Quotes from Ant Middleton

A lot of people these days are very much too wrapped up in cotton wool: people aren't pushed to their limits, and that's why we should find out where our limits lie.

I'm an extreme do'er - I'm not an intellect; I'm not a bookworm. I do, do, do, and nine times out of ten, I fail, but I learn from that.

I trained my whole career to fight. I loved my job - I prioritised by job over my family, over my children.

When I first joined the army, I felt I had to be part of the alpha male culture. But I didn't.

I wanted a challenge, wanted to be self-sufficient, so I thought, 'Go and join the army,' at a young age, and I just happened to be good at what I done and went up the ladder and went up to the top.

The kids have got their iPads, but they prefer to get out climbing trees and coming out with me. That's the kind of learning I want them to have: experiences.

On a 60-mile trek with a 200-kg. bergen on my back, I felt my ankle break. Some might have given up. I broke my other ankle to even up the pain. And carried on.

I joined the army because I was a very self-sufficient young man. I always wanted to stand on my own two feet.

If I've got a message to the younger generation, it's this: don't be scared of failure. Get out there, try things, and never be afraid to ask for help.

If you mind tells your body you can't do it, you will quit. If your body is giving up, but you think you can carry on, you will naturally keep putting one foot in front of the other.

When you're challenged to the extreme, you learn so much about yourself. And when you're willing to give that ultimate sacrifice, when you're willing to tackle a job or a task or a mission head-on and give 100%, you can achieve amazing things because you're almost fearless.

We have a responsibility as ex-soldiers to realise we're no longer in the military. All this 'once a soldier, always a soldier', that's all well and good, but that attitude doesn't work in society.

Some are happy with where their comfort zone is, but I like to be constantly tested, and I think it's good.

When I'm at home, I am in full Dad mode, and I love it.

I joined the Marines, passed Special Forces selection, and became a young leader in the military.

No trooper, no special forces operative wants to sit behind a desk. We joined up to kick some doors down.

I was never one to think about why I need to go running or go to the gym - it just came naturally to me.

I'm used to being in uncomfortable situations. I actually thrive in uncomfortable environments.

What's next? Let's do it! My life is chaotic and spontaneous, which is the way I like it.

When it comes to Everest, psychologically, you have to be in the red. If you're not, it doesn't matter how fit you are. I've seen the fittest of people, who I thought would steam up the top of Everest, allow the pressure to take over their body.

I had a tough childhood after my father died when I was five, and I had a very difficult stepfather. I want to give my children what I didn't have - a good role model.

Never, ever command respect. Always earn it. A leader steps into the arena, and a great leader should never ask anyone to do anything that they haven't done or they haven't experienced.

When you're in the military, you teeter on the edge of that line of life and death. The reason you feel so alive when you come through is because you know you've cheated death - and that and the adrenaline rush is addictive, no question.

In the SAS, if you're not good enough, you're graded out of it.