Be Unstoppable: The 8 Essential Actions to Succeed at Anything

by Alden Mills

25,000 copies sold in three languages! You see others who have the things you want money, joy, success and suppose that they were born with special talent or into a family which made these things easy to attain. They are just lucky. What you don t know is that there is a methodology to success. BE UNSTOPPABLE contains a system to gain this vital skillset. Alden Mills was an uncoordinated asthmatic who went on to become a national rowing champion, three time Navy SEAL Team Commander, inventor of over 20 fitness products and CEO of the #1 fastest growing consumer products company as identified by INC 500 magazine in 2009. Through his own journey to success, Mills identified Eight Actions proven to overcome the bad habits between you and getting your goals.
Written in a story format that is easy to remember, BE UNSTOPPABLE opens with a parable of a young skipper who meets a remarkable, seasoned captain, changing the skipper's direction and setting him on a course to fulfill a larger destiny. The allegory, intertwined with Mills humorous, brutally honest personal stories, anchors tools like Plan in 3D, Exercise to Execute and Improvise to Overcome into your memory. You can start at any place in the program, because the momentum gained from using any of the tools will cause you to stop making excuses about why you can t have the life of your dreams, while the stories inspire you to do whatever it takes to ensure that you can.
The goal-getting code embedded in BE UNSTOPPABLE will enable you to navigate around challenges, chart a course, and put you on a heading to achieving your dreams.
However the past has shaped you, your future is yours to shape, and if you want to shape it for success, you'll find no better coach than Alden Mills. Using the power of a parable and his own experiences as a Navy SEAL and accomplished entrepreneur, Mills teaches you his proven framework for success. BE UNSTOPPABLE is the parable of a young skipper who meets a remarkable, seasoned captain, and this chance meeting changes the young skipper's direction in life, setting him on course for living his dreams. This charming tale illuminates the eight actions to take to succeed at anything in life, and makes BE UNSTOPPABLE a uniquely effective hybrid of Who Moved My Cheese and Vince Lombardi-style coaching.

Genres: Self Help, Nonfiction, Psychology, Parenting, Productivity

160 pages, Hardcover

First published October 1, 2013

Reviews

[Tina Loves To Read · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a Non-Fiction Self Help book. I read this book by listening to the audiobook for this book. I found parts of this very motioning, but I found parts boring. I received an ARC of this book. This review is my own honest opinion about the book like all my reviews are.

[Silver Kuklase · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked this one because of story format.

Some notes:
Understand the why, and you will figure out the way
Plan in three dimensions
Exercise to execute
Recognize your reasons to believe
Survey your habits
Improvise to overcome any obstacle
Seek expert advice
Team up

[Honoree · Rating 5 out of 5]

Highly recommend.

[Ltshaw · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun and interesting book that serves as a good refresher on ways to be on top of your game. Met the author at a party and downloaded his book. Glad I did as it never hurts to remind yourself of good habits to help you professionally and in life. Alden Mills gives the reader a step by step guide on how to be Unstoppable….among those on his list are exercise, creating good habits, learning from your mistakes and improving because of them. He uses a cute story to illustrate his points. It's a fun book, easy to read and I think everyone who reads it would take something away from having done so.

[Matt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Written as a parable that opens the mind up to the possibilities that exist for our lives. He wrote this book for his sons, and I want my sons to read it. Interspersed between sections of the parable, the author shares experiences where he either learned or applied the actions he teaches, many of which come from his seal training. A quick, worthwhile read.

[Botty Dimanov · Rating 5 out of 5]

UPERSIST

Understand your why
Plan in 3D (account for different factors & know your plan will never be perfect, update it constantly)
Energise to execute (healthy body, healthy mind, energy to execute!)
Recognise your reasons to believe in yourself (SELF-belief/confidence can be built by remembering past success)
Survey your habits
Improvise to overcome obstacles
Seek Expert Advice
Team up!

[J Kromrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to the Brilliance Audio and Netgalley for this eARC in audio format.

🎧 Alden Mills, former Navy SEAL and serial entrepreneur, brings his signature blend of grit, heart, and strategic clarity to Be Unstoppable, a motivational audiobook that’s part parable, part playbook. With co-narrator David de Vries, Mills transforms his framework for success into a compelling listening experience that’s emotionally resonant and practically actionable.

The book is concise, around 4 hours long, lengthy enough to keep you engaged, however not too long that you cannot return to the audiobook for reference or for additional redirection / motivation.

