EP 507: Your Why Should Push You with Mike Merrill

Mike aka @michaeltmerrill is one of the most upbeat happy dudes I follow on any social media. I don’t know if the guy has ever had a bad day or not but he probably wouldn’t show it if he did. Mike is a runner, he wasn’t born a runner in fact he told me there was a time when he very openly said he wasn’t running unless he was chasing a guy with a ball, or someone was chasing him with a ball. Mike found running as a way to improve his hunting ability. A funny thing happened though, it make much more than that. Michael has found a love of chasing hard things. seeking out misery if you will. Doing hard things has concreted his why both for hunting and for life. In this podcast we tell some good pack-out stories, and we talk about how to improve mental toughness and grit. How a hunt is like a marathon not a sprint. I truly enjoyed this podcast and Michaels outlook on everything. The guy gets after it thats for sure! Quick announcement before we get started: The Wyoming Wildlife Federation is raffling a Wyoming Commissioner’s Tag.  This tag gets you the choice of any 2021 limited quota elk, deer, or antelope hunt in the state of Wyoming. Truly a once-in-a-lifetime type hunt if you are not sitting on maximum preference points. If you’re like me and just got an elk tag refund from the Wyoming Game and Fish Department, take a little of that money and put it back into another shot for a dream tag. Plus, you support good conservation work while you’re at it. The Wyoming Wildlife Federation works to put more animals on the ground and create more access for hunters, like helping pass the new Access YES! funding this year. An Access program that I have personally used on hunts.  When you buy a Commissioner’s Tag raffle ticket, not only are you getting a chance at an amazing hunt but you are also helping fund great hunts for yourself and your kids in the future.  Head over to WyomingWildlife.org by following the link in the show notes and and get your tickets to a once in a lifetime hunt while supporting a great org. Tickets are $57 for one or $100 for two. Todays podcast brought to you by Argali Outdoors. Argali Outdoors just launch a really cool new product that I am stoked to tell you guys about. Argali makes amazing outdoor products like their lightweight knives and killer game bags, but now Brad and the team just launch a product that is truly revolutionary. Argali has created the ultimate backcountry hunting belt. They are calling it the Kodiak belt and this thing is awesome. I am a huge fan of gear that does multiple jobs and that is exactly what this does. Meet the first belt that allows you to sharpen, shape, and hone your broad heads, knives and even fishing hooks. This is one of those genius designs that you see and instantly think. Why didn’t I think of that! Brad and the Argali crew knocked it out of the park with this product. The belt is a very low profile slim design that looks great for every day use to functional as backcountry gear. Pre order yours before they run out of stock. Use the Code “TRO” on anything in the argali store and you will be entered to win a free Argali knife to be drawn at the end of June. Show Notes: Start – Meet Mike Merrill – 04:18 Mike’s Fitness Journey – 09:07 How to Maintain Your Drive – 17:21 Self Identity – 35:16 Late Season AZ Elk Hunt – 42:17 Finding Confidence & Mentors – 47:15 Attribution to Success & Finding Your Why – 59:06 Mike’s Nephew’s Bull – 1:05:39 Too Far Back & Tips for Time – 1:07:32 Closing Thoughts – 1:10:53 Where to Follow Mike – 1:14:12