Summary:

In this episode of Million Dollar Flip Flops, Rodric sits down with retired Army Colonel and leadership expert David Fivecoat. They explore the battlefield as a training ground for corporate leadership, dissect tools like Hogan and Kolbe assessments, and dive into the psychology of decision-making under pressure. David shares stories from Afghanistan, lessons from Normandy, and why he believes most leaders should release their work at 80%. Plus, they dive into the mission behind Send a Student Leader Abroad and why international travel may be the best leadership development tool of all.

Timestamps & Highlights:

• 0:22 – David introduces himself and his journey from military to business
• 4:03 – How battlefields became a surprising leadership training tool
• 8:00 – Comparing corporate vs. military decision-making under pressure
• 11:02 – Deep dive into Hogan assessments and executive coaching
• 13:49 – Why teams often fail: low resilience and no process
• 16:52 – David’s military story: from West Point to Afghanistan
• 20:59 – Entrepreneurship during COVID and risk tolerance
• 26:21 – Why success often arrives 90–120 days after your actions
• 30:57 – Leadership in the military: more collaborative than you think
• 35:18 – Leadership journeys using Apollo, Gettysburg, and more
• 40:07 – Rodric’s SASLA program and the power of travel
• 44:19 – David’s question for the next guest: “What are you waiting to get to 100% that you could ship at 80%?”
• 46:18 – What matters most to David: his daughter

Quote of the Episode:

"You can only give people dumb orders that put their life at risk once. The second time—they’ll push back." – David Fivecoat

Guest Links:

🔗 David's Website: https://www.thefivecoatconsultinggroup.com

🌍  Rodric’s Nonprofit: https://sendastudentleaderabroad.com

📱 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dg5coat/

📱 Linked in: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-fivecoat-b5860b75/

Subscribe to the Podcast: hhttps://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/million-dollar-flip-flops/id1715585675

Resources:

Million Dollar Flip Flops

Follow Us on Insta

Ready to transform your business and your life while making a difference? Grab your copy of *Million Dollar Flip Flops*—the ultimate guide to creating a life and business that feels just as good as it looks. And here’s the best part: 100% of the proceeds go directly to our foundation, Send a Student Leader Abroad, with a goal of sending 1,000,000 deserving kids on life-changing trips around the world.

As a thank you for your support, we’re offering exclusive bonuses available only for our podcast listeners. These bonuses are packed with extra tools and resources to help you implement the principles from the book faster and more effectively.

Don’t miss this opportunity to gain invaluable insights, impact a young leader’s life, and be a part of something bigger.

Click the link, order your copy, and claim your listener-only bonuses today!

Together, let’s change lives—one trip at a time.

www.MillionDollarFlipFlops.com/book

**P.S.** Every book you buy gets us one step closer to sending 1,000,000 kids on life-changing adventures. Let’s make it happen!