It’s great when someone calls you and says, “Hey, Don Mann is looking to do some media. Can I give him your contact info?”. The answer is “of course”. Thanks to Rich Yumul from Gun Owners Radio for reaching out. I called Don and talked with him. I had some time off from work, and it was easy to plan.
I’d heard of Don’s name. A couple of people I knew have been on his TV show, Surviving Mann. It’s a reality competition show involving lots of shooting and physical exercise. I listened to the show with my friends on the drive down to Virginia’s Blue Ridge Mountain area. It was very enjoyable to listen to; it would have been more enjoyable if I could have watched it.
I headed up the mountain to Don’s house. The house faced the Blue Ridge Mountains—a spectacular view! Besides being a SEAL, author of 23 books, and host of some TV shows where he sets the mission, Don is a motivational speaker. This really is a mix of all the things I like. It’s like Jeff Cooper meets Zig Ziglar.
Don was raised in New England and joined the military at a young age. As a young man, he enjoyed working out. He knew he wanted to become a SEAL, but he also knew it would take lots of work to get there. He spent several years training and preparing to get into BUD/S. It also took him a few tries before he was able to succeed.
Not completing BUD/S training allowed him to develop a method of success. Working this way gave him a way to think and achieve his goals. He talks about the macro and micro goals you need to succeed. This worked for his training, but it’s also worked in several other ways.
Don’s overall goal for every day is to do four things. If he can do those, he can improve and get better at everything he does. He emphasizes that anyone can and should do these four things. These things will make you better and make you a better person.
One of his favorite activities is physical training. He really enjoys pushing himself to and beyond his limit. When he wasn’t training the SEALs, he was doing high adventure activities, such as Ironman competitions, climbing Mt. Everest, and just generally pushing his limits. He likes to find out what the limit is and just get to that line, then back off.
When he retired, he was approached to write a book about firearms. Obviously, he is very well-versed in all things gun-related. After writing the book, the editor had to cut it down because it was too much. The result is called The Modern Day Gunfighter, and it’s just over 400 pages.
With all his SEAL experience, he was asked to write a book about being a SEAL, but he couldn’t really talk about what they did. So, he developed a fictional book about life as a SEAL and some potential missions in the future. That went well and became a series of books, each with new characters and a new nemesis.
He was offered a reality show. Don was to train them all and then face all of them in an elimination contest. With contestants in their 20s and 30s, he had to convince the producers it would be better if they did the training, eliminated contestants, and then had a final mission to rescue someone. This is a show called Surviving Mann. Currently, Season 3 is out there for people to watch. He did say that maybe I could come for an All-Stars season, but only to record interviews. Whew! I’d never survive.
This really was a motivational episode. Don has careers writing books, filming TV shows, and as a motivational speaker, too. I get the RSWC is about people in the firearm community, but having someone that is inspiring as Don Mann, it’s truly an honor to have some time with him and get his uplifting stories out for everyone to hear.
Favorite quotes:
- “The SEALs were everything and more than ever I could wish for a lifestyle and a career.”
- “I’d think ‘Today was hard, but it wasn’t nearly as hard as I thought it was going to be’.”
- “It just proved to him that he can do a lot more than he thought he could.”
- “You have to have the mindset and the ability to think real big.”
- “The only way to do it so people don’t get hurt is to make training really easy. But then you go to war, and you’re going to get slaughtered.”
About Riding Shotgun With Charlie
Riding Shotgun With Charlie isn’t about firearms. It is about having an intimate conversation with 2 people talking. You’re the fly on the rearview mirror. Many of the passengers are involved in the firearm community.
This is a more intimate conversation than a phone, radio, or Skype interview. You get to see the passengers. And you’ll see where the road and the conversation take you!
