Building an Elite Mindset: Lessons from Navy SEAL Jason Redman

Building an Elite Mindset: Lessons from Navy SEAL Jason Redman

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Welcome back to the podcast, George Wright III here. We’re here with Jason Redman—just an insane opportunity, a world-class speaker, author, and expert. He’s got some incredible lessons I’ve been into lately, and I’m really excited about this conversation. So, welcome to the podcast, man.

George, thanks for having me on. Yeah, fate would have it, we got the opportunity to spend some time together. You’re in demand, and being in demand makes you hard to get ahold of, so I appreciate being here with you.

For people who maybe don’t know your story, give us a bit of your backdrop—who you are and how you got here. Then we can dig into what you’re about. Just give us the backstory.

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Jason Redman’s Backstory

Man, I am the American story. I was a young kid with dreams of joining the military and becoming a Navy SEAL. I didn’t come from money. The military and the SEAL teams gave me tremendous opportunities to grow and learn.

I moved up in rank, even got recommended for a commission. I had many great stories—but I also had a fall. I got a little arrogant, made mistakes, and was kicked out of the teams. I really had to rebuild myself.

It’s a redemption story. I came back and rebuilt myself as a leader. I got back on the right path and earned back the trust, respect, and credibility of my teammates. Everything was good—until Iraq, when I was shot eight times between my body and body armor.

For many of us, I call these the ‘end moments’—moments where you think it’s all over, both figuratively and literally. But out of that hospital bed came a new idea: ‘You pulled yourself out of this leadership failure hole, so guess what? You’ll overcome this too.’

I wrote a bright orange sign that went on my hospital door. It went viral—seen by millions, even President Bush. The sign said, ‘Attention to all who enter here: if you come in this room, there better be no pity. I am going to overcome. I will overcome.’

That statement became my motto and the foundation of everything that drives me forward.

Since then, I’ve become a New York Times bestselling author, written four books, and spoken around the world. And recently, I won Grant Cardone’s Great American Speak-Off—beating out 26,000 other competitors.

That’s amazing. And not something you had been doing from the beginning—you’ve evolved in a lot of different ways.

Oh, 100 percent.

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Overcoming Adversity and Leadership Lessons

Yeah, and now you’re known for your leadership expertise and resilience. But if you look back—how did you push yourself through those moments? People deal with trials all the time. What was going through your mind?

I think if you talk to any high-level performer—Tiger Woods, Michael Jordan, Tom Brady, even Grant Cardone or Donald Trump—you’ll see they all go back to the basics.

When things get off course, great leaders return to fundamentals. That’s what I did.

But here’s what I learned most people get wrong: when we think of leadership, we think about influencing others. But the truth is, leadership starts with you.”

Most people mess this up. I did. When I became a SEAL officer, I had the mindset of ‘Do as I say, not as I do.’ I was managing people—not leading them by example.

That’s one of the biggest lessons I teach now. If you tolerate mediocrity, you’ll live at the level you tolerate. You’ve got to be the elite version of yourself in all areas—physical, personal, and professional.

It doesn’t mean you have to be a world-class athlete or a billionaire. It means you commit to being the best version of you in all three areas. Because if you sacrifice one, you’ll always slide down to the lowest level you tolerate. Always.

Yeah. Same thing in business—if you tolerate average, your whole team follows.

Exactly. And that realization became the foundation for my philosophy: lead yourself first.

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The Importance of Self-Leadership

So, it’s all about leading yourself—that’s the baseline.

Exactly. You can’t lead others until you lead yourself. You’ve got to master all those areas—physical, personal, and professional.

The best advice I ever got came when I failed as a leader. Like so many people, I thought I was at the end—it was too late. My business had crashed, my relationships were falling apart. I told myself the same lie everyone tells themselves in that moment: ‘It’s too late.’

I called one of the most respected SEAL leaders I’d ever worked under—a man I admired deeply—and told him, ‘I can’t recover from this crash and burn moment.’

He said, ‘Red, people will follow you if you give them a reason. That’s all leadership is. I don’t care how bad you’ve messed up. Humans follow success—sustained, superior performance over time. Everyone will follow that.’

That was the advice he gave you, even though you weren’t mentally there yet.

Exactly. I wasn’t ready for it, but I needed to hear it. And it became the turning point for me.

It wasn’t instant—it didn’t just click overnight. But that was the first brick laid in the foundation of my comeback.

Got it.

