Proven Podcast Episode Summary
Episode: ALL IN: Navy SEAL Secret to Proven Results – Brent Gleeson
Host: Charles Schwartz
Guest: Brent Gleeson
Date: November 28, 2025
Episode Overview
This episode of Proven Podcast features former Navy SEAL, tech entrepreneur, and bestselling author Brent Gleeson discussing his latest book, "All In: The Pathway to Personal Growth and Professional Excellence." Brent and Charles explore how the laser focus and disciplines of special operations translate to business, personal growth, and building resilient, high-performing teams. The conversation ranges from building habits and systems, to the importance of values and actionable frameworks, to poignant reflections on loss and purpose.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Brent Gleeson’s Background & Introduction
- [00:30] Brent introduces himself as a Navy SEAL, combat veteran, tech entrepreneur, Forbes columnist, and author.
- Speaks about transitioning from special operations to entrepreneurship and his roles as a father and husband.
2. Why Some Operators Struggle After Service
- [02:10] Not all high-performing SEALs become high-performing business operators.
- Key reason: Loss of focus.
"Some of those traits that make them high performers in one arena are their enemy in another, and that's focus." – Brent, [02:33]
- Many attempt too much at once, chasing “shiny objects” and stretching themselves thin.
- Advice: Go “all in” on one cohesive path with intentional, strategic overlap.
“When we're trying to do too many things, we're just practicing the fine art of mediocrity.” – Brent, [03:53]
3. Action vs. Over-Reflection – Discovering Purpose
- [07:46] Brent relates that purpose is a “messy path” and often evolves through action, not just introspection.
- Sharing his own journey—from finance to joining the SEALs before 9/11, where his purpose matured from personal challenge to service after tragedy struck.
“Purpose is incredibly important. But it is a messy path.” – Brent, [07:46]
- Importance of Personal Values:
- Encourage people to clearly define values, as they guide both purpose and decision-making.
4. Values: Defining and Living Them
- [10:07] Brent stresses values should be concise, measurable, and actionable.
- Reflect on moments of resilience and joy to identify core values.
- Use “always/never” statements for clarity.
“Your values ideally should be very concise, very measurable, clearly defined, and have some sort of metrics attached.” – Brent, [11:21]
5. Systems, Processes, and Daily Rituals
- [13:26] Key distinction between systems, processes, and routines/rituals.
- Remarkable Results Pyramid Framework:
- Top: Existing & Desired Results
- Next: Systems & Processes
- Base: Daily Routines & Rituals (habit-building, habit-breaking)
- To build habits, use the cue–routine–reward loop.
- Example: Brent describes his journey to quit drinking by replacing evening drinks with exercise, demonstrating identity-based change and habit replacement.
“It takes about 66 days to build a new habit if you’re doing those routines on a regular basis.” – Brent, [15:27]
- Systems provide the overarching framework; processes are how you execute them day-to-day.
- Remarkable Results Pyramid Framework:
6. Identity Shifts & Breaking Bad Habits
- [20:25] Both Brent and Charles emphasize the necessity of identity transformation to sustain behavioral change.
“You have to switch your identity before you do that… I want to stop drinking because I want to be a better father, I want to be a better husband.” – Charles, [19:24]
- Brent shares a powerful personal story: the sudden loss of his father prompted deep self-reflection and a commitment to eliminate blockages—like alcohol—to maximize impact and be more present for family and business.
7. Organizational Change and Culture
- [27:48] The core of organizational excellence comes down to leading and embracing change.
- Most organizational change efforts stall because they skip “foundational elements”—alignment between strategy, values, and daily behaviors.
- Getting clear, honest feedback and tackling misalignment are critical.
“If I had to boil it down to one thing, it is how organizations deal with and/or lead change.” – Brent, [29:14]
8. Measurable, Operationalized Culture
- [32:40] Culture must be lived and operationalized—not just “fluffy stuff.”
- Accountability is the #1 cultural pillar; without it, trust and performance suffer.
