--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The biggest thing I learned from being in…" description: "\"The biggest thing I learned from being in the special forces is the decision-making process and also the willingness not to give up. You need to have a..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/33c/nirmal-purja-17030_mindset_the-biggest-thing-i-learned-from-being-i_1928016.jpg" --- # The biggest thing I learned from being in the special… ![“The biggest thing I learned from being in the special forces is the decision-making process and also the willingness not to give up. You need to have a certain mindset. I call it a positive mindset.” quote by Nirmal Purja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/33c/nirmal-purja-17030_mindset_the-biggest-thing-i-learned-from-being-i_1928016.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/33c/nirmal-purja-17030_mindset_the-biggest-thing-i-learned-from-being-i_1928016.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/33c/nirmal-purja-17030_mindset_the-biggest-thing-i-learned-from-being-i_1928016.jpg) > “The biggest thing I learned from being in the special forces is the decision-making process and also the willingness not to give up. You need to have a certain mindset. I call it a positive mindset.” [Nirmal Purja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nirmal-purja/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Special forces training teaches decisive action and relentless perseverance, forming a positive mindset essential for overcoming challenges. **In simple terms:** Decision‑making and perseverance create a strong mindset. Key Takeaway Cultivate a resilient, proactive attitude. Themes leadership resilience mindset Mood determined optimistic Type advice motivational When to use this quote - high‑pressure jobs - sports - entrepreneurship - personal setbacks Key Concepts military training psychology Questions to Reflect On - How do you stay positive under pressure? - What habits reinforce perseverance? A Different Perspective Mindset alone may not overcome systemic barriers; support systems matter. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Army](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/army/) [Certain Mindset](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/certain-mindset-992877/) [Mindset](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mindset/) [Mindset Positive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mindset-positive-1272568/) [Positive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/positive/) [Positive mindset](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/positive-mindset/) [Process](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/process/) [Special](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/special/) [Special forces](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/special-forces/) [Up](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/up/) ## Related quotes > [“Replace the word can’t with can. 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I have to believe that I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shreyas-iyer/i-have-to-believe-in-my-process-and-i-know-i-follow-a-certain-pattern/) [Shreyas Iyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shreyas-iyer/) > [People have a certain mindset about me, they know me to be a very serious person as I don't party much nor am I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neha-pendse/people-have-a-certain-mindset-about-me-they-know-me-to-be-a-very/) [Neha Pendse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neha-pendse/) > [By activating an expansive, tolerant, and creative mindset, positive feelings maximize the social, intellectual, and physical benefits that will accrue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-seligman/by-activating-an-expansive-tolerant-and-creative-mindset-positive/) [Martin Seligman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-seligman/) > [At the end of the day, you've got to have a certain mindset to be successful, in anything that you do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francisco-lindor/at-the-end-of-the-day-you-ve-got-to-have-a-certain-mindset-to-be/) [Francisco Lindor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francisco-lindor/) > [I think we speak to a certain mindset, and it's about, you know, inspiring people who are progressive thinkers who want to see change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elaine-welteroth/i-think-we-speak-to-a-certain-mindset-and-it-s-about-you-know/) [Elaine Welteroth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elaine-welteroth/) > [I've heard it for years, if you're very successful you can't run for high office, especially for President. I said, I don't care, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/i-ve-heard-it-for-years-if-you-re-very-successful-you-can-t-run-for/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [It's part of my Special Forces training. You're taught to come up with a solutions, not look for excuses.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nirmal-purja/it-s-part-of-my-special-forces-training-you-re-taught-to-come-up-with/) [Nirmal Purja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nirmal-purja/) > [When I joined the special forces it was never for the money. It was for pure desire to serve in an elite unit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nirmal-purja/when-i-joined-the-special-forces-it-was-never-for-the-money-it-was/) [Nirmal Purja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nirmal-purja/) > [“A positive attitude eventually begets positive experiences. Choose to be happy. Decide you are well or happy instead of unwell or unhappy, and your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-k-papp/a-positive-attitude-eventually-begets-positive-experiences-choose-to/) [James K. Papp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-k-papp/) > [I'm focused on myself and on what I've got to do...I'm just trying to get back on track and keep this positive mindset.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-lincecum/i-m-focused-on-myself-and-on-what-i-ve-got-to-do-i-m-just-trying-to/) [Tim Lincecum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-lincecum/) ## More by Nirmal Purja > [I genuinely feel like, when people climb K2, it's everywhere in the news, everybody covers it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nirmal-purja/i-genuinely-feel-like-when-people-climb-k2-it-s-everywhere-in-the/) [Nirmal Purja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nirmal-purja/) > [When people are in stressful situations, they do shout.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nirmal-purja/when-people-are-in-stressful-situations-they-do-shout/) [Nirmal Purja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nirmal-purja/) > [My father was a Gurkha, as well as my brothers, and I appreciated the attitude I saw coming from them after they joined. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nirmal-purja/my-father-was-a-gurkha-as-well-as-my-brothers-and-i-appreciated-the/) [Nirmal Purja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nirmal-purja/) > [Sherpa were always involved with the setting of the lines, but they never got the platform to tell any story, I think. And so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nirmal-purja/sherpa-were-always-involved-with-the-setting-of-the-lines-but-they/) [Nirmal Purja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nirmal-purja/) > [You definitely need a really decent bomb-proof summit suit, because that's what you wear in these extreme conditions and at extreme altitude.