ALL IN: Navy SEAL Secret to Proven Results - Brent Gleeson
Timestamps are as accurate as they can be but may be slightly off. We encourage you to listen to the full context.
Podcast Summary
In this powerful episode of The Proven Podcast, host Charles Schwartz sits down with Brent Gleeson, Navy SEAL combat veteran and bestselling author, to explore how elite military principles translate into business success and personal transformation. (01:22) Gleeson shares his journey from SEAL Team missions in Iraq and Africa to becoming a sought-after leadership expert, unpacking the core discipline that drives high-performance cultures both on the battlefield and in the boardroom. The conversation dives deep into why some elite operators struggle in civilian careers while others thrive, revealing that success comes down to one critical factor: laser focus. (05:26) Through candid discussions about loss, identity transformation, and the psychology of resilience, Gleeson demonstrates how the same principles that forge elite teams can rebuild companies, strengthen families, and rewire personal identity for those willing to go all in.
- The episode focuses on translating military discipline and accountability into business success, organizational transformation, and personal growth through systematic approaches to change and leadership.
Speakers
Brent Gleeson
Brent Gleeson is a Navy SEAL combat veteran who served with SEAL Team 5 on missions in Iraq and Africa. After transitioning from the military, he became a successful tech entrepreneur, two-time bestselling author, and Forbes leadership columnist. He is the founder and CEO of Accelerate, a hybrid management consulting and enterprise software company that helps organizations navigate transformation, cultural change, and growth initiatives. Gleeson is married with four children and has his third book "All In: The Pathway to Personal Growth and Professional Excellence" releasing December 2, 2025.
Charles Schwartz
Charles Schwartz is the host of The Proven Podcast and a business strategist focused on helping ambitious professionals achieve mastery in their fields. Known for his direct, no-nonsense approach to business and personal development, Schwartz brings a unique perspective to leadership conversations through his emphasis on proven results over theoretical concepts.
Key Takeaways
Focus Is the Foundation of Success
The primary reason many elite operators struggle in civilian careers is losing their laser focus. (02:14) Gleeson explains that high performers often fall into the trap of chasing too many shiny objects and pursuing multiple paths simultaneously, which leads to "practicing the fine art of mediocrity in every single one of those categories." Success requires narrowing your focus to a few key relationships, business practices, and personal goals, then going all in on those areas. The key is ensuring these focus areas have intentional strategic overlap rather than existing in separate silos that drain energy and resources.
Identity Transformation Drives Behavioral Change
Before changing habits, you must first change your identity. (19:45) Gleeson's decision to eliminate alcohol from his life wasn't just about breaking a habit—it was about becoming the person who could maximize his impact as a father, husband, and leader. Rather than focusing on what you're giving up, focus on who you're becoming and what that identity does differently. This approach creates deep emotional connectivity that sustains long-term change when willpower inevitably fails.
Systems and Processes Are Built on Foundational Routines
Gleeson's "Remarkable Results Pyramid" reveals that lasting change starts with daily routines and rituals at the foundation, not complex systems at the top. (13:33) Routines and rituals are habit-building activities that create the mindset necessary to follow good systems consistently. Organizations often have the right technology and resources but fail because people don't use them consistently due to lacking foundational habits. It takes about 66 days to build a new habit using the cue-routine-reward framework.
Accountability Creates Trust, Not the Other Way Around
Contrary to popular belief, accountability must come before trust in high-performing organizations. (33:39) Gleeson emphasizes that you cannot have a high-trust organization without extreme ownership first. When accountability becomes a baseline cultural pillar, trust develops organically across the organization. This enables teams to do more with less, execute with precision, and create measurable impacts on growth, profitability, and talent retention.
Culture Must Be Operationalized, Not Just Defined
Most organizations fail at culture because they treat values as wall decorations rather than operational frameworks. (35:52) Gleeson advocates for clearly defining what each value means specifically in your organization, then documenting how you know when you're meeting, exceeding, or missing those standards. These definitions must be integrated into every system, process, meeting structure, and decision-making framework. Culture becomes measurable when behaviors are evaluated against these concrete standards daily, not just during annual reviews.
Statistics & Facts
- Approximately 70% of organizational change initiatives fail or fall short of meeting their intended objectives, primarily due to skipping foundational cultural elements and lacking consistent feedback from employees closest to execution. (30:00)
- It takes approximately 66 days to build a new habit when following the cue-routine-reward framework consistently on a daily basis. (16:36)
- Gleeson eliminated alcohol from his life exactly two years before his book release date (December 2, 2025), making it a two-year milestone of sobriety that coincidentally aligned with his book launch. (15:25)
