoughts reading this is there is a emotion crisis so to speak- we are pushed constantly to move like robots without addressing our emotional needs.
Choosing the hard path= this turned me off at first because I think it can feed into to this bad ideology that if you are not practically taking yourself out to overachieve so that your life as a being can be seen as meaningful that your life is without meaningless. Many people do not work hard their hardest, put their emotional health in jeopardy, or put collectives/big business over themselves because they are seen as disposable.
Self-help can feel braggy? Maybe this connects to the it is not messy enough thing.
I received this from Celadon Books in exchange for my review
Already, it has made me come at certain situations differently.
My favorite chapter was when it got to meaning because it hit me the most.
Ideas found interesting=
Being committed to old traditions is a negative when it is going against what would get the best results.
Creating a environment where the “lowest” member can do the job of the “highest” member.
Is the punishment being dulled out about ego instead of creating room for actual change?
The Bad
Repetitive- many points felt like they were getting repeated.
Are the ideals revolutionary enough? Are the ideals explained thoroughly enough? Is there enough depth given to some of the ideals? Is it full of right answers and not messy enough?
Things got a bit (a lot) ugh when it got into some moments about military work done on Afghanistan…
The Meh
It is very military centric- that is not my bag generally.
Is promoting big business>self. Most of Never Enough is ideals is based around the military so it is understandable why this is focused the way it is in terms of collective over individual.
Good= ideally wise it is something that needs to implemented more the collective working to benefit the collective. In general pushing for the betterment of everyone is a good sentiment.
Bad= this ideal of family/community/etc over individual does not work because businesses care for the money and select few/one over everyone while putting façade of being for everyone.
Putting logic over emotion.
Good= there is this aspect of emotion getting in the way of handling issues.
Bad= makes sense for a business/military because there is a bottom line sacrifice aspect to both that is messy. One of my thoughts reading this is there is a emotion crisis so to speak- we are pushed constantly to move like robots without addressing our emotional needs.
Choosing the hard path= this turned me off at first because I think it can feed into to this bad ideology that if you are not practically taking yourself out to overachieve so that your life as a being can be seen as meaningful that your life is without meaningless. Many people do not work hard their hardest, put their emotional health in jeopardy, or put collectives/big business over themselves because they are seen as disposable.
Self-help can feel braggy? Maybe this connects to the it is not messy enough thing.
I received this from Celadon Books in exchange for my review
January 11, 2021
Thank you, Bookishfirst and Celadon Books for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Every wondered what it takes to get into one of the toughest branches in the military? This book has answered that question and so many more. And this story is more than just his experiences during his life fulfilling careers, but he gives us lessons he has learned from these experiences and how any of us, even us regular people, can learn to be better.
Some of my favorite things about this book was the stories he shares of his career as a SEAL. That is what drew me to this book in the first place. I don’t normally read books like this but from the very beginning I knew this would be the exception. Not only the mind boggling, life changing, stories he shares but the way he executed sharing them. I thought that him being a SEAL would make this book hard to understand and to enjoy because I have nothing in common with him, but he wrote in a way that anyone can follow and learn from. He not only has wonderful skills in leadership but can write so well. Every word flowed together, and it was truly pleasing to read his words.
I wouldn’t say this book it exactly a memoir but more of lessons you can learn. Every chapter is a new lesson to learn and each chapter is broken down into even more subtopics that help to achieve the main goal. At first, I thought that he had un-realistic expectations to tell people that they will never be enough. I thought his view would be a person has to be tough, show no weakness, work until they die, push and push until you wither away, but that was far from the truth. Yes, this book it called never enough and to some extent he is saying you are never enough, but not in the way I first thought. He explained that being Never Enough doesn’t mean we don’t have our limits, because all of us do and each of them are different, but instead explains that we can always improve our skills, we can always learn more, and try to take our mistakes we have made and learn from them. He teaches that we need to think of others before ourselves, and how we should think of ourselves and other, that even if in a position of power, we need to be flexible to let others take the lead too. I could truly go on and on with the lessons to be gleamed from this book. And all of these lessons have personal experiences to back them up. Some are happy, some are sad, but they all are inspiring.