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nirmal-purja/you-definitely-need-a-really-decent-bomb-proof-summit-suit-because/) [Nirmal Purja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nirmal-purja/) > [We all have fear in life. I don't let that fear control me. I control it, manage it, use it as a positive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nirmal-purja/we-all-have-fear-in-life-i-don-t-let-that-fear-control-me-i-control/) [Nirmal Purja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nirmal-purja/) > [The hardest climb for me was Kangchenjunga, at 28,169 feet the world's third-highest mountain. The first thing that made this summit difficult was the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nirmal-purja/the-hardest-climb-for-me-was-kangchenjunga-at-28-169-feet-the-world-s/) [Nirmal Purja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nirmal-purja/) > [Rescuing people from 8,450 meters is way harder than climbing a mountain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nirmal-purja/rescuing-people-from-8-450-meters-is-way-harder-than-climbing-a/) [Nirmal Purja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nirmal-purja/) > [There were no good schools in my village. So my family moved so that my siblings and I would get a better education.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nirmal-purja/there-were-no-good-schools-in-my-village-so-my-family-moved-so-that/) [Nirmal Purja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nirmal-purja/) > [I was head of the Cold Weather Warfare unit within the Special Boat Service. My job was to do extreme climbs, learn about new…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nirmal-purja/i-was-head-of-the-cold-weather-warfare-unit-within-the-special-boat/) [Nirmal Purja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nirmal-purja/) > [I summited four mountains - Kangchenjunga, Makalu, Broad Peak and Gasherbrum I - in one push. I didn't camp anywhere. Just went boom, summit,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nirmal-purja/i-summited-four-mountains-kangchenjunga-makalu-broad-peak-and/) [Nirmal Purja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nirmal-purja/) > [Because of what I did and where I came from, people just assumed I'd climbed every mountain in my country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nirmal-purja/because-of-what-i-did-and-where-i-came-from-people-just-assumed-i-d/) [Nirmal Purja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nirmal-purja/) > [I was born in Nepal, I grew up in the Gurkhas, and I became a man in the SBS.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nirmal-purja/i-was-born-in-nepal-i-grew-up-in-the-gurkhas-and-i-became-a-man-in/) [Nirmal Purja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nirmal-purja/) > [I convinced my wife to let me climb Everest. I emptied my savings and took out a loan so I could afford to make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nirmal-purja/i-convinced-my-wife-to-let-me-climb-everest-i-emptied-my-savings-and/) [Nirmal Purja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nirmal-purja/) > [We used to live in this little house where the whole of the upper floor was used for chickens. It was four days' walk…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nirmal-purja/we-used-to-live-in-this-little-house-where-the-whole-of-the-upper/) [Nirmal Purja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nirmal-purja/) [Explore all 38 Nirmal Purja quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nirmal-purja/) ## More Army quotes > [There are no more worlds to conquer!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-the-great/there-are-no-more-worlds-to-conquer/) [Alexander the Great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-the-great/) > [“In American terms, the accomplishment of Genghis Khan might be understood if the United States, instead of being created by a group of educated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-weatherford/in-american-terms-the-accomplishment-of-genghis-khan-might-be/) [Jack Weatherford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-weatherford/) > [Every army in the history of the world has always had some deserters, usually much greater than we have today, because once again every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryan-hilferty/every-army-in-the-history-of-the-world-has-always-had-some-deserters/) [Bryan Hilferty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryan-hilferty/) > [It is the rule in war, if our forces are ten to the enemy's one, to surround him; if five to one, to attack…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/it-is-the-rule-in-war-if-our-forces-are-ten-to-the-enemy-s-one-to/) [Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/) > [The surprise of an army is now next to an impossibility. ... Prearranged surprises are rare and difficult because in order to plan one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-henri-jomini/the-surprise-of-an-army-is-now-next-to-an-impossibility-prearranged/) [Antoine-Henri Jomini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-henri-jomini/) > [I just read an article about how young American males feel uncomfortable appearing naked in front of each other in locker rooms. That was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-ivory/i-just-read-an-article-about-how-young-american-males-feel/) [James Ivory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-ivory/) > [ I can't imagine that I would be asked that by the president-elect \[Donald Trump\], or then-president \[Barack Obama\]. But it's - I'm very clear.… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-mattis/i-can-t-imagine-that-i-would-be-asked-that-by-the-president-elect/) [James Mattis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-mattis/) > [Holy shadows of the dead, I'm not to blame for your cruel and bitter fate, but the accursed rivalry which brought sister nations and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-the-great/holy-shadows-of-the-dead-i-m-not-to-blame-for-your-cruel-and-bitter/) [Alexander the Great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-the-great/) > [“The most important lesson that came out of Vietnam for me was that Marines take care of Marines.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-clancy/the-most-important-lesson-that-came-out-of-vietnam-for-me-was-that/) [Tom Clancy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-clancy/) > [One of our great allies at present is the Church itself. Do not misunderstand me. 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It's pretty much what I feel like wearing that day, from a floral-print dress…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shay-mitchell/personally-i-don-t-really-have-a-set-style-or-look-it-s-pretty-much/) [Shay Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shay-mitchell/) > [Growing up with a parent in the army, I saw firsthand the challenges our service members face when transitioning to new jobs after time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharice-davids/growing-up-with-a-parent-in-the-army-i-saw-firsthand-the-challenges/) [Sharice Davids](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharice-davids/) > [Don't fire until you see the whites of their eyes!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-h-prescott/don-t-fire-until-you-see-the-whites-of-their-eyes/) [William H. Prescott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-h-prescott/) > [Thanks to all members of the military around the world for giving me the ultimate motivation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalya-neidhart/thanks-to-all-members-of-the-military-around-the-world-for-giving-me/) [Natalya Neidhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalya-neidhart/) [Browse all 3,919 Army quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/army/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The biggest thing I learned from being in the special forces is the decision-making process and also the willingness not to give up. You need to have a certain mindset. 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