How Elite Teams Operate - Navy SEAL Leadership Skills for Life and Business | Rich Diviney & Brent Gleeson

Brent Gleeson (0:00)

I think the highest performers out there are lifelong learners.

Rich Diviney (0:02)

The quality of our lives is directly proportional to the quality of questions we ask ourselves on a consistent basis.

Michael Gervais (0:17)

Okay, welcome back, or welcome to the Finding Mastery podcast. I'm your host, Dr. Michael Gervais, by trade and training a high-performance psychologist. And I am so pumped to welcome not one, but two incredible humans, Rich Diviney and Brent Gleeson to the podcast for this week's conversation.

It's likely that most of us will quickly conjure the same familiar image when we hear the words Navy Seal.

Perhaps someone at peak physical toughness, possessing a stoic demeanor and an unbreakable spirit. Now, our guests today show us there's so much more than meets the eye when it comes to some of the world's most elite and entrusted high performers. In addition to being former Navy Seals, Rich and Brent are authors, speakers and consultants on human performance. They've both found great success using their highly specialized experience to revolutionize the way some of today's prominent leaders and their teams approach optimal performance. Using actionable steps focused on purpose, goal setting and navigating meaningful change within any organization. When it comes to high stress environments, Rich and Brent have seen it all. And I can't wait for you to hear how they're fusing physical, mental and emotional disciplines to inspire other elite performers to reframe challenge, to use pain as a pathway and to cultivate true resilience. With that, let's jump right in today's conversation with Rich Diviney and Brent Gleeson. Brent, Rich, so stoked that you guys are here. And just for folks that are listening on audio only, this is the first time we've done three people in the studio. So let's do a little voice check. And so let me start with you, Rich.

I'll ask you two questions and then we'll calibrate your voice. Maybe we'll learn something about you as well.

Rich Diviney (2:12)

Sounds good.

Michael Gervais (2:13)

First question, what did you have for breakfast?

Rich Diviney (2:15)

I had black coffee.

Oh, yeah, that's it. I'm not a big breakfast guy. I actually enjoy intermittent fasting and I enjoy black coffee. And since I was traveling, just it's easier.

Michael Gervais (2:26)

Yeah, that's good. How many days are you doing intermittent fasting?

Rich Diviney (2:29)

When I can, I try to do at least 16 hours if I can every day.

Sometimes I do a challenge where I'll do a three or four day fast. I try that.

Michael Gervais (2:40)

So the second question for you is how would you describe who you are?

Rich Diviney (2:45)

How would I describe who I am? I am a husband and a father, 100% primary. That is my primary identity. It always has been.

And so everything I do, whether it's a Navy SEAL or author or entrepreneur, is all in concert with that single identity. And that's what I want in my gravestone.

Michael Gervais (3:02)

There you go. And in that order, does that order matter to you?

Rich Diviney (3:06)

It doesn't really matter, I guess, but they're both as important. Although the kids grow up and leave, so husband has to be.

My wife and I talk about that all the time.

Michael Gervais (3:15)

And how old are the kids?

Rich Diviney (3:16)

18 and 16

Michael Gervais (3:17)

So you've got one leaving the house or just left?

Rich Diviney (3:20)

Kind of. He's on a path to leave, but he'll circle back, I think. We have the same interests. There you go.

Michael Gervais (3:28)

Okay, cool. We'll come back to that.

Okay, so father and husband. And how do you classify or how do you characterize your service?

Rich Diviney (3:35)

Yeah, so I was a Navy SEAL officer for just under 21 years. I went in in 1996 and then retired at the tail end of 2016 So December 31, 1159 was my last minute in the Navy.

So yeah, a really interesting, fruitful, kinetic career. Because, of course, when I joined, it was before 9-11. So I lived five years of the pre-war SEAL teams and, of course, the post-war SEAL teams, which was very busy. And I think very unique in the history of the SEAL team. So I'm proud to have been a part of it.

Michael Gervais (4:13)

OK, cool. All right. Awesome.

Brent.

Brent Gleeson (4:17)

Yes.

Michael Gervais (4:17)

Two questions. What did you have for breakfast?

Brent Gleeson (4:20)

I had coffee and one small almond muffin from the Ruby coffee shop next door.

Michael Gervais (4:27)

They're not quite satisfying, are they? It's OK, though. OK, good.