He has had the life experiences that 10 people combined couldn’t have in their whole lives for his half a life he has liven so far. I do recommend this book, because I think everyone can learn something, and the stories of his life are truly eye opening. I was hooked from page one and engaged the whole time. A true work of art, and well deserved.
Every wondered what it takes to get into one of the toughest branches in the military? This book has answered that question and so many more. And this story is more than just his experiences during his life fulfilling careers, but he gives us lessons he has learned from these experiences and how any of us, even us regular people, can learn to be better.
Some of my favorite things about this book was the stories he shares of his career as a SEAL. That is what drew me to this book in the first place. I don’t normally read books like this but from the very beginning I knew this would be the exception. Not only the mind boggling, life changing, stories he shares but the way he executed sharing them. I thought that him being a SEAL would make this book hard to understand and to enjoy because I have nothing in common with him, but he wrote in a way that anyone can follow and learn from. He not only has wonderful skills in leadership but can write so well. Every word flowed together, and it was truly pleasing to read his words.
I wouldn’t say this book it exactly a memoir but more of lessons you can learn. Every chapter is a new lesson to learn and each chapter is broken down into even more subtopics that help to achieve the main goal. At first, I thought that he had un-realistic expectations to tell people that they will never be enough. I thought his view would be a person has to be tough, show no weakness, work until they die, push and push until you wither away, but that was far from the truth. Yes, this book it called never enough and to some extent he is saying you are never enough, but not in the way I first thought. He explained that being Never Enough doesn’t mean we don’t have our limits, because all of us do and each of them are different, but instead explains that we can always improve our skills, we can always learn more, and try to take our mistakes we have made and learn from them. He teaches that we need to think of others before ourselves, and how we should think of ourselves and other, that even if in a position of power, we need to be flexible to let others take the lead too. I could truly go on and on with the lessons to be gleamed from this book. And all of these lessons have personal experiences to back them up. Some are happy, some are sad, but they all are inspiring.
He has had the life experiences that 10 people combined couldn’t have in their whole lives for his half a life he has liven so far. I do recommend this book, because I think everyone can learn something, and the stories of his life are truly eye opening. I was hooked from page one and engaged the whole time. A true work of art, and well deserved.
January 13, 2021
First I would like to say a HUGE thank you to CELADON books , Bookishfirst.com (for holding the raffle) and Mike Hayes for the ARC proof of this book.
On bookishfirst this is labeled as a biography/memoir - which is correct - it is however also a motivating Self Help piece of art , bookshelf staple.
THIS BOOK !
When I read the first few pages on bookishfirst to write my first review I was under the impression from what I read that these were war stories - which they are - but boy was I wrong . This is much more than a book about A mans service as a SEAL , its an uplifting lesson giver . It Teaches you about what Mike values are . But not just that how he has learned to be so mentally strong and physically capable awhile serving our county . I learned so much not only about Mike but about myself while reading this book . I learned a lot of valuable lessons , and words to help me do better ( I was about to say be , but dont be a Be-er be a Do-er ). This book made me reflect on my own life while learning a glimpse of what SEAL life was like . This book is SUPER motivational, Its moving . This book will make you Reflect on life , it will make you cry , laugh , and learn . It was super easy and face paced read , I did NOT want to put this down ; one I will re-read over and over again for a lifetime !
My favorite things from this book .
"we can never be present enough , purposeful enough and thoughtful enough . Act with intent"
"Don't be afraid to aim high and miss, but to aim low and hit"
"moving to a hard path and failing -but learning - is still a better outcome than doing what's easy"
"challenge yourself and do not limit your ambition"
"the day you stop improving is the day you stop being excellent"
"realize there is more growth ahead"
"all we have on every topic is varied levels of ignorance . No one has it all figured out"
"everyone is motivated by different things"
the list goes on ....