From that point forward, I was sent to Ranger School to grow up. I was on the verge of being kicked out of the military. I nearly quit. But I started reading, started focusing on myself, started realizing that most of the problems in my life were caused by me.

That’s a huge level of ownership—most people never get there. Did that realization come quickly?

No, it took time. At first, I had the victim mindset. I blamed everyone else. I think humans love to be victims. We say things like, ‘My business failed because of my partner,’ or ‘The market turned against me.’

But rarely do we step back and say, ‘There were signs I ignored. There were indicators I missed.’ That’s where ownership starts.

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Building an Elite Mindset

Do you think people need external help to recognize that responsibility — coaches, mentors, people like your commanding officer — or is it something that develops internally over time?

I think coaches and mentors are huge. You need people around you who are willing to tell you the truth — even when you don’t want to hear it. Sometimes, those lessons come from people you don’t even like.

That’s what happened to me. My platoon chief and I didn’t get along at all. We butted heads constantly. At the time, I blamed him for everything — I thought he was throwing me under the bus. But later, I realized I had thrown myself under the bus. Our leadership styles clashed, but it was because of me, not him.

So, your journey of growth actually started before Iraq?

Oh, a hundred percent. Long before. SEAL training, leadership failure, Ranger School — all of it was building me. And that’s what I tell people: be thankful for the crises, the failures, and the adversity. Those experiences build your ‘overcome’ muscles.”

Mindset is built by doing hard things. By facing challenges head-on. Be thankful for those hard moments because navigating through them is what builds an overcome mindset.

For me, SEAL training and Ranger School laid the foundation. Failing as a leader forced me to confront myself. Then, when I was grievously wounded — four years, forty surgeries — I was ready. All those earlier lessons prepared me to face that situation with strength.

“Life will ambush you — not with bullets and bombs, but with loss, failure, and fear. The key is to move off the X before you bleed out emotionally, mentally, and spiritually.”

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Facing Ambushes and Taking Control

I call those moments life ambushes. The attack I survived in Iraq was literal — a vicious enemy ambush. But everyone faces ambushes in life. The bullets and bombs of life can be even more devastating than those on the battlefield.

In combat, we’re trained to get off the X — the point of attack. But in life, people get stuck on that X. They sit in self-pity, fear, or denial. Some sit there forever.

You’ve got to move. Because just like in combat, the longer you stay on the X, the more likely you are to bleed out. In life, that means emotionally, mentally, financially, or spiritually.

How important was it for you to make that declaration — the orange sign that went viral — to literally put your mission into words?

It was everything. That declaration wasn’t for anyone else — it was for me. It was me setting the parameters for how I was going to live. That statement became my standard. Every day after that, it reminded me: this is who you are, and this is how you’ll move forward.

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Declaring Your Mission and Living Greatly

There are four principles to building an elite mindset and becoming the best version of yourself.

Number one: Elite performers lead — always. Regardless of whether it’s good, bad, or ugly, you must lead yourself, lead others, and lead always.

Number two: Elite performers build an overcome mindset. No matter what adversity comes your way, don’t fall into the trap of saying, ‘That’s not fair.’ Guess what? Bad things happen to good people.

Number three: Elite performers have a mission. In the SEAL teams, we have high-level missions. But in life, you need a personal one too. That orange sign on my hospital door became my mission — my accountability. To this day, I’m ‘the sign on the door guy,’ the ‘overcome guy.’ People are watching me, and that holds me accountable.

I tell people: write your own sign. Write a mission statement. It doesn’t have to be long — just simple and powerful. Maybe it’s ‘I want to be the best parent, partner, or entrepreneur I can be.’ Write it down. Put it on your wall. Look at it every day. Because when life gets hard — and it will — that’s what will remind you who you are.

Number four: Elite performers live greatly. And here’s what that means.

We all procrastinate. We all think, ‘I’ll get to that later.’ But tomorrow isn’t guaranteed. The only guarantee in this life is that one day it ends.

When I was lying there bleeding out, I didn’t think about what I’d done wrong. I thought about what I hadn’t done — the time I didn’t spend with my family, the moments I missed.

That day taught me something: never again. I refuse to live with regrets. Now, I’m going after everything — in business, in family, in life.

So, don’t be one of those timid souls who waits. If you’ve been thinking about starting something, changing your life, or pursuing your passion — do it today. Even if tomorrow doesn’t come, at least you won’t go wondering ‘what if?’

