“We don’t rise to the level of our expectations. We fall to the level of our training.”
― Archilochus

Mental toughness can take many forms: resilience against attack, calmness in the face of uncertainty, persistence through pain, or focus amidst chaos.

Below are eight lessons from eight of the toughest human beings I know.

All are taken from the hundreds of tips and tactics in“Tools of Titans: The Tactics, Routines, and Habits of Billionaires, Icons, and World-Class Performers.”

SEE ALSO: 21 signs you're mentally stronger than average

1. If you want to be tougher, be tougher.

— Jocko Willink, former Navy SEAL Commander

“If you want to be tougher mentally, it is simple: Be tougher. Don’t meditate on it.”

These words of Jocko’s helped one listener—a drug addict—get sober after many failed attempts. The simple logic struck a chord: “Being tougher” was, more than anything, a decision to be tougher. It’s possible to immediately “be tougher,” starting with your next decision. Have trouble saying “no” to dessert? Be tougher. Make that your starting decision. Feeling winded? Take the stairs anyway. Ditto. It doesn’t matter how small or big you start. If you want to be tougher, be tougher.

2. I wasn’t there to compete. I was there to win.

— Arnold Schwarzenegger

TIM: In my interview with Arnold, I brought up a photo of him at age 19, just before he won his first big competition, Junior Mr. Europe.

I asked, “Your face was so confident compared to every other competitor. Where did that confidence come from?” He replied:

“My confidence came from my vision. . . . I am a big believer that if you have a very clear vision of where you want to go, then the rest of it is much easier. Because you always know why you are training 5 hours a day, you always know why you are pushing and going through the pain barrier, and why you have to eat more, and why you have to struggle more, and why you have to be more disciplined… I felt that I could win it, and that was what I was there for. I wasn’t there to compete. I was there to win.”

3. Push beyond, share privation, tackle fear.

— 4-Star General Stanley McChrystal

TIM: The following from Gen. McChyrstal was in response to “What are three tests or practices from the military that civilians could use to help develop mental toughness?”:

“The first is to push yourself harder than you believe you’re capable of. You’ll find new depth inside yourself. The second is to put yourself in groups who share difficulties, discomfort. We used to call it ‘shared privation.’ [Definition of privation: a state in which things essential for human well-being such as food and warmth are scarce or lacking.] You’ll find that when you have been through that kind of difficult environment, you feel more strongly about that which you’re committed to. And finally, create some fear and make individuals overcome it.”

Barack Obama is a major bookworm.

In his book "Dreams from My Father," he reflected on his lifelong love of literature: "When I wasn't working, the weekends would usually find me alone in an empty apartment, making do with the company of books."

Recently, the outgoing US president sat down with New York Times chief book critic Michiko Kakutani to discuss literature.

In the interview, Obama referenced a wide range of works, from books he's read in recent years to those he recommended to his daughter Malia.

Here are some of the works Obama praised in the New York Times interview:

SEE ALSO: 9 fascinating books about the greatest friendships in politics

DON'T MISS: 13 fascinating books written by US presidents after they left the White House

'The Naked and the Dead' by Norman Mailer

Amazon synopsis:

"Written in gritty, journalistic detail, the story follows an army platoon of foot soldiers who are fighting for the possession of the Japanese-held island of Anopopei. Composed in 1948, 'The Naked and the Dead' is representative of the best in twentieth-century American writing."

BUY IT HERE »

'One Hundred Years of Solitude' by Gabriel Garcia Marquez

Amazon synopsis:

"The brilliant, bestselling, landmark novel that tells the story of the Buendia family, and chronicles the irreconcilable conflict between the desire for solitude and the need for love — in rich, imaginative prose that has come to define an entire genre known as 'magical realism.'"

BUY IT HERE »

'The Golden Notebook' by Doris Lessing

Amazon synopsis:

"Anna is a writer, author of one very successful novel, who now keeps four notebooks. In one, with a black cover, she reviews the African experience of her earlier years. In a red one she records her political life, her disillusionment with communism. In a yellow one she writes a novel in which the heroine relives part of her own experience. And in a blue one she keeps a personal diary.

"Finally, in love with an American writer and threatened with insanity, Anna resolves to bring the threads of all four books together in a golden notebook. Doris Lessing's best-known and most influential novel, 'The Golden Notebook' retains its extraordinary power and relevance decades after its initial publication.