To sum it up , GO BUY THIS BOOK . If you are interested in moments in this mans life as a SEAL , what it takes , what it took , what he conquered , grew , learned , failed , succeeded - How he built Strong relationships with peers and overall keep striving to be his best , BUY THIS BOOK . If you need an extra pick me up and to be reminded that life is worth living and that you are worth it and how to daily remind yourself of that , Read this book . If you are stuck in a rut -Or just need a good read this book is for you .
Thank you again CELADON books for the ARC
On bookishfirst this is labeled as a biography/memoir - which is correct - it is however also a motivating Self Help piece of art , bookshelf staple.
THIS BOOK !
When I read the first few pages on bookishfirst to write my first review I was under the impression from what I read that these were war stories - which they are - but boy was I wrong . This is much more than a book about A mans service as a SEAL , its an uplifting lesson giver . It Teaches you about what Mike values are . But not just that how he has learned to be so mentally strong and physically capable awhile serving our county . I learned so much not only about Mike but about myself while reading this book . I learned a lot of valuable lessons , and words to help me do better ( I was about to say be , but dont be a Be-er be a Do-er ). This book made me reflect on my own life while learning a glimpse of what SEAL life was like . This book is SUPER motivational, Its moving . This book will make you Reflect on life , it will make you cry , laugh , and learn . It was super easy and face paced read , I did NOT want to put this down ; one I will re-read over and over again for a lifetime !
My favorite things from this book .
"we can never be present enough , purposeful enough and thoughtful enough . Act with intent"
"Don't be afraid to aim high and miss, but to aim low and hit"
"moving to a hard path and failing -but learning - is still a better outcome than doing what's easy"
"challenge yourself and do not limit your ambition"
"the day you stop improving is the day you stop being excellent"
"realize there is more growth ahead"
"all we have on every topic is varied levels of ignorance . No one has it all figured out"
"everyone is motivated by different things"
the list goes on ....
To sum it up , GO BUY THIS BOOK . If you are interested in moments in this mans life as a SEAL , what it takes , what it took , what he conquered , grew , learned , failed , succeeded - How he built Strong relationships with peers and overall keep striving to be his best , BUY THIS BOOK . If you need an extra pick me up and to be reminded that life is worth living and that you are worth it and how to daily remind yourself of that , Read this book . If you are stuck in a rut -Or just need a good read this book is for you .
Thank you again CELADON books for the ARC
November 12, 2025
Mike Hayes’ “Never Enough: A Navy SEAL Commander on Living a Life of Excellence, Agility, and Meaning” is not just a memoir—it’s a blueprint for living with purpose, courage, and humility. Drawing from the crucible of combat and the quiet tests of leadership, Hayes distills lessons earned through decades of elite military service and translates them into guidance every reader can apply, whether in business, public service, or personal growth. What makes “Never Enough” remarkable is Hayes’ ability to bridge worlds: the precision of a military operator, the empathy of a servant leader, and the curiosity of a lifelong learner. His narrative moves from high-stakes missions in Iraq and Afghanistan to reflective moments navigating ethical choices and personal transformation. Each story becomes a lesson in adaptability—on how to make sound decisions under pressure and align one’s actions with deeply held values. The book’s central message—that excellence is not a destination but a deliberate, daily pursuit—resonates well beyond the battlefield. Hayes’s concept of agility, mental toughness, and ethical grounding feels deeply relevant in an age of distraction and uncertainty. His words invite readers to redefine success, not as personal achievement, but as a life of contribution, integrity, and continuous improvement. Beyond the tactical wisdom, “Never Enough” radiates authenticity. Hayes doesn’t glorify war or indulge in heroism; instead, he honors the responsibility that comes with leadership and sacrifice. His humility disarms, his candor inspires, and his gratitude uplifts. Few books so effectively blend mission-driven intensity with emotional intelligence. In the end, “Never Enough” is a rallying call to live deliberately—to become bolder, kinder, and more accountable to something greater than ourselves. Mike Hayes reminds us that the pursuit of excellence is infinite, and that the true measure of a life lies not in what we achieve, but in how we serve.
