What do broken surfboards, cattle ranches, and spreadsheets have in common? For David Porter, a senior executive at ServiceNow and former U.S. Army Ranger, they each taught him something essential about resilience, decision-making, and the pursuit of purpose.
In this episode of The Four F’s Podcast, host Jeff Cluff sits down with David to trace an unconventional path — from surfing the North Shore of Oahu to leading elite teams in combat and now steering global operations in tech.
David shares candid insights about engineered failure, the power of solitude, knowing what you don’t want to be, and how running toward fear can unlock your potential. Whether you’re navigating a career pivot, rebuilding after a setback, or simply searching for clarity, this conversation will resonate deeply.
👉 Listen for stories that move from wild to wise — and lessons you won’t hear in any MBA program.
If you want a chance to ask David a question about leadership, tech, how the surf is breaking in Southern California, or whatever else is on your mind, drop a voicemail for a chance to hear David answer in Part 2! https://www.fourfspodcast.com/voicemail/
Chapters:
00:00 – Welcome & Intro: Jeff introduces David Porter and sets the stage for a conversation spanning surfing, the military, and leadership in tech.
03:00 – Growing Up “Lord of the Flies” Style: David reflects on his chaotic yet formative childhood in Southern California and lessons learned from a big family.
06:00 – Surfing, Broken Boards & a Wake-Up Call: A near-drowning and shattered knee in Hawaii change everything — and spark an unexpected return to school.
14:00 – Solitude on the Cattle Ranch: David’s time as a ranch hand in Northern Arizona brings discipline, reflection, and the unexpected power of silence.
20:00 – From Econ to the Army: How academic curiosity, grit, and a spreadsheet led to a career-defining pivot into the military.
29:00 – The Option 40 Contract & Engineered Failure: The grueling process of earning his Ranger slot — and how “engineered failure” became a philosophy for life.
38:00 – Lessons from Leadership & Redemption: From being told he’d “never make it” to becoming the Iron Warrior — how David turned setbacks into momentum.
46:00 – Facing Fear as a Compass: Why running toward fear became David’s decision-making framework — from military life to executive leadership.
58:00 – The Spreadsheet That Saved a Career: How one small act of initiative inside airborne school reshaped his trajectory and exemplified fieldcraft in action.
1:10:00 – From Ranger to Tech Leader: How the mindset forged in failure and fieldcraft translates into success at Microsoft and ServiceNow.
1:20:00 – Closing Reflections: David and Jeff unpack what it really means to “know what you don’t want to be.”
If you listen to Shawn Ryan or Lex Fridman you'll love this.
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