What Does It Mean to “Improvise, Adapt, and Overcome”?
This saying is a core mindset in the U.S. Navy SEAL Teams.
It’s not a motto—it’s a way of life.
Whether you’re a SEAL, a functional fitness athlete, a firefighter, or someone fighting through everyday life…
this mindset will keep you in the game when everything goes sideways.
Let’s look at what each word really means.
Check out the new SGPT workout program Adapt or Die
#1. IMPROVISE – Use What You’ve Got
You don’t always have the perfect tools.
No gym? Use a sandbag.
No gear? Use your body.
Bad weather? Train anyway.
Improvising means finding a way with what’s in front of you.
“We didn’t have a pull-up bar in (unknown location overseas), so we welded one from scrap metal. Then we got after it.”
It’s not about perfection.
It’s about progress.
No excuses.
#2. ADAPT – Change with the Situation
The mission changes. The plan fails. Your body hurts.
Adapting means adjusting your mindset and staying in the fight.
In BUD/S, they changed the schedule just to mess with your head.
If you froze or got frustrated—you were done.
But if you breathed, shifted gears, and kept going—you moved forward.
“Adaptation is survival. And it’s a skill you build through getting out of your own pity party, practice, and purpose.”
#3. OVERCOME – Finish the Mission
This is the most important part.
Once you’ve improvised…
Once you’ve adapted…
You still have to OVERCOME.
That means pushing through fear, failure, fatigue, and self-doubt.
You don’t stop when it’s hard.
You stop when the job is done.
“In Hell Week, I wanted to quit every hour. But I kept thinking—just make it to sunrise. Then to chow. Then to the next evolution. That’s how I overcame.”
FINAL THOUGHT
“Improvise. Adapt. Overcome.”
It’s not just for Navy SEALs.
It’s for anyone who refuses to quit.
Training with no equipment? Improvise.
Injured and can’t run? Adapt.
Life kicks you in the teeth? Overcome.
You’re stronger than you think.
You just have to stay in the fight.
About the Author:
Are you looking to achieve big goals? Do you have a big event on the horizon and you want to finish the drill?
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