February 19, 2021
Before I give my review, I would like to say that I did get this book for free though Bookish first. I recommend this sight for all kinds of book. It really cost nothing to get a free book. This is what I really think of the book. I would have gladly payed for this book, and to be honest, I will probably be gifting copies of this to people I know. This is a copy and past of my review on their web-sight.
I wish I could have been able to join the SEALs but I know that even if I didn't have heart problem I don't think I could have. This book does tell about what it's like to be in the SEAL but also how to have a mindset of one. It goes over simple ways everyone can have that push, the drive to keep going, getting better while being humble and taking care of our health. I believe anyone can read this and learn to be better in whatever they want. I could even see people who don't know what they want to do with there lives yet. My book is full of highlights of things that really stuck out to me or I feel could really help me or others. He also follows these lessons with stories he lived to show how he learned them or how the lesson effected him. It is an over all inspiring story about brave men and women both in the SEAL and not. We can all be better but we will never be perfect. That is why we will never ne enough. But that's the fun of the challenge right? If you don't like a challenge then this book is still good as a guide or some good advise.
I wish I could have been able to join the SEALs but I know that even if I didn't have heart problem I don't think I could have. This book does tell about what it's like to be in the SEAL but also how to have a mindset of one. It goes over simple ways everyone can have that push, the drive to keep going, getting better while being humble and taking care of our health. I believe anyone can read this and learn to be better in whatever they want. I could even see people who don't know what they want to do with there lives yet. My book is full of highlights of things that really stuck out to me or I feel could really help me or others. He also follows these lessons with stories he lived to show how he learned them or how the lesson effected him. It is an over all inspiring story about brave men and women both in the SEAL and not. We can all be better but we will never be perfect. That is why we will never ne enough. But that's the fun of the challenge right? If you don't like a challenge then this book is still good as a guide or some good advise.
I wish I could have been able to join the SEALs but I know that even if I didn't have heart problem I don't think I could have. This book does tell about what it's like to be in the SEAL but also how to have a mindset of one. It goes over simple ways everyone can have that push, the drive to keep going, getting better while being humble and taking care of our health. I believe anyone can read this and learn to be better in whatever they want. I could even see people who don't know what they want to do with there lives yet. My book is full of highlights of things that really stuck out to me or I feel could really help me or others. He also follows these lessons with stories he lived to show how he learned them or how the lesson effected him. It is an over all inspiring story about brave men and women both in the SEAL and not. We can all be better but we will never be perfect. That is why we will never ne enough. But that's the fun of the challenge right? If you don't like a challenge then this book is still good as a guide or some good advise.
I wish I could have been able to join the SEALs but I know that even if I didn't have heart problem I don't think I could have. This book does tell about what it's like to be in the SEAL but also how to have a mindset of one. It goes over simple ways everyone can have that push, the drive to keep going, getting better while being humble and taking care of our health. I believe anyone can read this and learn to be better in whatever they want. I could even see people who don't know what they want to do with there lives yet. My book is full of highlights of things that really stuck out to me or I feel could really help me or others. He also follows these lessons with stories he lived to show how he learned them or how the lesson effected him. It is an over all inspiring story about brave men and women both in the SEAL and not. We can all be better but we will never be perfect. That is why we will never ne enough. But that's the fun of the challenge right? If you don't like a challenge then this book is still good as a guide or some good advise.
January 15, 2023
If you ever want to lead a team, you have to read this book! Navy SEAL Commander Mike Hayes lays out the foundation of how to live a meaningful life through countless stories of his time in action. There is always room to be better, contribute more, and put others first.
A few favorite quotes:
• “We get better…by reflecting on what we’ve done and listening to the journeys of others.”
