Endure Summary

“What’s keeping you from your passion? Don’t let it hold you back. Keep hammering.”

1. Embrace Your Struggles and Learn From Them

Our challenges often shape who we become. Cameron Hanes had a rocky start in life, dealing with an alcoholic father and an abusive stepfather. These early struggles taught him resilience and the drive to push forward even in the worst circumstances. Rather than viewing these hardships as insurmountable, Hanes reframed them as opportunities to grow stronger.

From working a mindless warehouse job to nearly destroying his life with alcoholism, Hanes saw his life spiral until he found something to live for. His first passion, football, brought him temporary joy but highlighted his mediocrity. However, through all of this, he learned that struggle itself could teach discipline and endurance. He realized that difficult moments can make us better equipped for future successes.

The turning point came when his son Tanner was born in 1993. Fatherhood gave him the motivation to break free from the cycle of drinking and passivity. For the first time, he discovered that he wanted to not just exist, but truly live a life filled with meaning and passion.

Examples

• His dysfunctional family life taught him perseverance early on.
• A warehouse job became the path to meeting his wife and turning his life around.
• Becoming a father triggered his decision to quit drinking and focus on self-improvement.

2. Identify and Commit to Your Passion

Cam’s life changed when he discovered bowhunting, a pursuit that he claims saved him from a meaningless existence. His close friend Roy Roth introduced him to the rugged wilderness, where the challenge of bowhunting in difficult terrain captured Cam’s heart. For the first time, he felt he had a purpose.

Bowhunting wasn’t just a sport for Cam—it was his way of connecting with nature while testing his physical and mental limits. It gave him a reason to stay disciplined, work harder, and improve himself in pursuit of excellence. Through bowhunting, he began building his identity and realized how passion could transform life beyond avoiding hardship or mediocrity.

Despite working a 40-hour job, he made time by devoting weekends, evenings, and early mornings to hone his craft with relentless focus. Cam wants others to reflect on their passions and think about the sacrifices they’re willing to make to pursue them.

Examples

• Roy Roth’s stories of mountain bowhunting inspired Cam to explore nature’s challenges.
• Initially a weekend warrior, Cam slowly adopted bowhunting as a way of life.
• Tackling isolation in the wilderness taught him self-reliance and confidence.

3. Consistency Beats Talent

Hanes stresses that success is not about luck or innate ability—it’s about showing up and putting in hard work every single day. By embracing consistency, he transformed into an elite bowhunter while holding a full-time job. Whether it’s running with sore legs or training with tired arms, he prioritizes putting in effort, no matter how small, every day.

He encourages everyone to dedicate themselves to daily habits that further their goals, such as running a mile or reading a chapter from a book. Through unwavering dedication, he shows that even ordinary people can achieve extraordinary things with consistent effort over time.

Examples

• Cam never missed work during his 25+ years at the Springfield Utility Board, exemplifying loyalty and hard work.
• He trained daily for bowhunting, even during the off-season, combining training with dedication to his family.
• Running and training became routines, illustrating his steadfastness despite exhaustion.

4. Visualize Success

Before running the Boston Marathon, Hanes surprised his sons by saying he planned to stay ahead of cycling icon Lance Armstrong. Though they doubted him, Cam visualized achieving this “impossible” feat. Visualization helped him remain psychologically tough when pushing through the grueling 26.2 miles.

When he passed Lance Armstrong, his win wasn’t just about competition; it was proof that dreams can be actualized with hard work and determination. His story highlights the importance of imagining success and aligning your actions with what you believe is possible.

Examples

• Cam visualized running beside Lance Armstrong and beating him in the Boston Marathon.
• This accomplishment made him a local hero and earned admiration from his family and community.
• His visualization also helped shift Lance Armstrong’s perception of him—from “just a dad” to a serious athlete.

5. Develop Mental Toughness

Mental resilience is not reserved for special individuals—it can be built through adversity and constant effort. Hanes trains himself to endure physical pain and mental doubt by embracing challenges. His love of discomfort fuels his growth, from intense workouts to long treks through the wilderness.

To be the best, Hanes believes you must willingly face struggle daily. Whether carrying a 130-pound rock up a hill or enduring self-criticism, Cam pushes himself beyond limits others might consider reasonable.

Examples

• His “rock training” involved repeatedly hauling heavy stones up and down Mount Pisgah.
• He trains for bowhunting by running ultramarathons, lifting weights, and mastering marksmanship.
• Pain and exhaustion during training prepare him for the unpredictable nature of hunting in rugged mountains.

6. Turn Haters and Challenges into Motivation

Throughout his journey, Cam has faced criticism. Anti-hunting activists, doubters who mock his intense training for bowhunting, and even self-imposed fears try to pull him down. Instead of letting negativity derail him, Cam channels this energy into motivation.

He uses criticism and doubts to fuel his determination to prove people wrong. Even when personal losses, such as the death of his hunting partner Roy Roth, tested him, he pushed through to honor their shared passion for hunting.

Examples

• He receives death threats from anti-hunting activists and responds by excelling in the hunting world.
• Losing Roy inspired him to name a deer he hunted after his late friend as an enduring tribute.
• Cam reclaims doubts from self-critical moments to continue proving that he’s capable.

7. Honor the Sacrifices Along the Way

Cam recognizes that pursuing a goal comes with sacrifices, like family time and personal comfort. For him, becoming the best bowhunter required unwavering commitment but also the understanding that sacrifices can root themselves in purpose.

He motivates readers to think about what sacrifices they’re willing to make for their dreams and whether those sacrifices bring ultimate meaning to their lives.

Examples

• His grueling training schedule meant adapting to fewer vacations and weekend getaways.
• With Tracey’s support, he managed family responsibilities while training.
• Despite hunts away from home, his devotion inspired his sons to admire his resilience.

8. Embrace Small Wins as Progress

Cam reminds us that success is an accumulation of small actions over time. Whether training for a marathon or building bowhunting skills, believing in incremental victories keeps momentum alive.

Starting with small achievable goals like running one mile or honing archery target practice can help maintain focus on the larger passion.

Examples

• Cam’s first marathon was one of many milestones that prepared him for ultramarathons.
• A single day’s training motivates longer mountain treks later.
• Regular practices added up to helping him hunt in the toughest conditions.

9. Focus on the Journey, Not Just the Result

For Cam, the path to mastery lies in loving the journey itself. Whether in the solitude of wilderness hikes or the ache of rigorous training, he’s found meaning in the moments leading to triumph. Success becomes secondary when you learn to enjoy the process of getting there.

He inspires others to find joy in the effort, not just the outcome.

Examples

• He cherishes even failed hunts for their lessons and unmatched beauty of the wilderness.
• The Boston Marathon served more as a personal benchmark than a trophy moment.
• His daily practice exhilarates him as much as achieving distant milestones.

Takeaways

1. Commit to doing something small every day that brings you closer to your goals.
2. Use setbacks, criticism, and even self-doubt as motivation to improve and keep going.
3. Focus on enjoying the process of hard work rather than obsessing over results.