🚀 At the heart of this book is the acronym U.P.E.R.S.I.S.T.—eight essential actions that form a repeatable system for achieving goals:

- Understand your why
- Plan in three dimensions
- Exercise to execute
- Recognize your reason to believe
- Survey your habits
- Improvise to overcome
- Seek expert advice
- Team up

Rather than presenting these as dry bullet points, Mills embeds them in a fable about a young skipper learning from a seasoned captain. The allegorical format evokes classics like The Alchemist or The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari, but with a distinctly military edge and entrepreneurial spirit.

🎙️ Narration
The dual narration adds texture and dynamism:

- Alden Mills brings authenticity and emotional weight, especially when recounting personal stories from his SEAL days or moments of vulnerability. His voice carries conviction without bravado.

- David de Vries complements with a polished delivery, lending gravitas to the parable sections and smoothing transitions between narrative and instruction.

Together, they strike a balance between inspiration and instruction, making the audiobook feel like both a fireside chat and a tactical briefing.

💡 What Makes It Work

- Emotional accessibility: Mills doesn’t preach—he shares. His stories of failure, asthma, and self-doubt make the message relatable.
- Actionable clarity: Each principle is broken down with examples and reflection prompts, ideal for listeners who want to apply insights immediately.
- Narrative pacing: The alternation between story and strategy keeps the momentum strong and avoids the monotony common in self-help audio.

⭐ Be Unstoppable is a compact, high-impact audiobook that delivers more than motivation—it offers a method. Whether you’re a student, entrepreneur, or someone navigating personal reinvention, Mills’ framework is both timeless and timely. The narration elevates the message, making it a standout in the crowded field of personal development audio.

[G Newman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved "Be Unstoppable" by Alden Mills. The fable style of writing to communicate truths is one of my favorite ways to learn. Mills does an incredible job of conveying the steps necessary to be unstoppable and start new adventures. In this book, Mills applies the lessons to the story of a young captain who is feeling shame for being stuck and towed from a sandbar on his first real adventure across the big harbor. To the captain, crossing the harbor is a big deal until another shiny, larger boat docks beside him. As he wonders what would it be like to captain such a beautiful boat, the freshly docked captain invites him aboard. It's there that the lessons begin.

Weaving the eight lessons in fable fashion with real stories of the authors own experiences as a Seal, you discover how to overcome your mental and physical limitations and press on to achieve the dreams you didn't know you had. This audio version was extremely well done and I will be buying either the Kindle or hard copy to use as a reference guide for self and others who may be struggling to overcome their fear of failure. This book is worth sharing.

[Adrian Eisermann · Rating 4 out of 5]

First of all, I am in love with navy seals and almost everything regarding them. This book for me was a wonderfull small edition in my growing books from navy seals. I love the basic story and premisse of the book and read it in one single sitting.

The story and the setup is definately intriguing and decently written. I found it sometimes a bit generic but it is well worth a read if you are interessted either in seals or in the general premisse of the book.

[Eduardo Blandon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nada nuevo revela el autor, más que el entusiasmo por ideas en las que parece creer. Su experiencia de soldado le da un plus interesante al relato, lleno de humanismo y consejos sinceros. Creo que justifica su lectura si lo hacemos desde una perspectiva que no sea el descubrimiento de una fórmula original.

[Dave · Rating 5 out of 5]

I started this book early Sunday morning and finished it early afternoon. I could not put it down..I loved it! The story was a timeless one (Young Captain learns from a Seasoned Professional) which would seem archaic and antiquated. It's not written in an over-stylized, educational slant but one in which everyone can understand. U-Persist is something I'll keep in my work and personal life.

[Luigino Bottega · Rating 5 out of 5]

Having more chances to win at the game of life means being successful, and that means having the ability to imagine and create a better future for ourselves, others and the cosmos.
As in any game, we can only win by playing, at the same time becoming actors and directors of the movie of our life. The game should not be endured but rather directed, or better yet, created.
Inspiring book!

[Chris · Rating 3 out of 5]

Written as a parable. Seems to lose a little steam towards the end of the book. The biggest takeaway, have the end in mind (what is your why), plan, take action, seek help when needed, and team up when needed.

[Anh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not my favorite type of boook but i have to admit it does make changes my insight about life and work so much Glad that I did read it

[Brian Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

If a Navy SEAL wrote The Alchemist or The Way of the Peaceful Warrior or The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari.