“You can't have a high trust organization without extreme ownership. That's why accountability is listed above trust as the two most important cultural pillars.” – Brent, [34:12]
9. Performance Management & Dealing with Toxicity
- [39:41] Clear values and expectations allow for fair performance management.
- Radical candor: “Care personally, challenge directly.”
- Remove repeat toxic underperformers, regardless of status—otherwise, the team and results suffer.
“As leaders we get the behaviors that we tolerate.” – Brent, [37:14]
10. Consulting Approach & Frameworks
- [46:16] Brent’s consulting company, Accelerate, fuses management consulting and enterprise software to facilitate transformation.
- Diagnostics focus on operating rhythms, culture, and feedback to identify “blockages to growth and change.”
- Middle management often lacks leadership training—critical for effective change.
11. Lessons from the Fallen & The Power of Purpose
- [51:21] Brent shares memories of fallen teammates, including losing his class leader in BUD/S and Mike Murphy, Medal of Honor recipient.
“My only answer is the same... it’s the brothers that didn’t come home.” – Brent, [53:30]
- Purpose-driven living: “The happiest, most successful people in the world—every pursuit they do... is for something greater than themselves.”
- Resilience: Maintaining a long-term connection to mission while embracing short-term adversity is the hallmark of both battlefield and business success.
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
-
On Shiny Object Syndrome:
“When we're trying to do too many things, we're just practicing the fine art of mediocrity.”
– Brent, [03:53] -
On Implementing Focus:
“It is action that drives that discovery process… not too much time reflecting.”
– Brent, [05:23] -
On Identity Change and Habits:
“It really goes back to the foundation, like you said, of like, who am I trying to become? Why am I doing that?”
– Brent, [20:36] -
On Time:
“Time is our most precious commodity. We spend it freely without ever really knowing the balance in our account.”
– Brent, [24:14] -
On Dealing with Tough Team Members:
“As leaders we get the behaviors that we tolerate. That’s the base test.”
– Brent, [37:14] -
On Leadership and Feedback:
“Because I care about you personally, I'm going to tell you what you need to hear and you're going to tell me what I need to hear, so that we can all be in a continuous state of improvement...”
– Brent, [40:20] -
On Resilience:
“They maintain a long-term emotional connection to what they’re trying to accomplish, while simultaneously... leaning into [the pain or obstacles]—it’s your fuel source every day.”
– Brent, [55:20]
Timestamps for Key Segments
- [00:30] Brent’s background and intro
- [02:10] Why operators don’t always succeed in business
- [04:59] Systems, focus, and intentional overlap
- [07:46] Purpose vs. mission—how purpose evolves
- [10:07] Defining and living values
- [13:26] Systems vs. processes vs. rituals
- [15:35] Brent on quitting alcohol: habit change
- [20:25] Identity shift and breaking habits
- [27:48] Organizational change – why most orgs fail at it
- [32:40] Culture: how to operationalize and measure it
- [39:41] Performance management: dealing with toxic/underperforming team members
- [46:16] Consulting methodology and team evaluation
- [51:21] Lessons from fallen teammates, finding purpose through service and adversity
- [55:20] Mindset for resilience and success
Final Thoughts & How to Connect with Brent Gleeson
Brent’s framework for going “ALL IN” is about disciplined focus, systems thinking, and living one’s values—whether in combat, business, or personal life. The pathway to exceptional results, he argues, is not about doing everything, but about doing the right things with relentless intent and accountability.
Connect with Brent Gleeson:
- New book: "All In: The Pathway to Personal Growth and Professional Excellence" (Available for pre-order; out Dec 2, 2025)
- Instagram: @brent_gleeson
- Company: EXLLR8 AI (spelled E-X-L-L-R-8 dot AI)
Host’s Sign-off Quote:
“Stop practicing the fine art of mediocrity and start implementing the concise, measurable systems that transform your identity and drive your remarkable results.”