BUY IT HERE »

Wall Street's sell-side analysts publish piles of recommendations on which stocks to buy, sell, or hold every day.

In retrospect, and for the trader with a shorter time horizon, only a few of those calls were worth listening to in 2016.

TipRanks, a website that tracks and ranks analyst recommendations, compiled a list of stock pickers who had the most success last year.

After scanning hundreds of thousands of recommendations, TipRanks graded them by average return and success rate, which is the ratio of calls that generated positive returns in the following quarter relative to all ratings that were given.

Recommendations were measured for a three-month period from the open date in 2016 or until January 11, if the three months are still ongoing. 

Here are the stock pickers, ranked by average return of their calls:

10. Michael Matson, Needham

Industry: Healthcare

Success Rate: 62%

Average Return: 9%

Noteworthy recommendation: GenMark (GNMK)

Matson’s most profitable recommendation of 2016 (with a three-month profit of 72.7%) was for molecular diagnostic testing company GenMark on April 19. He has subsequently reiterated his buy rating twice — most recently on July 29 after the European clearance and launch of GNMK’s sample-to-answer ePlex system. At the end of last year, GenMark submitted ePlex to the FDA for clearance.

9. Christopher Nolan, FBR

Industry: Financial

Success Rate: 87%

Average Return: 11.5%

Noteworthy recommendation: Triumph Bancorp (TBK)

Nolan’s buy recommendation of Texas-based Triumph Bancorp on Nov. 27 was his most profitable call of the last year. From the end of Nov until Jan. 11 the shares made 39.9% profit.

According to Nolan, 3Q16 earnings were solid with EPS of $0.32 above estimates (excluding merger-related expenses from the acquisition of ColoEast Bancshares in August). However, "asset quality deteriorated in terms of higher nonperforming assets (NPA) and net charge-offs mostly related to legacy TBK credit," said Nolan.

8. Mark Palmer, BTIG

Industry: Financial

Success Rate: 78%

Average Return: 14.2%

Noteworthy recommendation: Genworth Financial (GNW)

Palmer maintained his Buy rating on the insurance company’s stock on February 5. This turned out to be a very good decision — the stock gained 78% in the three months after the call with the share price rising from $2.18 to $4.06. 

However, Palmer has recently downgraded his Genworth rating to hold following the announcement in October of its acquisition by China Oceanwide for $5.43 per share in cash.

Hundreds of thousands of men and women joined the Women's March on Washington on a crisp Saturday morning the day after Donald Trump was sworn in as the 45th President of the US.

The march aims to bring together women across diverse backgrounds and send a bold message to the new administration that they will not be ignored or have their rights stomped on.

People carried signs with calls for gender equality and anti-Trump statements, though the rally's organizers have insisted the demonstration is more pro-women than anti-Trump. Many sported pink knitted beanies called "pussy hats," a symbol of solidarity among the protestors. One city official told the Associated Press that turnout estimates are now at 500,000 — up from the 200,000 who were originally expected to come.

These stunning and soon to be iconic photos show what it was like to be there.

We'll be updating this post as more photos come in.

SEE ALSO: Women band together for what could be the largest political demonstration the US capital has ever seen

DON'T MISS: Aerial photos show the contrast between crowds at Trump’s inauguration and the Women's March

An estimated quarter of a million men and women poured into the US capital on January 21.

They gathered to raise awareness of women's rights ...

... and the perceived threat Donald Trump's administration poses to those liberties.

An estimated half a million people descended on the nation's capital to participate in the Women's March on Washington on Saturday — and I was one of them.

And while the massive crowds made getting around the city quite challenging, the march itself was an inclusive and inspiring accomplishment. It's safe say that it met the goal that the organizers set: To "stand together in solidarity with our partners and children for the protection of our rights, our safety, our health, and our families."

Couldn't make it to the march in Washington DC? Here's a timeline of how the history-making event looked from deep inside the crowd. 

The day started early: I picked up the Metro at a stop about seven miles away from the march's starting point. Even at 8:30 a.m., the trains were packed full of marchers.

After a heavily delayed train ride, I arrived. But the crowds were already so big that I had to stand several blocks away from the march starting point.