• “If you don’t keep learning, whether in success or failure, you don’t grow. And if you don’t grow, you’ll never be able to tackle those harder hills.”
• “We only learn that we can do more than we realize by actually doing the things that scare us or make us miserable. You’ll never grow if you just stay comfortable.”
• “if you’re not standing up for what’s right, how can you expect anyone else to?”
• “The higher you are in an organization, the more you need to understand that it’s your job to make the best decision—your job is to ensure the best decision gets made.”
• “Perception is what the world thinks of you, but substance is what you truly have inside.”
• “The tone of an organization starts with the leader. The tone of any team, of any size, starts with the leader—so if you are the leader, you need to be especially conscious of that time you set.”
• “…we can’t plan our lives ten steps ahead. We can’t know how things will unfold. We can only make the right move given what we know at that moment.”
• “Real networking comes from investing energy in other people, giving more than taking, without thinking about whether you’ll ever get paid back.”
• “We can all do our part, and understand that we are never finished. There is always more we can do for others, for ourselves, and for the world. There is Never Enough.”
A few favorite quotes:
• “We get better…by reflecting on what we’ve done and listening to the journeys of others.”
• “If you don’t keep learning, whether in success or failure, you don’t grow. And if you don’t grow, you’ll never be able to tackle those harder hills.”
• “We only learn that we can do more than we realize by actually doing the things that scare us or make us miserable. You’ll never grow if you just stay comfortable.”
• “if you’re not standing up for what’s right, how can you expect anyone else to?”
• “The higher you are in an organization, the more you need to understand that it’s your job to make the best decision—your job is to ensure the best decision gets made.”
• “Perception is what the world thinks of you, but substance is what you truly have inside.”
• “The tone of an organization starts with the leader. The tone of any team, of any size, starts with the leader—so if you are the leader, you need to be especially conscious of that time you set.”
• “…we can’t plan our lives ten steps ahead. We can’t know how things will unfold. We can only make the right move given what we know at that moment.”
• “Real networking comes from investing energy in other people, giving more than taking, without thinking about whether you’ll ever get paid back.”
• “We can all do our part, and understand that we are never finished. There is always more we can do for others, for ourselves, and for the world. There is Never Enough.”
December 27, 2020
Every leader or anyone interested in leadership should read this and learn.
Having a career as a Navy SEAL, working in the White House during that time, the challenges of wartime service in some of the most dangerous places, provides the background for excellent leadership development.
Successful leadership in a changing world mean that you can never be satisfied with who you are or what you know. It is never enough! There is always room for improvement or looking for a new or better way to accomplish a task.
Great leadership is not just about being a great leader but developing others and their skill whether you are their superior or subordinate. The key is how you treat people, encouraging them to be better while holding them accountable for their actions and the impact it has on others. Working for the greater good of the community is the key.
Using simple outlines of methods with life stories as illustrations there is a good balance to learn from someone who has been a successful leader in the military, business and government.
There is the challenge to be the best while putting the wellbeing of others before yourself. That helps drive others to be the best they can be as well.
This is not only a great read for leaders but for those that feel that they want to be better at life. After all we are all called to be a leader, often without a title that goes with it. That lesson comes through clear here as well.
I received an advance copy of this from the publisher for review.
Having a career as a Navy SEAL, working in the White House during that time, the challenges of wartime service in some of the most dangerous places, provides the background for excellent leadership development.
Successful leadership in a changing world mean that you can never be satisfied with who you are or what you know. It is never enough! There is always room for improvement or looking for a new or better way to accomplish a task.
Great leadership is not just about being a great leader but developing others and their skill whether you are their superior or subordinate. The key is how you treat people, encouraging them to be better while holding them accountable for their actions and the impact it has on others. Working for the greater good of the community is the key.
Using simple outlines of methods with life stories as illustrations there is a good balance to learn from someone who has been a successful leader in the military, business and government.
