JP Dinnell Podcast 108: Staying Disciplined in High Stress Situations

Date: October 17, 2025
Hosts: JP Dinnell & Lucas Pinckard

Episode Overview

In this episode, JP Dinnell—former Navy SEAL and leadership instructor—joins co-host Lucas Pinckard to discuss discipline, intentional leadership, and staying calm under pressure. The episode is built around JP’s experience at a client’s wildlife and training ranch, reflecting on leadership lessons, tactical mindset, the importance of training, and ways to show genuine appreciation in professional and personal relationships.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Story of a Unique Corporate Ranch (00:21 - 08:00)

• JP recounts a recent trip to a client's thousand-acre ranch, developed not by top executives, but by company leaders who "thought like owners" to benefit their organization (03:30).
• The ranch serves as an immersive site for leadership training, off-sites, and team-building, and features world-class amenities: a lodge, wine cellar, shooting ranges, and a professional classroom.
• Quote (JP, 03:38):
  “If you think like an owner, it's going to change your perspective. If it has a positive impact to the organization, that's what you should be doing.”

2. Leadership in Action: The Property Manager’s Story (08:00 - 12:00)

• JP meets Jeremy, a former construction field supervisor turned full-time property manager.
• Jeremy’s fulfillment in his work comes from his sense of responsibility and reciprocal appreciation with the company.
• Quote (Jeremy, relayed by JP, 09:50):
  “This isn't a job because I love what I do. This company takes care of me, so I feel obligated to take care of them.”
• Illustrates the concept of “leading up the chain of command,” where Jeremy identified and filled a leadership gap for the organization.

3. Mindset, Gun Culture & The Value of Training (12:00 - 17:00)

• The conversation shifts to firearms training and overcoming fear of guns through instruction and exposure (14:00).
• Jeremy describes transforming a fearful trainee into an enthusiastic learner by validating her concerns and providing safe, introductory experience.
• Quote (JP, 14:46):
  “That's good leadership. That’s good instruction... seek a way to understand their perspective, overcome objections, and allow them to see a different perspective.”
• Both echo the importance of making training accessible and removing intimidation, including suppressors to lessen noise anxiety in shooting.

4. Stress Training & Staying Calm (15:40 - 17:00)

• Lucas brings up “buck fever”—the nervousness rookie hunters feel. JP humorously claims he can't relate due to military training.
• Quote (JP, 16:59):
  “You can teach your brain to rewire itself to where you can overcome that stress and just function within a flow state.”
• Stresses the difference between occasional and systematic, stress-induced training.

5. A Surprise Hunt: Applying Discipline Under Pressure (17:31 - 30:00)

• Jeremy unexpectedly invites JP to take a shot at a scimitar horned oryx. Despite never using that rifle before, JP remains calm, asks smart questions, and executes a perfect shot (19:00).
• The physical challenge of loading the heavy animal evokes SEAL training analogies on moving dead weight (24:00).
• Jeremy’s meticulous field-dressing and his grandfather’s legacy in teaching self-sufficiency is shared, emphasizing learning by observation and hands-on experience (28:52).

6. Leadership Lessons: Training & the Value of Repetition (33:45 - 35:15)

• JP stresses ongoing skill development—highlighting that even with a 16-month gap in long-range shooting, years of disciplined training allowed him to perform under pressure without warmup.
• Quote (JP, 34:23):
  “Training builds fundamentals and a baseline from which we can operate. High-performing companies invest in training. High-performing individuals invest in training.”

7. Showing Appreciation to Clients & Building Relationships (35:36 - 42:15)

• Listener question: How do you show client appreciation?
• JP’s advice: Personalization is paramount—remember details, send handwritten notes, celebrate key events, and use CRM/contact notes to keep track.
• Quote (JP, 36:25):
  “The more customized you can make it, the better it's going to land because they're going to recognize like, oh, they listened.”
• Lucas references John Ruhlin’s book Giftology; sometimes a heartfelt note beats a generic branded gift.

8. Closing Reflections on Intentionality in Leadership (50:00)

• JP wraps with a call for intentionality in all aspects of leadership and life.
• Quote (JP, 50:23):
  “As leaders, as husbands, as fathers, as wives, and as mothers and just humans, I think we can all do a better job being more intentional with building relationships and showing people that we care about them.”

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On thinking like an owner (03:38, JP):
  “If you think like an owner, it's going to change your perspective. If it has a positive impact to the organization, that's what you should be doing.”

• On good leadership (14:46, JP):
  “That's good leadership. That’s good instruction... seek a way to understand their perspective, overcome objections, and allow them to see a different perspective.”

• On handling stress (16:59, JP):
  “You can teach your brain to rewire itself to where you can overcome that stress and just function within a flow state.”

• On training (34:23, JP):
  “Training builds fundamentals and a baseline from which we can operate from. High-performing companies invest in training. High-performing individuals invest in training.”

• On relationship-building (36:25, JP):
  “The more customized you can make it, the better it's going to land, because they're going to recognize like, oh, they listened…”

• Final reflection (50:23, JP):
  “As leaders… I think we can all do a better job being more intentional with building relationships and showing people that we care about them.”

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:21 – 08:00: Corporate ranch creation & leadership lessons
• 08:00 – 12:00: Property manager’s story & workplace fulfillment
• 12:00 – 17:00: Firearms training, fear & education
• 17:31 – 30:00: The oryx hunt, discipline under stress, and field dressing
• 33:45 – 35:15: Value of ongoing training
• 35:36 – 42:15: Showing client appreciation authentically
• 50:00 – end: Final thoughts on intentionality and connection

Episode Takeaways

• Leadership is about seeing and filling needs, regardless of your title.
• Invest in regular, realistic training—complacency leads to underperformance.
• Building strong relationships, with true listening and intentional acts, creates trust and impact.
• Appreciation is most powerful when it’s personal.
• Intentionality—applied in leadership, parenting, friendship—transforms people and results.

For more:
Check out Echelon Front’s programs, join the podcast community conversations, or explore “Giftology” for building meaningful professional relationships.
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