But the march organizers had set up a series of video screens so that more participants could see and hear what was going on.

LONDON — Every year, on the second Monday of January, young Japanese men and women don colourful kimonos and hakama to take part in "Seijin no Hi," or "Coming of Age Day," celebrations.

The event is a rite of passage for newly-classed adults that have turned 20 in the last year. In Japan, 20 is the legal age for drinking, smoking, and voting.

The get-ups are fabulous — reminiscent of Royal Ascot atire in Britain, including the iconically voluminous women's hats. 

With attendants drinking legally for the first time, Coming of Age Day is normally a pretty raucous affair — police scuffled with revellers in Okinawa this year.

Scroll down for a rare look into one of Japan's most garish festivals. 

Welcome to Seijin no Hi, or 'Coming of Age Day.' Grab your brightest kimono, longest eyelashes, and a bottle of something strong and take a look inside.

Historically, youths that took part in the Coming of Age ceremonies were of noble descent. Dating back to the eighth century, children were not officially gendered until after the rite of passage, then known as Genpuku.

When a child underwent Genpuku they were considered socially responsible, which for certain facets of society meant it was time for them to work. If a child died before this age they weren't even given funerary rights.

Source: "The Red Thread: Buddhist Approaches to Sexuality", Bernard Faure.

LONDON — If you spend time working or living in London, chances are you've noticed its architecture change over the years.

However, a city's transformation is never more apparent than when you see it from above.

Aerial photographer Jason Hawkes, who says he has been "flying around the world for many years, hanging out of the side of helicopters," captures stunning aerial views on cities like London.

Based just outside of the capital, Hawkes flies over London more than anywhere in the world, and over the years has captured its transformation, often logging his latest flights and images on Twitter.

"I started flying over London when I was just 21, having been commissioned by Random House for a book," he told Business Insider. "Nowadays I fly over town most weeks, shooting the ever-changing skyline. It's a real privilege being able to view such a great city from above, and a fantastic location to photograph.”

Hawkes searched through his library of images to show us a "then and now" view of the constantly evolving city that is London. Scroll down to see — from above — how the capital has changed from 1995 to 2017. You can also see more of Hawke's work here.

London's South Bank looked a little bare in February 2007, but in March 2014, the Shard made it a stunning sight.

The view beyond Tower Bridge is remarkably busier.

This view of Tower Bridge and the City of London in August 2006 was already packed with tall buildings, but in November 2015, others, like The Cheesegrater and The Walkie Talkie, popped up.

In geopolitics, a deep understanding of geography and power allows you to do two things. First, it helps you comprehend the forces that will shape international politics and how they will do so. Second, it helps you distinguish what is important from what isn’t.

This makes maps a vital part of our work, here at This Week in Geopolitics. So we have decided to showcase some of the best maps our graphics team (TJ Lensing and Jay Dowd) made in 2016.

These four maps help explain the foundations of what will be the most important geopolitical developments of 2017.

Map 1: Russia’s economic weakness

This map shows three key aspects to understanding Russia in 2017. (For my full 2017 geopolitical forecast for Russia, click here.)

First is the oft-overlooked fact that Russia is a federation. Russia has a strong national culture, but it is also an incredibly diverse political entity that requires a strong central government. Unlike most maps of Russia, this one divides the country by its 85 constitutive regions. (87 if you count Crimea and Sevastopol.) Not all have the same status—some are regions, while others are autonomous regions, cities, and republics.

The map also highlights the great extent of economic diversity in this vast Russian Federation. The map shows this by identifying regional budget surpluses and deficits throughout the country. Two regions have such large surpluses that they break the scale: the City of Moscow and Sakhalin. Fifty-two regions (or 60% of Russia’s regional budgets) are in the red. The Central District, which includes Moscow, makes up more than 20% of Russia’s GDP, while Sakhalin and a few other regions that are blessed with surpluses produce Russia’s oil.

The third point follows from the first two. Russia is vast, and much of the country is in a difficult economic situation. Even if oil stays around $55 a barrel for all of 2017, that won’t be high enough to solve the problems of the many struggling parts of the country.

Russian President Vladimir Putin rules as an authoritarian. This is, in part, because he governs an unwieldy country. He needs all the power he can get to redistribute wealth so that the countryside isn’t driven to revolt.