That’s powerful. And I love how you said that—because when you put yourself in that mindset, it pushes you right back into the present moment.

Exactly. It pushes you into gratitude and urgency at the same time.

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Building an Overcome Mindset

You’ve said some things that a lot of people think about — having a mission, a purpose — but how important is it to have that foundation before obstacles come, rather than waiting until after?

You can’t build an overcome mindset in the easy times. You can’t just look down the road and say, ‘I’ll get tough when things get hard.’ It doesn’t work like that.

Your ability to lead yourself and push through challenges is like a framework — or what we call in the SEAL teams muscle memory. You have to build it before you need it.

In training, we’ll put 50,000 rounds through a weapon so that in combat we don’t even think — we react instinctively. Life is the same way. You’ve got to build the habit of doing hard things now so that when real adversity hits, you already know how to respond.

Anybody can be a frogman on a sunny day. But when the world is burning down around you, when bullets and bombs are flying and it’s twenty degrees outside — that’s when it counts. That’s when true character shows.

I love that because I’m a big believer in personal development and growth — in business and in life. That’s why my Phoenix logo is all about rebirth, evolving, being remade from the ashes. Everyone goes through those cycles — mind, body, business. But at the end of the day, how important is it to surround yourself with the right people?

Oh, it’s critical. Who you surround yourself with defines your growth. But here’s the challenge — most people hear a message like this, they agree with it, they love it, they get inspired… and then they stop.

They don’t take the next step. And I always ask, why? What’s keeping them from acting? Because I see it all the time — they’re motivated for a moment, but they don’t move forward.

“Action is the great equalizer. You can’t think your way to success — you have to act your way there.”

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The Importance of Taking Action

Yeah. So what is holding them back? Is it limiting beliefs? Their personal story? Fear? What’s keeping people from that next level?

It’s everything stacked together — fear, doubt, procrastination — but at the end of the day, it’s a failure to take action.

Action is the answer. Imperfect action beats perfect planning every single time. The person who acts will always outperform the one waiting for the perfect moment.

I see it over and over again. People procrastinate, they overthink, they wait until the conditions are perfect — and those conditions never come.

That’s why I teach visualization and clarity. I often ask people: Is your current leadership taking you where you want to go? If not, map it out for the next ten years. Look at your personal, physical, and professional life. Are your daily habits leading you toward that vision?

Most people would probably have to say no.

Exactly. And they know it. Yet they keep doing the same things, hoping for a different result.

So ask yourself: What do I want to accomplish? Then ask, Why do I want it? That ‘why’ has to be powerful. Maybe it’s your family, your faith, your legacy — whatever it is, it must be strong enough to drive you through hard times.

Write it down. That becomes your sign on the door — your daily reminder.

Then ask, How am I going to do it? What actions must I take now? Maybe it’s pivoting your business, investing differently, hiring a coach, going to counseling, or apologizing to someone.

Action is clarity in motion. Even small steps move you forward.

That’s powerful. And so true — people often stay in awareness without execution.

Exactly. Knowledge without action is useless.

One of the most powerful things you can do is simply say, ‘I’m sorry.’ Own your mistakes and move forward. That’s leadership. It’s not weakness — it’s strength. Because humility gives you the space to grow.

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Empowering Veterans with Technology

I’m curious — what’s next for you? You’re making an incredible impact right now and clearly living with purpose. What’s your vision for the next few years?

I’m two years into a ten-year plan. It actually started evolving before I launched my new technology company — a company that aligns perfectly with one of my biggest missions: helping veterans.

I served twenty-one years. The toll from America’s longest war has been enormous — physically, mentally, and emotionally. After World War II, veterans came home and built the foundation of this country. They created businesses, farms, corporations — they built America.

Today, that’s not happening at the same scale. There’s a small group of veterans doing great things, but the majority aren’t thriving. And there are reasons for that.

Some feel bitterness or disconnection. Some see a divided country that doesn’t value their sacrifice. There’s a dangerous narrative out there that veterans are broken — and that’s just not true.

So your company is focused on changing that?

Yes. Our company is called Turbot. We’re using AI and automation to create a unified ecosystem connecting veterans to all available resources — VA, DOD, corporate, nonprofit — in one place.

Our mission is simple: help every veteran identify and accomplish their American dream. Whether that’s owning a business, running a farm, or pursuing a career — we want to clear the path.

That’s incredible. And with the speed of technology today, you can make a real difference.

