An Introduction to Life on Offense
A sneak peek at the book Jay and I are writing
Life is undeniably hard. Statistics show that half of Americans suffer from chronic health problems, 80% can't retire without social security, and nearly half of marriages end in divorce. In such a challenging environment, the reality is obvious: no one is coming to save you. It's up to you to take action and improve your life.
In a world full of obstacles and opportunities, deciding to live intentionally and develop yourself is key to accomplishing your own definition of success. My best friend from the Army, Jay Tiegs, and I are writing a book titled Life on Offense: Do HARD Things to tell our stories and explain our personal framework on how to live. The book is a practical guide with tactics for mindset transformation, goal setting, habit formation, and dominating life in general. We are writing it for people who want to accomplish more than just getting by. This first article will explore the key concepts from Life on Offense and how they can help you thrive.
The Co-Authors
Jay and I are former U.S. Army officers who met back in 2012 as lieutenants, serving in the Wolverine Battalion where we led soldiers in heavy construction and logistics operations. We bring our war stories and other unique experiences to Life on Offense. The book tells plenty of anecdotes from our endurance racing and Army experiences that we shared together at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. Our backgrounds in sports and military leadership have provided us with valuable lessons that we want to share with the world.
Growing up in a challenging environment from a young age, Jay faced significant obstacles that motivated him to enlist in the Army. His time in uniform and ventures in ultra-endurance racing equipped Jay with invaluable lessons on resilience, discipline, and strategic action that he teaches as a high performance coach. By sharing his personal story through the lens of the HARD framework, Jay provides the tools to transform your mindset, set meaningful goals, and achieve continuous growth.
My time at West Point, as a military officer, and now an expat gave me a unique perspective for living on offense. Throughout the book I relay my mostly great but sometimes awful experiences to explain how the HARD framework works. From tough military training to adventures around the world, I learned firsthand the importance of taking decisive action and pushing beyond my comfort zone. My experience not only shapes my personal philosophy but also informs the practical advice and tactics we will share in Life on Offense.
The HARD Framework
HARD stands for:
Health
Affluence
Relationships
Development
HARD is at the core of Life on Offense. This framework is based on high performance coaching methodology and is focused on simple tactics that enable you to level up in various aspects of life. Unlike content from most self-help books that are full of theory and unrelatable advice, the HARD framework is practical and actionable. In the book, Jay and I explain how to dominate life in each of these four areas.
Health
We believe that physical and mental health are foundational to your overall well being. Life on Offense emphasizes the importance of taking care of your body through proper nutrition, exercise, and rest. Our definition of being physically healthy means that you are following a balanced training regimen that prevents burnout and injuries. Whereas good mental health requires managing stress and getting your mind right to accomplish your goals. Jay and I offer ten tactics that we personally use that will help you achieve your vision for being healthy.
Affluence
Growing up in the grips of poverty, Jay learned firsthand the harsh realities of scarcity. From hunting and fishing out of necessity to enduring freezing winters and scorching summers in his family’s makeshift home, his childhood was a struggle for survival. These early experiences ingrained in Jay a mindset of constant scarcity and a fear that whatever little he had could disappear at any moment. Life on Offense aims to help you break free from these types of limiting beliefs. By upgrading your mindset and adopting good financial strategies like saving, avoiding debt, and leveraging compound interest, you can achieve true financial freedom. Life’s not just about having money, it’s about having freedom to do what you want and help others.
Relationships
Strong relationships are essential for personal and professional growth. Both Jay and I have made plenty of bad relationship decisions, and we can definitely tell you what not to do. Life on Offense highlights the importance of building and maintaining healthy connections with family, friends, and coworkers. The book explains how we were able to build successful teams in the Army and how communicating well can pay big dividends.
Development
Personal development is a lifelong process that requires dedication and effort. We encourage readers to step out of their comfort zones, seek new challenges, and strive for continuous improvement. The tactics include how to set clear goals, develop new skills, and stay committed to your personal growth journey. In Life on Offense we offer our own anecdotes on how we overcame obstacles, mastered skills, and built expert teams. Our tactics serve as a guide to help you achieve mastery in your own area of expertise and dominate the challenges that you face.
Mindset and Clarity
What is special about Life on Offense is how it weaves together psychological and concrete tactics. The book gives practical tools to help you transform your beliefs, seek clarity, and stay focused on your goals. By adopting a growth mindset and confronting your fears head-on, you can turn setbacks into opportunities for development. We use visualization as a powerful technique for creating a roadmap to achieve your goals. Life on Offense also provides useful exercises to help you visualize your desired outcomes.
Goal Setting and Habit Formation
The power of goal setting and habit formation can truly transform your life. The book dives deep into the story of Jay’s time as a recruiter when, amidst the pressures of his job and the unexpected news of expecting triplets, he dominates his goals using the HARD framework. Life on Offense walks you through how to create structured milestones while focusing on high-yield activities to achieve big results. Coupled with habit formation strategies, the book empowers you to develop routines that make even the toughest tasks feel effortless. Whether it's through health, affluence, relationships, or development, this book provides actionable tools and motivational anecdotes to help you become a "Goal Crusher.”
Tactics and Real-Life Examples
Throughout the book we share real-life examples and success stories to illustrate the effectiveness of our tactics and the HARD framework. These stories serve as inspiration and proof that the strategies outlined in the book can lead to significant positive changes in your life. Life on Offense includes various practical tools to help you stay on track. These include journaling exercises, checklists, and progress tracking methods. By incorporating these tactics into your daily routine, you can monitor your progress and make necessary adjustments to stay aligned with your goals.
If you're ready to take your life to the next level, Life on Offense is the perfect starting point. Whether you're looking to improve your health, build wealth, strengthen relationships, or pursue personal development, this book will provide the tools and insights you need to succeed. Stay tuned for more about Life on Offense’s release and join Do HARD Things Nation to start your journey.