Russia is making headlines right now because of Ukraine, Syria, and alleged hacking. But the geopolitical position of Russia is better described by studying the map above.

Map 2: China’s cage limits access to the Pacific

Maps that shift perspective can be disorienting, but they are meant to be. Our minds get so used to seeing the world in one way that a different view can feel alien. But that is even more reason to push through the discomfort. The map above shows us the Pacific from Beijing’s perspective.

China's moves in the South China Sea have received a great deal of attention. In a Jan. 12 confirmation hearing with Congress, nominee for US Secretary of Defense James Mattish pointed to Chinese aggressiveness as one of the major reasons he thinks the world order is under its biggest assault since World War II.

But we believe the Chinese threat is overstated. This map helps explain why.

China’s access to the Pacific is limited by two obstacles. (I wrote about this extensively in This Week in Geopolitics… subscribe here for free). The first is the small island chains in the South and East China Seas. When we look at this map, China’s motive in asserting control over these large rocks becomes clear. If China cannot control these islands and shoals, they can be used against China in a military conflict.

The second obstacle is that China is surrounded by American allies. Some such as Japan (and to a lesser extent South Korea and Taiwan) have significant military forces to defend themselves from Chinese encroachment. Taiwan sticks out as a major spur aimed squarely at China’s southeast coast. Those that don’t have sufficient military defenses, like the Philippines, have firm US security guarantees. China is currently at a serious geographic disadvantage in the waters off its coast.

This map does not reveal one important fact. That is the US Navy outclasses the Chinese navy in almost every regard… despite impressive and continuing Chinese efforts to increase capabilities.

But looking at this map, you can see why China wants to make noise in its coastal waters and how China is limited by an arc of American allies. You can also see why one of China’s major goals will be to attempt to entice any American allies to switch sides.

China’s moves regarding the Philippines will require close observation in 2017.

Map 3: Geographical power in the Middle East

It has become cliché to point out that the Middle East’s current political borders were drawn after World War I by colonial powers (like the UK and France), and that the region’s recent wars and insurrections are making these artificial boundaries obsolete. What isn’t cliché is doubling down on that analysis.

We’ve drawn a new map… one that reveals what the Middle East really looks like right now. Some will object to some of the boundaries for political purposes, but this map is not trying to make a political statement. Rather, it is an attempt to show who holds power over what geography in the Middle East.

From this point of view, Syria, Iraq, Yemen, and Libya no longer exist. In their places are smaller warring statelets based on ethnic, national, and sectarian identities. Other borders (like those of Lebanon and Israel) are also redrawn to reflect actual power dynamics.

Here, a politically incorrect but accurate map is more useful than an inaccurate but politically correct one.

It is also important to note which countries' borders do not require redrawing. These include three of the region’s four major powers: Iran, Turkey, and Saudi Arabia. The borders of the other major power, Israel, are only slightly modified. (Egypt is an economic basket case. It doesn’t qualify as a major power, even though it has one of the most cohesive national cultures in the Arab world.)

The Middle East is defined by two key dynamics: the wars raging in the heart of the Arab world and the balance of power between the countries that surround this conflict.

Chinese brands are becoming increasingly popular overseas, with western consumers increasingly looking to the country's companies for the newest product innovations.

While many huge Chinese brands are unknown outside of China, several are now competitive on the world's stage. 

On Tuesday, the first "BrandZ Top 30 Chinese Global Brand Builders" report was released by advertising holding company WPP, its research firm Kantar Millward Brown, and Google, ranking the most powerful Chinese export brands. 

The ranking was based on each company's "BrandZ" measure of consumers' predisposition to choose a particular brand — taking into account how meaningful, different, and salient each brand is — plus research conducted in September 2016 using Google Surveys. The median Brand Power score of the 167 brands analyzed was 85.

Scroll down to see the 10 Chinese brands that have most successfully established themselves overseas.

SEE ALSO: Why Chinese firms keep paying big bucks for ad-tech companies

10. Hisense. Brand Power Score: 482. A Chinese multinational brand that makes white goods and electronics like TVs and tablets. It exports to 130 countries and around 30% of the company's revenue comes from overseas.

