468: Some Lessons Only Life Can Teach. With Sean Glass.

Sean reflects on his time as a junior officer in the Navy SEALs, sharing stories that illustrate his progression as a leader and the challenges he faced along the way.

Sean describes his experiences as a junior officer in the Navy SEAL teams, including his first platoon and becoming a platoon commander

Sean delved into his experiences as a new officer, known as a "new guy," during his first tour. His first real block of training was in land warfare, a challenging environment that tests SEALs' character and skills. Throughout this experience, Sean faced the pressure to prove himself, recalling an operation where he wanted to demonstrate his aggressive approach. However, his actions during a raid were actually driven by fear and a near mishap with signaling a shift fire, which he later took credit for without revealing the true nature of the situation.

Sean faced some early challenges with ego and overconfidence as a new officer, but learned valuable lessons from his platoon chief, Dave, on maintaining humility and perspective

One of Sean's initial challenges was managing his ego and overconfidence. He recounted incidents that revealed his need for recognition and how his platoon chief, Dave, tactfully confronted him about it. Dave's influence helped Sean reflect on his mistakes and the importance of humility—a lesson underscored when he had to make decisions that did not please everyone, such as distributing pink patches with blue tridents to new SEALs.

Sean had to navigate some challenging interpersonal dynamics with his troop commander, which taught him the importance of building strong working relationships even with difficult personalities

Sean also described navigating difficult interpersonal dynamics with his troop commander. Their relationship was initially strained due to personality conflicts and different approaches to leadership. However, through overcommunication and trying to foster a good working relationship, they were able to smooth out some professional tensions, despite ongoing personality clashes.

Sean's leadership journey continued as he served as a troop commander, where he prioritized empowering his platoon commanders and fostering a positive team culture

As a troop commander, Sean prioritized empowering his platoon commanders and fostering a positive team culture. He made it his goal to ensure that his platoon commanders felt autonomous and supported within the tro ...

In a series of insightful discussions, Sean reflects on the deeper meaning of his military service and how he applies the lessons learned to his personal and professional life, acknowledging the positive outcomes along with the heavy costs involved.

Sean reflects on the broader meaning and impact of his military service, acknowledging both the positive outcomes and the heavy costs

Sean expresses pride in the difference his unit made in the lives of local civilians despite the uncertainties of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. He recalls witnessing the atrocities committed by ISIS against civilians, suggesting that, although the cost was high, his team's actions helped leave those they encountered better off.

Jocko Willink echoes this sentiment by recalling the civilian suffering in Ramadi in 2006 and how his team's efforts rid the city of insurgents. While current assessments are mixed – with one Iraqi law seemingly regressive – Willink and Sean acknowledge the positive impact made at the time.

While acknowledging the difficulties and uncertainties of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, Sean expresses pride in his unit's impact

Sean emphasizes service and sacrifice as key lessons from his military experience. He underscores the importance of trusting leadership and focusing on actions and protecting fellow service members – a perspective he carries into civilian life.

Sean contemplates how lessons learned in the military continue to shape his actions as a civilian

Willink, reflecting on Vietnam War lessons, stresses the importance of remembering past conflicts to guide policy decisions and actions today. He hopes respected individuals like Tulsi Gabbard and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. will apply these lessons to prevent future conflicts.

Sean conveys how discussing his experiences with others prompts self-reflection and improvement, enhancing his roles as a husband and father.

Sean applies military leadership principles to his roles as a father and community member

Sean has established "The Forge," a group formed to teach valuable virtues and skills to boys in his community.

Sean created "The ...

Sean's commitment to his community and entrepreneurial spirit is evident through his various activities, including coaching, community assistance, and starting Primal Beef—a company dedicated to providing high-quality, ethical beef to consumers.

Sean is actively involved in his local community, including coaching youth sports teams and supporting organizations that assist veterans and their families

Sean Glass's role extends beyond entrepreneurship into active community involvement. He collaborated with the C4 Foundation, a non-profit that supports Navy SEALs and their families, to provide high-quality beef to service members. This gesture not only exemplifies giving back to the community but also underscores his dedication to those who have served the country.

Sean's community engagement also involves participation in the annual school hike, an event that brings the community together, including parents and students. Unfortunately, a tragic event occurred during one of these hikes when a beloved community member and father passed away. The unity and efforts of the local boys and the parish priest demonstrated the community's strength in the face of adversity. Sean wrote a letter offering support to the boys based on his professional experience with loss, advising them on managing their feelings.

Sean has also pursued entrepreneurial endeavors, including starting the primal beef company to provide high-quality, ethical beef to consumers

Entrepreneurial ventures have played a significant role in Sean’s life, with Primal Beef standing as a prime example of his business acumen. With a commitment to sourcing from small, local farms that employ sustainable and transparent practices, Primal Beef ensures product quality while supporting the military community.

Customers can build their own box with any 10 items they choose, a testament to Primal Beef's responsiveness to consumer preferences. The decision to maintain the company's prices despite increased beef costs reflects both Sean's understanding o ...