03: Never Quit - Hector Delgado

Navy SEAL, Homeland Security Special Agent, Entrepreneur

Hector Delgado is a true embodiment of resilience. As a veteran of SEAL Teams 2, 3, 4, and 18, he’s no stranger to extreme challenges. Beyond his time in the SEALs, Hector transitioned into a role as a special agent with Homeland Security, where he was part of the Joint Terrorist Task Force. Later, he co-founded ASR, a life-saving alert system. But as accomplished as Hector’s resume is, one thing stands out above all—his unshakable commitment to never quitting.

That simple but powerful mindset is what shaped his entire journey. On the podcast, Hector shared why it’s not enough to just start something—you have to finish it, no matter how hard it gets. This is the mentality that allowed him to face down life’s toughest moments, and it’s one we can all use to build mental toughness.

Hector Delgado

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Hector’s Lesson: Never Quit

The lesson seems simple: Never Quit. But let’s be real—it’s easy to say and much harder to live by. Every day, people give up on their goals, their dreams, and even on themselves. They ring the bell, throw in the towel, and decide it’s just too hard. Hector’s experience taught him that quitting isn’t an option, especially when life gets tough. That’s exactly when you dig in and refuse to back down.

When I was training with Team Eagle One, I faced my own version of this battle. I hated it. Every morning, my mind came up with countless reasons not to go. The excuses were endless, and they were good. You’re not joining the military. You’re not going to be a Navy SEAL. You’re 31 years old, and you don’t need to do this. Even my family was telling me to stop going.

I remember so many mornings when I wanted to sleep in or call in “sick.” I didn’t want to be there. But every time, I found myself getting into my car and heading to training. No matter how much I tried to convince myself to quit, I couldn’t.

Why? Because deep down, I knew the feeling that would come after.

When the training was over, I felt unstoppable. Every single time I finished a session, I knew I had done the hardest thing I’d ever attempted in my life. Surrounded by hard-charging teammates, motivated by Coach Mac’s lessons, I always left feeling like a better person. I didn’t have to love the process. I just had to not quit.

Hector with Navy SEAL teammate Jonny Kim

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Why We Don’t Quit

One thing Hector said that resonated with me is this: You have to live with yourself for the rest of your life. At the end of the day, I have to look at myself in the mirror, and I want to be proud of who I see. That’s why I didn’t quit during Team Eagle One, and it’s why I don’t quit in life.

Here’s the thing: over time, people forget what you quit. But you never forget. It stays with you. I’ve spoken to many Navy SEALs who talk about the people who quit BUD/s and how it haunts them. People may not remember they even went to BUD/s, but they do. They never forget that moment when they let themselves quit. I never wanted that kind of regret in my life.

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What Was Hard Yesterday Won’t Be Hard Tomorrow

Another important lesson I learned from Hector is that quitting is relative. What’s hard today might not be hard tomorrow. Think about it: on Day 1 of Team Eagle One, I could barely do a pull-up. It felt impossible. But two months later, that same pull-up wasn’t so hard anymore. And that’s the thing—if I had quit on Day 1 because it was too hard, I would have never known that progress was possible.

Hard is temporary, and the more you push, the easier things get. That’s why quitting because something is difficult isn’t a valid reason. If you stick with it, what once seemed impossible becomes manageable, and then it becomes easy.

Hector with Navy SEAL Teammate Leif Babin

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Why We Need a Never-Quit Attitude in Life

Hector emphasized that life itself is hard. Everyone has their own struggles, challenges, and painful experiences. But the more you put yourself through tough situations and refuse to quit, the stronger and more resilient you become. You start to build grit, so when life throws a new hardship at you, you know you can handle it.

Every Navy SEAL became a SEAL because they didn’t quit. They didn’t ring the bell when it got hard. The same is true for any goal we set for ourselves. Sure, there are things out of our control—injuries, accidents, even tragedies. But the key is that you don’t take yourself out of the game. You play until the very end, no matter what the outcome is.

The only way you’ll ever truly win in life is by refusing to quit.

Hector knot tying (something he struggled with in BUD/s)

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Lesson Learned:

Hector’s lesson is clear: Never quit. It sounds simple, but in practice, it’s one of the hardest things to do. Life will test you, and in those moments when quitting feels like the easiest option, that’s when you need to dig in deeper. Quitting doesn’t just stop your progress—it leaves you with the weight of wondering what could have been. The only way to know your true potential is to refuse to quit, even when the road gets tough.

Hector & I are the Navy SEAL Museum (First time meeting in person!)

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Takeaway for You:

Ask yourself, What’s one thing in my life that I’m tempted to quit? Whether it’s a workout, a project, or a personal goal, recognize that you’re the only one who can decide to keep going. And that decision matters.

Don’t quit. Even if you’re not seeing huge results today, push through and trust that what’s hard now won’t be as hard tomorrow. Keep showing up, keep pushing, and one day you’ll look back and see just how far you’ve come. The only way to fail is to stop. So, don’t ring the bell. Just keep going.