9. Cheetah Mobile. Brand Power Score: 498. This 7-year-old company is best-known for its free mobile security software, including Battery Doctor, Clean Master, and CM Security. It has more than 634 million monthly active users worldwide and derives most of its revenue from advertising.

8. Anker. Brand Power Score: 501. This Changsha-based company manufactures electronic accessories like headphones, USB cables, and portable chargers. It sells its products in more than 30 countries.

Every year, Post Office Travel Money compares the cost of travel items in destinations around the world to find the cheapest places to holiday based on current exchange rates.

This year's ranking looked at destinations in 44 countries around the world, calculating the total average spend for one day in each location.

The total is measured by the average cost of 10 holiday items, including a cup of coffee, a pint of beer, a bottle of water, suncream, insect repellent, and a three-course dinner for two with a bottle of wine.

From Cancun to Cape Town, here are the cheapest long-haul holiday destinations to travel to in 2017.

Note: some of the costs cited have been excluded for the sake of brevity.

17. China Town, Singapore

Meal for two:£59.56

Beer:£5.93

Wine:£7.15

Filter coffee:£3.57

Coca-Cola:£2.68

Suncream:£9.23

16. Tamarindo, Costa Rica

Meal for two:£62.02

Beer:£2.51

Wine:£5.87

Filter coffee:£1.68

Coca-Cola:£1.84

Suncream:£9.22

15. Vancouver, Canada

Meal for two:£66.38

Beer:£3.79

Wine:£5.06

Filter coffee:£1.58

Coca-Cola:£1.19

Suncream:£6.32

PARK CITY, Utah — It's that time again when Hollywood heads to this ski town to showcase the best that independent film has to offer at the Sundance Film Festival, currently underway.

Last year’s fest gave us the world premieres of current award-season staples like “Manchester by the Sea” and “OJ: Made in America.” As new titles go from unknown to suddenly jumping on our must-see list at the 2017 festival, we'll be writing about it right here.

For now, here are 18 movies we think you’ll want to seek out:

SEE ALSO: The "Deadpool" writers reveal everything you want to know about the sequel

“A Ghost Story”

Following his first studio movie, Disney’s “Pete’s Dragon,” indie-film titan David Lowery has secretly made a low-budget thriller starring Casey Affleck as a ghost who returns home to watch over his grief-stricken lover, played by Rooney Mara. Expect a gothic feel, which Lowery has built his career mastering.

A24 will release later this year.

“An Inconvenient Sequel”

A decade after Al Gore brought climate change to the nation’s attention with the Oscar-winning “An Inconvenient Truth,” his follow-up comes to Sundance at a crucial moment in the history of climate-change awareness. With the Trump administration perceived to push back on the progress made to save the environment in the last 10 years, Gore returns to shed light on a topic that can’t be ignored.

Paramount will release later this year.

“The Big Sick”

Produced by Judd Apatow and directed by Michael Showalter (“Wet Hot American Summer”), this comedy follows the hilarious but poignant relationship a Pakistan-born man (Kumail Nanjiani, “Silicon Valley”) has with his American girlfriend (Zoe Kazan). The movie is based on the real-life relationship Nanjiani has with fellow comic Emily V. Gordon. With all the talent involved, expect to hear a lot about this one. 

Donald Trump is officially America's 45th President. Unlike his predecessors, the VC-25As that serve as Air Force One will not be Mr. Trump's first personal Boeing airliner.

"Trump Force One"— as some have dubbed the jet— was one of the most visible symbols of his run for the Oval Office. However, Mr. Trump likes to call it the "T-Bird," according to a Discovery Channel documentary featuring the plane. According the documentary, the Trump Boeing 757 reportedly cost a whopping $100 million. Admittedly, that figure seems highly exaggerated when compared to market prices. The President has owned the Boeing airliner — registration N757FA— since 2011 and has customized the aircraft to his liking. It's unclear what will become of the Trump 757. In all likelihood, the aircraft will be pressed into service for members of the Trump family as well as senior officials at the Trump Organization.

Have a closer look at President Donald Trump's personal Boeing 757-200 jet:

SEE ALSO: The incredible history of Air Force One

Although President Trump may be the jet's current owner, he wasn't its first.