There is the challenge to be the best while putting the wellbeing of others before yourself. That helps drive others to be the best they can be as well.
This is not only a great read for leaders but for those that feel that they want to be better at life. After all we are all called to be a leader, often without a title that goes with it. That lesson comes through clear here as well.
I received an advance copy of this from the publisher for review.
January 11, 2021
I have read a lot of books about leadership, many be ex-military service members. None of them are as good as Never Enough. Mike Hayes has written what should be the Bible of leadership. His ideas are clear and concise and he provides anecdotal proof that his methods work.
While this book is ostensibly about leadership, it's actually about living your life to the fullest in service of others. I took so many things from this book. It not only provides a framework for leadership, it provides a framework for life. His background as a SEAL provides entertaining, often sad, examples of his philosophy-like holding a Captain's Mast in the field for a SEAL who did something wrong that could have, but didn't, cost lives. Hayes gave the sailor the option to choose his punishment. He didn't yell and demean, he had a conversation that made that man a better Seal and a better person. And isn't that what leadership is all about? Make people better. We have gotten so used to a culture of "winning" and that leaders yell and demean to get what they want, we sometimes forget that people are people and they need some humanity as well.
As I said, you do not have to be in a position of authority of leadership to take strong lessons from this book. This book will change how I deal with my students and how I deal with others, in my professional and personal lives.
Thanks to bookishfirst and celadon books for the advance copy. I received no compensation in exchange for this review and the opinions expressed herein are mine alone.
While this book is ostensibly about leadership, it's actually about living your life to the fullest in service of others. I took so many things from this book. It not only provides a framework for leadership, it provides a framework for life. His background as a SEAL provides entertaining, often sad, examples of his philosophy-like holding a Captain's Mast in the field for a SEAL who did something wrong that could have, but didn't, cost lives. Hayes gave the sailor the option to choose his punishment. He didn't yell and demean, he had a conversation that made that man a better Seal and a better person. And isn't that what leadership is all about? Make people better. We have gotten so used to a culture of "winning" and that leaders yell and demean to get what they want, we sometimes forget that people are people and they need some humanity as well.
As I said, you do not have to be in a position of authority of leadership to take strong lessons from this book. This book will change how I deal with my students and how I deal with others, in my professional and personal lives.
Thanks to bookishfirst and celadon books for the advance copy. I received no compensation in exchange for this review and the opinions expressed herein are mine alone.
February 28, 2021
I enjoyed this book at times. Reading about Mike’s SEAL training moments gave a nice inside look into an area I did not know a lot about.
The examples of the SEAL training all I can say is wow. I mean if he can swim in cold water for hours on end you can ask for a raise at work. So it’s a can-do attitude that’s for sure.
I do wish he would have mentioned other famous former SEALS and not just Dan Crenshaw.
I did have two issues with this book. On page 189/190 it’s mention that both Chris and Bo were injured. We the reader are told what happened to Chris but never Bo. I don’t know if this was an over site but just something I wanted to point out.
Now on page 134, Mike criticizes a soldier for smuggling his dog out of a combat zone. It’s stated that the soldier thought of himself instead of the team. While that maybe true the other teachable moment is missing from this example. Either to make sure that a soldier can easily and legally get their beloved dogs (or cats) out so they don’t have to try and smuggled them out. Or you should have pushed that the military to ease up on that rule. These men and women put their life on the line. If the soldier wants something as simple as his or her dog let them. If that helps them survive so be it.
Other than that it was an interesting read.
https://theworldisabookandiamitsreade...
The examples of the SEAL training all I can say is wow. I mean if he can swim in cold water for hours on end you can ask for a raise at work. So it’s a can-do attitude that’s for sure.
I do wish he would have mentioned other famous former SEALS and not just Dan Crenshaw.
I did have two issues with this book. On page 189/190 it’s mention that both Chris and Bo were injured. We the reader are told what happened to Chris but never Bo. I don’t know if this was an over site but just something I wanted to point out.
