JP Dinnell Podcast #67 — Detailed Episode Summary

Episode Title: Overcoming Failure, Grasping Victory | Goal Setting for the New Year
Hosts: JP Dinnell & Lucas Pinckard
Release Date: January 3, 2025

Overview

In this energetic and candid new year’s episode, JP Dinnell—a former Navy SEAL leadership instructor—and co-host Lucas Pinckard dive into the common struggles of overcoming failure, breaking the cycle of procrastination, and developing habits that stick. With real-life stories from martial arts, military service, and personal challenges, the hosts break down how to approach goal-setting beyond empty resolutions, cultivate daily discipline, and lead yourself and others through missteps on the path to victory.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Flaws of Traditional Resolutions

• Resolutions Are Arbitrary Dates: Both hosts poke fun at the tendency to start major life changes on “Jan 1st” or “Monday,” calling them made-up, unmeaningful deadlines that breed procrastination.

  • Lucas: “If I’m gonna start something, like, I need to do it on Monday… That’s stupid. That's an arbitrary day. Like, Monday has something special about it.” [01:09]

• Procrastination & Perfectionism: Lucas admits to delaying important but non-urgent tasks, realizing the damage when he has to cram or make up for lost time.

  • Lucas: “I need to stop being a meow meow and just do it.” [02:58]

• Forming Daily Habits Over All-or-Nothing Thinking: The hosts stress incremental daily progress over binge efforts or waiting for the perfect start date.

  • JP: “There has to come a point where you’re just like, all right, no more hard line. Hey, I have to somehow get 700 burpees done today... But that’s the thing—it comes down to the daily discipline.” [06:14-07:29]

2. Developing Sustainable Discipline

• Prioritize Non-Urgent but Important Tasks: Drawing on advice from Jocko Willink, JP describes doing “the other things” (that are easy to put off) first, to ensure they don’t become overwhelming or neglected.

  • JP: “Jocko’s like, nope, I do the other things because the other things are non-negotiable.” [04:35-05:46]

• The GSP Approach: Citing UFC fighter Georges St-Pierre, JP stresses moderation and consistency in training—don’t overdo any single day, but show up every day.

  • JP: “He trains every day, and the reason why he’s able to train every day is he doesn’t do too much work.” [07:57]

• Pushing Through Failure Without Self-Judgment: The idea: everyone stumbles, but it’s vital to recognize it’s “just a run,” “just a slip”—don’t catastrophize it, just get back on track.

  • JP: “People need to think about when they’re trying to help somebody get back on the path... it’s just a run.” [18:13]

3. Coaching, Leadership, and Helping Others Get Back on Track

• Empathy and Accountability: Instead of judging those who relapse on a goal, offer support, camaraderie, and a fresh start.

  • JP: “If you go in and you’re like, hey, you’re a freaking idiot. Why would you do that? ...That’s not going to help somebody. You have to have a coaching, mentoring type of mindset.” [19:48]

• Victim Mentality vs. Extreme Ownership: The hosts rail against the temptation to blame circumstances or “play the victim”; progress is made through continuous small wins and responsibility.

  • JP: “People take themselves so serious that it inhibits their ability to get back to doing what they should be doing... the victim card’s really cool, because that’s easy.” [21:25]

• Setting and Resetting the Count: Each day is a reset—yesterday’s victory (or failure) gets wiped. Today is “0”; start again, do the work, don’t dwell.

  • JP: “All your wins go away... The count is zero. Tomorrow. And guess what? The next day. The count is zero... you get an opportunity for a fresh start.” [34:32-34:58]

4. Resilience Training, Parenting, and Learning from Failing

• Letting Your Kids (and Yourself) Lose: JP shares stories of how Jiu Jitsu, wrestling, and competition help his children learn humility and resilience through loss.

  • JP: “We do push our kids to be successful and to be competitive, but... some things are gonna fail, and it’s okay.” [32:34-34:05]

• The Power of “Getting Back on the Bike”: Both reflect on sports and personal challenges. When you fall or fail, the best response is immediate re-engagement—not retreat.

  • JP: “The first thing my dad did was like, nope, get back on the bike... then you’ll never want to ride again.” [35:40]

5. Mental Health, Social Contagion, and Well-being

• Depression as Social Contagion: Lucas shares research and personal pastoral experience about how depression sometimes spreads in peer groups, especially after traumatic events, and emphasizes the need for connection, honest assessment, and physical health.

  • Lucas: “Research suggests that depression is a form of social contagion, meaning it can spread through social networks, with people being more likely to experience depressive symptoms if those around them are also depressed, particularly in close relationships.” [26:09-28:14]

• Routine, Nutrition, and Well-being: Both agree that foundational habits—waking at the same time, eating well, exercising, maintaining routines—are implicit defenses against mental decline.