Trump's Boeing 757-2J4ER first flew in May 1991. The new airliner was delivered to Sterling Airlines, a now defunct Danish low-cost carrier. A couple of years later, it found its way into the fleet of Mexico's TAESA, also a now defunct airline.

Sources: Federal Aviation Administration, Airfleets.net

In 1995, the jet was bought by Microsoft cofounder Paul Allen. For the next 15 years, the Boeing served as a corporate runabout for the billionaire's various interests.

Sources: Airfleets.net, FlightAware

When Homepolish designer Jesse Turek was asked to redesign a one-bedroom New York City apartment into the ultimate modern-day bachelor pad, he was up for the challenge.

Homepolish is a startup that designs spaces for homeowners as well as other startups. The client, who works in finance and has requested to stay anonymous, called on the company to take his living space up a notch. 

We chatted with Turek to hear more about how he approached designing the perfect space for a modern-day gentleman.

SEE ALSO: Inside the 'paparazzi-proof' building where penthouses are selling for $54 million

This apartment, located on Manhattan's Lower East Side, is located inside what was previously a printing press for the newspaper Forward. Completed in 1912, the building was turned into condominiums in the 1990s.

Turek noted that the client requested a "spa-like atmosphere" in the apartment.

"He requested that the space be relaxing, uncluttered, and organized," Turek said.

Joe and Ali Olson spend their days traveling around the world with their one-year-old daughter, Annabelle.

Each in their early 30s, the couple were able to quit their jobs as public school teachers in August 2015 and retire after just eight years in the workforce.

How do you retire early as a public school teacher? The key: minimizing cost of living and finding a good side hustle. 

The Olsons met in 2004 when they were both college students, and got married during winter break of their senior year. Straight out of college they moved to Las Vegas, where Joe had accepted a teaching position with Teach For America. Ali started as a substitute teacher and eventually joined TFA as well, teaching English at a local high school.

"Luckily, Las Vegas has a really low cost of living — but it also has a low teacher pay," Ali told the Mad Fientist on an episode of his "Financial Independence Podcast."

So they took on any extra jobs they could — teaching summer school, running clubs, after-school tutoring — to bulk up their salaries. "It's a big difference percentage-wise because if you're making $35,000, and you teach summer school for $3,500, it's like, 'Wow, there's a 10% boost in my salary,'" Joe explained.

Some years, they were able to boost their income by as much as 50% through these supplemental positions.

Eventually, the couple realized they wanted to achieve financial independence and have the freedom to pursue whatever dreams they wanted, whenever they wanted. They continued to live frugally, saving around 75% of their teaching incomes, and in 2008, they bought their first rental property in Vegas.

In the following couple of years, the couple scooped up 14 more rentals. Though they lost money on these during the financial crisis, the market eventually turned and their properties starting bringing in steady profits, eventually pushing their net worth over $1 million.

Now, they're completely financially independent, traveling the world with Annabelle in tow, and occasionally sharing their experiences on their blog, Adventuring Along. Read on to see how they did it. 

SEE ALSO: A man who retired at 34 explains one bad savings habit that everyone should avoid

DON'T MISS: The simple strategy one man used to save enough money to retire at 30

The Olsons graduated from college with a combined $30,000 in student loans to pay off — no small amount, but not as much as it could have been, thanks to the low tuition costs of their public, in-state college and assistance from relatives. But they lived frugally and made consistent payments, quickly watching that number shrink.

In 2007, Joe and Ali bought their Las Vegas condo at a steep discount. At the end of 2008 — amid the financial crises when housing prices were battered — they also purchased a rental property nearby and started trying to turn a profit. It didn't work out at first, and they took a financial hit.

"It seemed like a good deal because the price of the property was $120,000, and at the peak, it had sold just two years before for $360,000," Joe said. "But then the prices kept falling. And it kept falling in 2009 in 2010. And that property actually bottomed out being worth around $80,000. So we were under water on it, but we were still making money every month because the rent was higher than the mortgage payment by a decent amount."

Aaron Rodgers isn't the most outspoken quarterback in the NFL, but he might just be the most competitive. 

The Packers QB has called himself "obsessively competitive," claims to remember every interception he's ever thrown, will sometimes go days without talking to his teammates because of locker-room card-game disputes, and once dropped an f-bomb on "Celebrity Jeopardy!" after missing a question. (He went on to win, of course.)

