Rob Wilson on Self-Care, Emotional Intelligence, and the Real Cost of Burnout

In this episode, Danny sits down with Rob Wilson—coach, author, and founder of the Check Engine Light system—to dive into the often ignored but absolutely essential side of human performance: self-care, emotional regulation, and sustainability. Rob shares lessons from years of working with elite tactical and athletic populations, and how his new book offers a framework that applies to anyone looking to build health and resilience for the long haul.

🎯 Topics Covered

• Why clinicians and high performers resist self-care (and what it costs them)
• The origin of the “Check Engine Light” framework and how it helps SEALs and civilians alike
• Lessons from working with Naval Special Warfare and SOCOM
• The power of listening, curiosity, and vulnerability in client outcomes
• Mind, Movement, and Matter—how to assess and improve all 3 pillars
• How to use HRV (heart rate variability) the right way
• Why emotional intelligence is a non-negotiable for healthcare pros
• How to stay in the game without burning out as a clinician or coach

💡 Key Quotes "Credibility is won in drops and lost in buckets." "People don’t remember bullet points. They remember stories." "You're not just a PT or coach—you’re a human performance consultant." "Fail smaller, faster. That’s the real skill." 🧠 Pro Tips

• Give clients ownership by reframing them as collaborative participants, not passive patients
• Build long-term impact by tracking small KPIs that align with their actual goals
• Use structured self-experiments and journaling to improve health awareness and adherence
• If you’re an empathic practitioner, create buffer time to recover emotionally
• Don’t wait for burnout to hit—proactively monitor your own dashboard, too

🔗 Resources & Links

• Check Engine Light Book + Course – Rob’s full curriculum on sustainable performance
• @thecheckenginelight on Instagram – Follow Rob for insights and updates
• Join the 5-Day PT Biz Challenge – Build the business that fuels your lifestyle

🧭 Final Thought

Helping people get out of pain is just the beginning. If you really want to create lasting impact—professionally and personally—you’ve got to go deeper. Rob’s message is clear: self-care isn’t soft, and emotional intelligence isn’t optional. Whether you're working with SEALs or soccer moms, your ability to connect, listen, and lead is what makes you indispensable. Start there, and everything else gets easier.