Can fear-based leadership really cripple an organization's success? Join me as we unravel the complexities of fear-driven tactics in leadership and their counterproductive impact on team morale and productivity. Drawing from my experience as a performance coach, I share insights into the pressures that can lead even well-intentioned leaders to adopt intimidating behaviors that stifle autonomy and drive skilled employees away. We'll identify key traits of fear-based leadership, such as dominating...
Nov 19, 2024•42 min•Ep. 223
What if your biggest asset as a leader could also be your greatest downfall? Imagine the sharp edge of intelligence being dulled by the subtle creep of overconfidence. In this compelling episode of The Reload, we scrutinize the perilous sway of hubris within leadership, drawing insightful parallels with Greek tragedies. As a performance coach and special operations combat veteran, I share firsthand experiences that highlight how even the best leaders can stumble into this trap, not through obvio...
Nov 12, 2024•35 min•Ep. 222
Unlock the secrets to transforming organizational culture and embracing change with insights from renowned therapist Esther Perel and neuroscientist Dr. Andrew Huberman. Discover how leaders can foster a culture of flexibility and adaptability, even when employees come in with fixed expectations. We promise you'll leave with strategies to recruit individuals open to change and understand the vital importance of clear communication in guiding your team toward a competitive future. Join us as we t...
Nov 04, 2024•26 min•Ep. 221
Curious about how to turn your team's creative chaos into clear, effective decision-making? Discover the key strategies that can transform your brainstorming sessions from endless discussions to decisive actions. This episode reveals the vital influence of emotional intelligence in leadership and how even the most rational leaders can benefit from understanding emotional dynamics. By setting clear expectations and timelines, you'll learn how to guide your team through productive and focused disc...
Oct 28, 2024•35 min•Ep. 220
What if embracing the emotions we often label as 'bad' is the key to unlocking personal and leadership growth? This episode of The Reload promises to explore just that. As a performance mindset coach, I share insights from my own life, including a deeply impactful event in Iraq, to illustrate how confronting fear, anger, sadness, and disgust can transform self-imposed suffering into powerful growth opportunities. By diving into 'emotion families' and understanding their physical manifestations, ...
Oct 24, 2024•38 min•Ep. 219
Who knew that the simple act of shaving could teach us profound lessons about leadership and communication? Join me, Sean, as I share personal stories revealing how the quest for efficiency can sometimes lead to painful mistakes, both literally and metaphorically. This metaphor sets the stage for a broader conversation about the significance of patience and attentiveness in achieving true effectiveness in life and work. Transitioning from the personal to the professional, the episode dives into ...
Oct 14, 2024•40 min•Ep. 218
Unlock the secrets of emotional literacy and transform your leadership style with insights from my years as a performance coach. Ever wondered why some leaders excel in logical thinking but stumble when it comes to emotional awareness? Discover how enhancing your emotional literacy can empower you to manage stress, build stronger teams, and achieve collective goals with ease. Through candid insights and a sprinkle of humor, this episode promises to equip you with the tools to manage yourself eff...
Oct 08, 2024•39 min•Ep. 217
Have you ever wondered why conflict within teams sometimes spirals out of control, while other times it propels the group to new heights of productivity? Join us on this episode of "The Reload" as we unpack the intricate dynamics of team conflict and reveal how to harness it for positive outcomes. You'll discover why highly intelligent team members often struggle with criticism and how posturing can derail crucial conversations. We stress the need for emotional awareness and provide actionable s...
Oct 01, 2024•39 min•Ep. 216
Ever wondered why your team isn't talking to you about the real issues? This episode promises to transform how you understand and address communication barriers in leadership. I'll walk you through the four major signs that your team may not be communicating effectively: silence, indirect communication, excessive but meaningless chatter, and insincerity. We'll also dissect why these issues arise, whether it's due to power dynamics, gender, age, or physical size, and I'll share practical methods ...
Sep 25, 2024•1 hr 3 min•Ep. 215
Ever wondered if admitting weakness could be a sign of strength? In this episode of The Reload, I recount a powerful encounter with a respected influencer during a training event in Idaho. His heartfelt revelation about battling isolation in the Alaskan wilderness opened my eyes to the immense strength in vulnerability. Join me as we explore how our unseen efforts and connections impact each other's lives, urging a deeper appreciation for those everyday heroes among us. Next, we uncover the hidd...