This sort of competitiveness is what helped an undersized high schooler with no Division 1 scholarship offers go from playing junior-college football to winning two regular season MVPs and a Super Bowl MVP. It's what makes the Packers a Super Bowl contender year in and year out, and what makes Rodgers arguably the best quarterback on the planet.

This year, after a 4-6 start, Rodgers said his team could run the table. They won their last six games of the regular season and are now one game away from the Super Bowl.

Here are 24 anecdotes to illustrate just how competitive the Green Bay quarterback really is.

Rodgers claims to remember every single interception and touchdown he's ever thrown — even from as far back as eighth grade. He also remembers specific high-school plays, down to the defensive formation.

Source: MMQB

When he was 9, Rodgers' family moved from Oregon to California. To be accepted to his new school, Rodgers needed to do an interview, and when asked what he would contribute to school, he said football. When he was 15, he would show up every morning in his coach's office before class to pick his brain about offensive and defensive schemes.

Source: E:60

As a senior in high school, he decided to play baseball after getting no Division 1 football offers. Once, he threw at a pitcher's head after the pitcher threw a 94-mile fastball at him while he was at bat. The two were separated moments before the benches cleared.

Source: JS Online

Ever since the Osama bin Laden raid, America has gone bonkers for US Navy SEALs and Military Special Operators in general.

Putting 100 thousand troops and countless private support personnel on the ground in any given country — sometimes referred to as "nation building"— is a costly strategy. Putting a boot or two on Osama bin Laden's door arguably cost more in political currency — Pakistan wasn't too happy — than actual currency.

Though it was the SEALs who performed that raid in Abbottabad, it's worth noting there are quite a few more SpecOps units in the US than just SEALs — Green Berets and Marine Snipers, etc. — so we here at Business Insider have made things easy by assembling a comprehensive list of all the SpecOps units we could find.

An earlier version of this story was written by Geoffrey Ingersoll.

SEE ALSO: Welcome to the boneyard, where US Air Force birds go to die

Division Marine Recon

Marine Reconnaissance teams provide intelligence for active small unit operations on the battlefield. Those with Marine Sniper quals can also provide accurate demoralizing small arms fire from a distance.

Marine Recon is arguably in the top five of all special operators — capable of harassing an entire enemy battalion for long periods of time; tracking enemy units for larger American forces; or conducting well-orchestrated raids on high-valued targets.

These guys are the gems in the crown of the United States Marine Corps.

Air Force Special Operations Weatherman

No, it's not a joke. They can literally forecast the weather above a fight, kill the enemy, and direct artillery — simultaneously.

The official mission of the U.S. Air Force field weatherman is as a ground-level, small-unit meteorologist who provides accurate forecasts for the purpose of air asset deployment (bombs and stuff).

USMC Air Naval Gunfire Liaison Company — ANGLICO

The Air Naval Gunfire Liaison Company is another group that often finds itself in the shadow of sexier special operations units like the SEALs. A single ANGLICO Marine can coordinate a hellish rain of fiery artillery and air-strafing fire on the enemy though, whereas all a SEAL can do is pull a trigger.

Typically they don't deploy as individuals, but like any SpecOps group, in teams of four or five.

A typical ANGLICO team:

• Team Leader (Captain or Navy Lieutenant): any ground MOS - typically JTAC (Joint Terminal Attack Controller)-qualified artillery officer.
• Team Chief (Sergeant), typically qualified as JFO (joint fires observer) and as a JTAC.
• Radio Chief (Corporal or Sergeant).
• Junior Radio Operator (Private First Class / Lance Corporal).
• Fire Support Man / Scout Observer (Private First Class / Lance Corporal).

Sleep deprivation is no joke.

Ever moderate fatigue can hit you as hard as alcohol intoxication, according to a helpful chart from the Harvard Business Review.

However, many top executives and leaders seem to swear by skimping on shut eye. Some of them might just be part of the "sleepless elite." Others are probably just good at masking the effects of exhaustion.

Unless you're one of those lucky people who just doesn't get tired, your best bet is to avoid emulating these individuals when it comes to your sleep routine:

SEE ALSO: 5 successful people who always get a full night of sleep

Jack Dorsey, Twitter founder and Square CEO

Being at the head of two exciting tech startups doesn't leave too much time for rest. In 2011, Dorsey told Kara Swisher that he was spending eight to 10 hours a day at Square, and eight to 10 hours a day at Twitter.