Now on page 134, Mike criticizes a soldier for smuggling his dog out of a combat zone. It’s stated that the soldier thought of himself instead of the team. While that maybe true the other teachable moment is missing from this example. Either to make sure that a soldier can easily and legally get their beloved dogs (or cats) out so they don’t have to try and smuggled them out. Or you should have pushed that the military to ease up on that rule. These men and women put their life on the line. If the soldier wants something as simple as his or her dog let them. If that helps them survive so be it.
Other than that it was an interesting read.
https://theworldisabookandiamitsreade...
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February 6, 2021 Many thanks to Celadon for the ARC of this book!
The title of Never Enough did not stir optimism in me, but Hayes managed to give that phrase an optimistic bent. He uses "Never Enough" not as an admonition but as a matter of awareness that a person can always strive more.
One of the more common foibles of the self-help/memoir genre tends to be cookie cutter recommendations based on a limited scope with a sprinkling of cliché and over-used tripe advice. Hayes skirts this all by actually providing examples for all of his pithy phrases, and they are examples from his experience in active combat, politics, business, and managing those in active combat. He makes it obvious he knows what he is talking about, but he also pulls no punches in the aspect of 'there is not always one best solution and what worked for me may not work for you'.
I appreciated the realism and consistent emphasis Hayes puts on doing the work and going the extra mile. His focus throughout the book drives home his message of community over self. The SEAL motto of team, teammate, self echoes in each and every one of his chapters.
Overall, this was an interesting perspective on accomplishing tasks in any field and an added viewpoint I found useful as it varies so greatly from my own.
The title of Never Enough did not stir optimism in me, but Hayes managed to give that phrase an optimistic bent. He uses "Never Enough" not as an admonition but as a matter of awareness that a person can always strive more.
One of the more common foibles of the self-help/memoir genre tends to be cookie cutter recommendations based on a limited scope with a sprinkling of cliché and over-used tripe advice. Hayes skirts this all by actually providing examples for all of his pithy phrases, and they are examples from his experience in active combat, politics, business, and managing those in active combat. He makes it obvious he knows what he is talking about, but he also pulls no punches in the aspect of 'there is not always one best solution and what worked for me may not work for you'.
I appreciated the realism and consistent emphasis Hayes puts on doing the work and going the extra mile. His focus throughout the book drives home his message of community over self. The SEAL motto of team, teammate, self echoes in each and every one of his chapters.
Overall, this was an interesting perspective on accomplishing tasks in any field and an added viewpoint I found useful as it varies so greatly from my own.
February 9, 2021
Never Enough: A Navy Seal Commander on Living a Life of Excellence, Agility, and Meaning is not a typical book I attempt to peruse but I also think it's what made for a nice surprise when I was given the opportunity to read it. I am always intrigued by the books that intimidate me. The title alone had me a little apprehensive. What I discovered was a dynamic book on leadership, taking ownership of our own lives, dealing with every situation as it comes, and incorporating the strength and confidence to make the choices that require a decision. As he title says...living a life of excellence, agility, and meaning. It's an interesting take on self help written as a memoir. I mean who better to give life advice on leadership than a Navy Seal Commander, someone who has faced some pretty dangerous situations and challenges. His training alone is the stuff of nightmares for stagnant people like me that wants to be more and do more in life.
How could I not be inspired by Mike Hayes that has faced all he has faced and done it with such strength and purpose. It's a solid read. I'm glad to have gotten through it.
Thanks to the wonderful people at Celadon and to Author Mike Hayes for my copy of this book. I received. I read. I reviewed this book honestly and voluntarily.
How could I not be inspired by Mike Hayes that has faced all he has faced and done it with such strength and purpose. It's a solid read. I'm glad to have gotten through it.
Thanks to the wonderful people at Celadon and to Author Mike Hayes for my copy of this book. I received. I read. I reviewed this book honestly and voluntarily.
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