Sep 10, 2024•58 min•Ep. 214
What happens when high-performing executives place their entire identity in their work? Join me as I recount the harrowing story of a friend and former client whose relentless work addiction led to severe health issues and major medical setbacks. Drawing from my own experiences, including battling suicidal thoughts after combat deployments, we unravel the life lessons often ignored by those too consumed with professional achievements. This episode sheds light on the severe consequences of such d...
Sep 02, 2024•12 min•Ep. 213
Can genuine trust really elevate team performance to new heights? In this episode of The Reload, we promise to uncover the essential elements of building trust and vulnerability within teams, guided by the insights from episode 211 and our last conversation with Nick Norris, a seasoned entrepreneur and special operations veteran. We dive into the telltale signs of mistrust, like ineffective communication and defensive behavior, and discuss practical strategies to foster an environment where open...
Aug 27, 2024•39 min•Ep. 212
Have you ever wondered how to balance high performance with finding deeper meaning in life? Join us as we chat with Nick Norris, a distinguished SEAL veteran and entrepreneur, who shares his incredible journey from the rigors of special operations to the complexities of civilian ventures in commercial real estate and consumer packaged goods. Nick opens up about the emotional challenges faced during the transition from military to civilian life, emphasizing the necessity of emotional connection a...
Aug 26, 2024•1 hr 17 min•Ep. 211
Can the simple act of showing appreciation transform your relationships? Discover the profound impact of gratitude as we unpack the often overlooked habit of taking others for granted. We explore how our biases and double standards can lead to misunderstandings and erode trust. Learn how aligning your actions with your intentions can build stronger, more reliable connections both personally and professionally. Unlock the secrets to nurturing relationships with consistent appreciation. Find out w...
Aug 19, 2024•48 min•Ep. 210
What if everything you thought about managing your time was wrong? Welcome to The Reload, where we help unconventional leaders reshape their lives through challenging conventional thinking. In this episode, we dismantle the myth that short tasks are unimportant and share a practical framework to balance your priorities. Drawing from my work with high-level executives, entrepreneurs, and special ops veterans, we dive into the nuanced differences between “finding time” and “making time,” and why b...
Aug 13, 2024•42 min•Ep. 209
Do you ever wonder why high achievers struggle with personal fulfillment despite their success? Today, we promise to uncover the hidden challenges that even the most accomplished individuals face. Join us on "The Reload" as we explore the traits that define unconventional leadership and the transformative journey of self-discovery. We’ll unearth how the drive for career success often masks deeper personal issues, especially in relationships, and why recognizing when your usual strategies fall sh...
Aug 05, 2024•34 min•Ep. 208
Does the weight of leadership ever feel overwhelming? Today, we dissect the burdens and responsibilities that come with leading, both personally and professionally. Drawing insights from a compelling text message from an executive client, we delve into why leaders often carry a sense of heaviness, despite the fulfillment their roles can bring. Through definitions from Merriam-Webster, we explore the dual nature of strength and fatigue in carrying such burdens, and the inherent duty that leaders ...
Jul 29, 2024•36 min•Ep. 207
What does it mean to truly succeed? Is winning worth the emotional and relational costs? Join me, Sean, as we question the societal norms of success often dictated by external pressures from parents, bosses, and mentors. We'll uncover the tangible rewards like status and material gains but also confront the hidden costs—strained relationships, endless pressure, and the fear of losing it all. This episode promises to offer a balanced understanding of the high stakes involved in the pursuit of suc...
Jul 02, 2024•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 206
Performance anxiety is a universal challenge that even the highest achievers face. Imagine being on the brink of a crucial board meeting or stepping into the ring for a Muay Thai fight and feeling paralyzed by anxiety. This episode of The Reload takes you through the intricate maze of performance anxiety with personal anecdotes from the world of martial arts and practical insights for those in high-stakes environments, from corporate boardrooms to combat zones. We uncover how focusing too much o...
Jun 10, 2024•1 hr 9 min•Ep. 205
What if mastery isn't a final destination, but a lifelong journey filled with continual growth and discovery? In this episode, we explore the compelling nuances of mastery through a conversation with a former client eager to deepen his understanding and reignite his passion for learning. We dissect mastery from two intriguing perspectives: as a pinnacle of skill and knowledge, and as an ongoing, ever-evolving relationship similar to a long-term marriage. This dynamic perspective will challenge y...