That left him somewhere around four to six hours a night to sleep, possibly less when travel time is factored in. He still manages to get up at 5:30 every morning to take a jog.

Donald Trump, President of the United States

According to The Daily News, Trump credits his success tosleeping only three to four hours each night to stay a step ahead of his competition.

"How does somebody that's sleeping 12 and 14 hours a day compete with someone that's sleeping three or four?" he asked the Daily News.

Indra Nooyi, chairman and CEO of PepsiCo

One of the world's most prominent female executives since getting Pepsi's top job in 2007, Nooyi sleeps a meager four hours a night, according to CNN Money.

She's no stranger to long hours, having worked the graveyard shift as a receptionist while getting her Master's at Yale. 

WASHINGTON — The Women's March on Washington drew about half a million people, which sources told the New York Times was three times the attendance of President Donald Trump's inauguration the day before.

Marchers from all over the country brought with them a diversity of visual protest — thousands and thousands of signs.

Many lambasted Trump for his demeaning views of women, circa 2005, that The Washington Post exposed in October 2016, namely his view that, as a celebrity, he can "Grab 'em by the p---y. You can do anything."

Others brought up issues related to women's rights, civil rights, and more acute policy issues, such as the Trump administration's positions on environmental conservation and climate change.

Here are just a few dozen signs we photographed among the masses on January 21, 2017.

SEE ALSO: Here's where Trump stands on abortion and other women's health issues

DON'T MISS: Trump's call for a nuclear 'arms race' is the most dangerous thing he's said yet

Grilled chicken: the timid, humdrum sibling of fried chicken.

While nowhere near as glamorous or greasy as its crispy companion, grilled chicken is starting to increase in popularity as it rides the wave of health-conscious dining.

Most major fast-food chains now offer grilled-chicken options, from sandwiches to nuggets.

But seared chicken isn't masked by a delicious fried coating, so it has to be good to pass muster.

We tried grilled-chicken sandwiches from major fast-food chains — Burger King, McDonald's, Wendy's, and Chick-fil-A — to find out which is best.

SEE ALSO: We tried the regional burger chain many people say is the best in America to see if it lives up to the hype

5. Burger King Tendergrill

According to Burger King's menu, this chicken is marinated and seasoned with "pepper and herbs"— yet in reality, it tastes of utter nothing. The bun is weak and underwhelming and prone to flattening. And with the sandwich coming in at 470 calories — the highest of any on this list by a long shot — its healthiness is dubious at best. 

This is a chicken sandwich in the midst of an existential crisis. Is it meant to be an enjoyable, flavorful item or merely a bland vehicle for protein delivery? The chicken itself is dry, stringy, and tough. The lettuce and tomato are pallid, and the mayonnaise oversteps its boundaries in every bite. This sandwich leaves one in tangy despair.

4. McDonald's Artisan Grilled Chicken

This sandwich is part of the "Artisan" chicken revamp McDonald's released in 2015 along with the crispy fried version. The grilled white-meat breast fillet is topped with lettuce, tomato, and a vinaigrette dressing, all within McDonald's "artisan" bun. 

WASHINGTON — On January 21, a day after Trump's inauguration, approximately 500,000 people convened in Washington DC for the Women's March. According to its organizers, the march's goal was to stand up for equality for all groups, especially women, LGBT folks, people of color, immigrants, and those with disabilities.

More than a million protestors marched in cities in the US and around the world, making it one of the largest one-day protests in American history.

Behind the mass throngs of crowds were individuals with their own motivations for gathering in DC.

A few shared their stories with Business Insider below.

SEE ALSO: 53 of the most eye-catching protest signs we saw at the Women's March on Washington

On January 21, half a million people — significantly more than what organizers and the city anticipated — came out to Washington, DC for the Women's March on Washington.

Source: The Washington Post

Leslie Synn, a 36-year-old mother from New York City, marched with her young daughter's doll to represent her.

Synn's daughter's name is Rose, who calls the doll "Rosie.""I couldn't imagine her being a teenager and the country still be in a debate whether she has the right to control her own body," Synn said.