“I was doing what I loved back in those SEAL days, and I had the confidence of knowing I could do anything I put my mind to. I want this book to capture those themes in a way my boys and everyone else who reads it will remember. A series of vignettes illustrating how any among us can accomplish great things would only fade with time. I’ve tried to go farther. I’ve tried to create a framework, a code my sons can follow throughout their lives, a touchstone to encourage them when the going gets tough. I want this book to capture the essence of my spirit as a tangible reference for them, a pick-me-up when they feel like giving up on a dream, a voice of encouragement when no one else believes in them, or perhaps simply the voice of a proud father saying, ‘Go for it—you can do it!’ …

That’s why I wrote this book. It will give your mind a code to follow so that no matter what obstacle attempts to derail you, your mind will be working for you, not against you. And when your mind is on your side, no obstacle is too big, no dream too daunting, and nothing can stop you from living an amazing life!

Once you’ve mastered the code in this book, your biggest challenge will be dreaming bigger dreams! That’s right: Once you’ve tasted success and gained the confidence of making a dream come true, a funny things happens: You get addicted to making dreams come true. And as each dream gets a little bigger and a little scarier, you get stronger, smarter, and better at making them come true. And isn’t that what life is all about? Live your dreams!”

~ Alden M. Mills from Be Unstoppable

This is a surprisingly awesome book—a fable about a young Captain who spends time with a Master and Commander who reveals the secret code of rockin’ it.

It’s kinda like if a Navy SEAL wrote The Alchemist or The Way of the Peaceful Warrior or The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari . :)

Another way to think about it is if Angela Duckworth teamed up with a Navy SEAL to write a fable on her Grit research. There are a *ton* of parallels.

Alden Mills is a former US Navy SEAL platoon commander who invented the Perfect Pushup and created Inc 500’s fastest-growing company in 2009.

He wrote this book for his four sons to capture the essence of what has helped him succeed in his life. Like I said, it’s surprisingly great! I can’t wait to have my son read it. (Get a copy of the book here.)

Some of my favorite big ideas from this book include:

1. U.P.E.R.S.I.S.T. - And that’s why you succeed.
2. 2 Limitations in Life - Ability to dream + courage to pursue.
3. Your Why - Here’s how to find it.
4. How to Plan in 3-D - Decide on it. Divide it. Do it daily.
5. Magic Pill(s) - That can change your life.
6. Dream Big - GO FOR IT!!!

I’ve summarized those Big Ideas in a video review that you can watch here.

I’ve also added Be Unstoppable by Alden Mills to my collection of Philosopher’s Notes--distilling the Big Ideas into 6-page PDF and 20-minute MP3s on 600+ of the BEST self-development books ever. You can get access to all of those plus a TON more over at heroic.us.

[Michael S]

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[Dimas · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book has very solid and actionable framework to fulfill yours dreams, aka be unstoppable.
I found the parable story uninterestingt and, after 5 chapters, I just skimmed it directly to the "How to get started" sections. These sections explain how to execute the steps of the framework and have stories of the author's youth and his time on the Navy Seals which are more interesting than the main story.
The author was a ashmatic boy who became a rowing champion and Navy SEAL officer. If he made the book only about his life and his framework I would give 5 stars.

[Nicholas Cho · Rating 5 out of 5]

VERY GOOD READ.

I loved every moment while this book was in my hand. Not only is it informative, it's entertaining too. It was hard for me to put down a book after a chapter because I wanted to bulldoze through it; I stopped after every chapter to give myself time to apply what I learned and to fully absorb the lessons from each chapter.

I suggest you to read this book if you're adamant about developing yourself into a better version of you!

[Katarina · Rating 3 out of 5]

this is a different kind of self-help or advice book: it presents the material in form of a story.

As such it's way less dry to read than a straight "how to" book spouting advice. You still get the advice and the steps to follow, with each piece packaged in a story to explain the why and potential pitfalls.

I found the style very unique, but the content less so.

[Jonasz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Książka ta zawiera naprawdę przydatny plan jak sięgnąć po marzenia. W ośmiu punktach są zawarte wszelkie potrzebne zasady, jak dotrzeć do celu. Historia autora, o tym jak pokonał chorobę, dostał się do SEAL, po czym założył przynoszącą sukcesy firmę, przeplata się z historyjką o kapitanie statku, która trochę jest infantylna, lecz spełnia swoją rolę w przekazywaniu wiedzy.

[Carol Hukari · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent read

Loved this book. It outlines the step to success in a way that is easily relatable. The fact that the author can cite his credentials- and insights from his time as a Navy Seal and his business experience makes it eve more impactful.

[Christopher Stengel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Inspirational in person and in prose, this book tells you what you need to hear: How to Get Ahead In Life WITH Really Trying.

[Dan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Inspiring

What a cool mix of navy seal and business lessons, all written as a beautiful story for his kids. Worth a read for reflecting on goals and values.