Absolutely. There are three components.

First, awareness. Veterans already have incredible leadership, teamwork, and problem-solving skills. They learned elite performance in the military — they just need to use it again in the civilian world.

Second, access. We’re cutting through red tape and connecting veterans directly to the benefits and opportunities they’re eligible for.

And third, technology. With AI, we can personalize everything. We can say, ‘George, here’s what you did in service, here’s what you qualify for, and here’s how to claim it.’ It’s about restoring the American dream to those who defended it.

“The battlefield may have changed, but the mission remains: to serve, to lead, and to make this world better than we found it.”

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The Role of Veterans in Society

That’s powerful. And veterans bring something that’s desperately needed right now — leadership.

Exactly. The military instills foundational leadership principles that this country needs more than ever. Veterans understand teamwork, discipline, and resilience — but too many aren’t using those skills after service.

My mission is to change that. We need more veterans leading businesses, communities, and teams again.

And the truth is, they don’t even have to do anything extraordinary — just be successful. Just live with excellence. That alone inspires others.

I love that. And I think awareness is the bridge — both for individuals and veterans. When people become aware of their own power and responsibility, everything changes.

Absolutely. Awareness is the first step — then action follows.

There are a lot of Americans who take our freedoms for granted because they’ve never seen life without them. They lack perspective. Veterans can remind this country of what leadership, sacrifice, and unity look like.

We need them now more than ever.

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Final Thoughts and Call to Action

Jason, I appreciate you being here and sharing all this. You’re doing amazing work, and I love that you’re in this for the long haul — with a ten-year vision, not a short-term plan. That’s powerful.

Thanks, George. Yeah, it’s a big mission, but it’s worth it.

I sacrificed my body and nearly my life for this country. I’ve lost friends who didn’t make it home. I want to know that America continues to thrive for my kids, grandkids, and great-grandkids.

It’s going to take all of us. But I truly believe veterans are the key. They’ve already proven they can lead, and now it’s time to do it again — here at home.

That’s powerful, man. And so true. Veterans already have the leadership skills, the training, the discipline — they just need the awareness and the tools to apply it in civilian life. And that’s exactly what you’re building.

Exactly. And that’s what drives me every day.

Jason, I really appreciate your time, brother. I’ll drop your links and info for everyone listening. This was incredible.

Thanks, George. I appreciate it. It’s been great.

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About George 

George Wright III is a proven, successful entrepreneur and he knows how to inspire entrepreneurs, companies, and individuals to achieve massive results. With more than 20 years of executive management experience and 25 years of direct marketing and sales experience, George is responsible for starting and building several successful multimillion-dollar companies. He started at a very young age to network and build his experience and knowledge of what it takes to become a driven and well-known entrepreneur. George built a multi-million-dollar seminar business, promoting some of the biggest stars and brands in the world. He has accelerated the success and cash flow in each of his ventures through his network of resources and results driven strategies. George is now dedicated to teaching and sharing his Prosperity Principles and strategies to every driven and passionate entrepreneur he meets. His mission is to empower entrepreneurs globally, to create massive change and LIVE their ultimate destiny.

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You have GREATNESS inside you. I BELIEVE in you. Let’s make today the day you unleash your potential!

George Wright III

CEO, The Daily Mastermind | Evolution X

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About Guest:

Jason Redman is a retired U.S. Navy SEAL Lieutenant with 21 years of service (11 as an enlisted SEAL and 10 as a SEAL Officer). In 2007, while serving in Fallujah, Iraq, Redman’s assault team was ambushed and he was shot multiple times in a firefight. During his recovery, he placed a bright orange “Sign on the Door” declaring: “If you come in this room, there better be no pity. I am going to overcome.” That message became a symbol of resilience for wounded warriors.

After retiring from the Navy in 2013, Jason founded SOF Spoken, a speaking and coaching company focused on leadership, teamwork and overcoming adversity. He is also a NY Times bestselling author of titles including The Trident: The Forging and Reforging of a Navy SEAL Leader and Overcome: Crush Adversity with the Leadership Techniques of America’s Toughest Warriors.

He works globally as a keynote speaker, coach and veteran advocate—helping individuals and organizations build an “overcome” mindset, lead always and get off the X (the point of stuck or stuck-in adversity).

Guest Resources:

Website: jasonredman.com

Instagram: @jasonredmanww

Facebook: Jason Redman

YouTube: @JasonRedmanww

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