  • Lucas: “[Jordan] Peterson told his patients wake up at the same time every day, regardless of the day... then start your morning out with fatty foods. And now all the research is showing, like, hey, if you do this, it helps so much with your brain...” [29:34-32:26]

6. Goal Setting, Challenges, and the Value of “Hard Things”

• Beyond Resolutions—Real Challenges: Both men look for ways to push outside their comfort zones, not just “check the box” on a generic resolution. They discuss physical, mental, and spiritual tests as annual goals.

  • JP: “I want to do something that’s just like absolute, like, why did I sign up for this type of gut check.” [51:12-52:46]

• The “Fear List”: JP recalls how the late Seth Stone kept a list of his fears—and then confronted them, intentionally building courage and resilience.

  • JP: “Seth had a fear list. Things that he was afraid of, things that he was like, nope, I don’t like that, he put it on that, and then he’d make himself do something off that list.” [65:00-66:37]

7. Nature, Retreat, and Recalibration

• The “Three Day Effect”: JP reads a passage about the restorative ability of disconnecting in the wilderness—a three-day retreat resets problem-solving and mindset, providing clarity and context.
  • Quoted Book Passage: “After three days in the wild, our ability to problem solve escalates. So does inductive reasoning. When we get outside the tent, it’s easier to think outside the box.” [61:44]
• Getting Away to See Your True Place: Being in nature shrinks ego, provides perspective, and allows true reflection and reset.
  • JP: “You get yourself injured out in the backcountry, you could die... it’s a good opportunity to go out into the wild, into the wilderness, and just recognize how big the world is, how good God is.” [63:14-63:21]

Memorable Quotes & Moments

• Lucas, on Procrastination:
  “Stop being a meow meow and just do it.” [02:58]

• JP, on Getting Back Up:
  “It’s just a run. You made a mistake. It’s okay. Get back on the path.” [18:13]

• Lucas, on “Quitters Day”:
  “National Quitters Day is the second Friday in January...they say close to 90% of people will fail in their resolutions.” [14:32]

• JP, on Leadership and Empathy:
  “You have to have a coaching, mentoring type of mindset.” [19:48]

• JP, on Parental Example:
  “My parents actually being screwed over by people... they decided to take the high ground, do the right thing, get back to work and work themselves out...” [24:17]

• JP, on Resetting Each Day:
  “The count is zero... you get an opportunity for a fresh start.” [34:49]

• JP, recalling Seth Stone’s “Fear List”:
  “If it was on the list, then he would go do it.” [65:00]

Timestamps for Important Segments

• [01:09] - The arbitrary nature of New Year’s and resolutions
• [02:58] - Procrastination and “just do it”
• [04:35-05:46] - Jocko’s habit management strategy
• [06:14-07:29] - Daily discipline using the burpee challenge example
• [07:57] - GSP’s philosophy of moderation in training
• [13:56-14:32] - “Just start today” and “National Quitters Day”
• [18:13-21:25] - Failing, recovery, and not playing the victim
• [26:09-28:14] - Depression, social factors, and mental health
• [29:34-32:26] - The routine, diet, and health connection
• [32:34-34:05] - Teaching kids to lose and grow
• [34:32-34:58] - Fresh start every morning: "the count is zero"
• [35:40-36:05] - The “get back on the bike” metaphor
• [51:12-52:46] - Seeking meaningful personal challenges
• [61:44-63:21] - The “Three Day Effect” and growth in nature
• [65:00-66:37] - Seth Stone’s “fear list” and its power

Closing Thoughts

JP leaves listeners with a clear charge for the year:

“If you fall off the path, no factor. Don’t take yourself too serious... push yourself daily and get yourself in uncomfortable situations daily for growth. If you do have a slip up, get back on the path, recalibrate yourself and re-engage. The worst thing you can do is quit...” [76:37]

Theme: Growth is a daily fight, not a New Year’s illusion. Don't wait—start, fail, recover, keep going. Surround yourself with coaches, teammates, and accountability, and seek environments—like the wilderness or the mat—that reveal and refine your real limits.

For anyone looking to break the cycle of failed resolutions, this episode delivers tactical, time-tested advice on building resilience, fostering discipline, and finding meaning in both victory and defeat—with humor, heart, and real-world experience.

Resources, Affiliations, & Sponsors:
Jesus and Jiu Jitsu, Echelon Front, Origin & Jocko Fuel, Little Cattle Co., On the Path Printing, Bruiser Arms, Half Face Blades, Mark Batterson’s “A Million Little Miracles”

Next Action for Listeners:

• Don’t wait for Monday or January 1st: start now.
• Find accountability partners or a coach.
• Consider making a “fear list."
• If you slip, reset your count—today is zero.