Jun 04, 2024•26 min•Ep. 204
Ever wondered why it's so hard to let go of regret, even when we know better? Discover the profound impact of life's endings in our latest episode of The Reload. We examine the weight of closure in various forms, whether it's the loss of a loved one, the end of a career, or the dissolution of a relationship. Through personal coaching stories, I illustrate how high-achievers often wrestle with hyper-responsibility, especially in the face of betrayal or infidelity. Learn how these experiences shap...
May 29, 2024•45 min•Ep. 203
Ever grappled with the weight of your professional identity overshadowing your personal life? You're not alone. My friend Nick Norris, an ex-Navy SEAL turned entrepreneur, joins me for an in-depth exploration of how leaders can maintain their core integrity amidst the pressures of high-performance roles. We're tackling the tough topics: setting boundaries, preventing burnout, and balancing personal connections with professional responsibilities. Leadership isn't just about making tough calls; it...
May 14, 2024•59 min•Ep. 201
Ever wondered how the missteps of others could be your stepping stones to success? This episode sheds light on mining the gold in others' blind spots for your personal development adventure. We navigate the nuances of learning from the actions, both laudable and lamentable, of those around us, transforming observation into self-improvement. It's not about finger-pointing; it's about recognizing the pressures that shape decisions and how they mirror our own. By finding parallels in our lives, we'...
May 07, 2024•18 min•Ep. 200
Struggling with anxiety often feels like waging a silent battle, one that even high performers and seemingly unflappable individuals face. My own journey, from the frontlines of combat to the home front has taught me this lesson all too well. The intense interplay of anxiety and aggression, hidden beneath a veil of composure, can deeply affect personal and professional lives if left unchecked. Through vivid stories from my time in service and the struggles that followed, I offer a perspective th...
Apr 30, 2024•54 min•Ep. 199
Have you ever felt the sting of shame so acutely that it seemed to define you? We're peeling back the layers on an emotion that's as common as it is misunderstood, guiding you through the murky waters of shame and its influence on those who strive to perform at their peak. My conversations with clients, from CEOs to startup visionaries, have unearthed a universal struggle with this deep-seated feeling, one that transcends success and demands our attention for true personal growth. Amidst the sto...
Apr 30, 2024•48 min•Ep. 202
When the sting of a workplace slight had me teetering between indignation and curiosity, I chose an unexpected path that led to harmony instead of havoc. Join me, Sean, as I recount this transformative experience and more, guiding you through the twists and turns of upholding integrity in challenging professional scenarios. We tackle the essence of 'playing your position' in life's grand game, emphasizing why it's vital to stay true to your course for personal and leadership growth. Along the wa...
Apr 23, 2024•24 min•Ep. 198
Have you ever met someone so brilliant yet so blind to their own shortcomings? Join me, Sean, as I reveal the paradox of smart leaders with low self-awareness. We often applaud those with the 'right answers' but overlook the critical skill of being open to other perspectives. Throughout my years as a performance coach, I've witnessed the brightest minds struggle with recognizing their own blind spots. This episode peels back the layers of irony, emphasizing the need for incorporating self-reflec...
Apr 16, 2024•32 min
Embark on a transformative exploration with me, Sean, as we tackle the unseen emotional barriers that even the most accomplished leaders face. Together, we'll unravel real coaching sessions that lay bare the struggle against pessimism and feelings of hopelessness that secretly gnaw at one's resolve. By examining the insidious impact of words like 'ever' and 'never' on our challenges, this episode is a deep dive into how these simple terms can morph everyday hurdles into unscalable mountains. It'...
Apr 09, 2024•19 min
As a leadership coach who's stood in the eye of many storms, I've learned a thing or two about the push and pull of confidence and doubt. On this episode of The Reload, join me, Sean, as we wade into the quagmire of balancing the quiet assurance of internal faith with the cacophony of external voices. We'll delve into the resilience required to maintain one's vision in the face of relentless questioning and the allure of social validation. With tales from the trenches and the wisdom of experienc...
Apr 02, 2024•27 min•Ep. 195
Embark on a journey of self-discovery with Sean, a performance coach and battle-tested combat veteran, as we tackle the pivotal moments of personal and professional reinvention. Feel the pull of transformation as we reveal the layers of resistance that often bind us to the comfort of the known, despite the suffering it may entail. Through the lens of Sean's extensive experience, we uncover the role coaching plays in overcoming the struggle for change—highlighting its power to be the catalyst you...
Mar 26, 2024•36 min•Ep. 194
