UltraGrowth

This week we have Justin Crocker on the show to talk about his time as Green Beret and his evolution to Director of Counterterrorism after graduating from Yale with a post-graduate degree.

The focus is on his learnings and development that occurred through exposure to the elite in the military and academic realm. He has continued with his pivots as he is now focused on the entrepreneurial journey with his wife as they “kick “off their woman-only kickboxing gyms.

Justin decided to focus on prioritising family, and in doing so has created a family-orientated mission, we dive into this journey too and his thought process behind why he felt it was the necessary thing to do.

Justin was born and raised in a military family in the East Bay Area of California. After graduating high school in 1998 Justin joined the U.S. Army as an Airborne Infantryman.

In 2001 Justin left the Army to attend The Ohio State University where he earned his B.A. in 2005 and was commissioned as an Infantry Officer in the U.S. Army. Justin served once again in the U.S. Army from 2005 until June 2022. During his career, Justin attended various military schools including the U.S. Army Ranger School, the Special Forces Qualification Course (colloquially known as the Green Berets), Jumpmaster School and the U.S. Army Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape School (also known as SERE School).

Justin retired from the U.S. Army in June 2022 after more than 20 years of combined service. He is married to his beautiful wife Adrian and they both share two amazing kids (Travis, 6 and Victoria, 7). Justin and his family recently moved to Carmel, Indiana.

It was a pleasure interviewing Justin, a true gentleman, we are sure that you will get much out of his story and the lessons imparted.



Notable moments in this episode:
(08:20) - how Green Berets manage ambiguity
(11:28) - can someone learn to be calm or is it an innate trait?
(28:13) - how does an Ivy League college transform a Green Beret?

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Follow Justin:
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/justin-crocker-341515171/

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LinkedIn - linkedin.com/in/rj-singh-801a0436/
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Strava - https://www.strava.com/athletes/32692468
YouTube - youtube.com/channel/UC6Wx-9NQ81K_4mZYCmoNGvQ
Website - ultrahabits.co/
Rate the podcast - https://ratethispodcast.com/ultrahabits

How can we break free from the familiar failures of management and leadership that can’t seem to truly inspire employees and teams in today's uber competitive world? By breaking free from the tired leadership methods of the past. If anyone knows about what it takes to change course and follow the unexpected, innovative paths to high achievement, it’s Urs Koenig.

It Is High Time to Shift Our Leadership from THEN to NOW!

Many of us struggle with how to best lead our teams in today’s fast paced, messy, cutthroat business climate. We face challenges which did not exist twenty or even ten years ago. But the prevailing methods of leadership come from the past, having been handed down from past generations of managers and executives.
But what worked back THEN does not work NOW.

The old ways of leading do not reflect new realities and are failing to inspire new generations. Outdated leadership approaches are reducing productivity, increasing turn over, squashing the potential of our people and ultimately are killing profits. But what if the way we lead our teams matched the pace of our rapidly changing world? What if we moved from slow moving silos to fast execution at the customer facing front line? What if we shifted from top down, command/control leadership to a more bottom up, purpose driven and human centred approach?

Shift from THEN to NOW

How has what we’ve learned about leadership of the past changed the way we lead today? How do we best inspire our people in today's fast paced, high stake business environment?

THEN, executives and managers used heavy-handed scare tactics to try and pull productivity out of their employees. NOW, sharing and empowering are two of the most important tasks managers must master. THEN, all employees focused on the boss. NOW, managers and employees work and learn together in service of the mission. From kicking down to helping up. From hidden agendas to radically transparent sharing.

Urs Koenig and his five-part leadership model is your guide to shifting from THEN to NOW, that will transform your leadership, your teams, and your organization.

Make sure you check out the episode to hear more!



Notable moments in this episode:
(16:19) - what is it actually like for executive coaches?
(19:07) - a framework to help you adapt your leadership style
(33:35) - Urs’ #1 habit to be an open leader in 2022

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Follow Urs:
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/urs.koenig.7
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/koenigurs/
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/urs-koenig-ab3828/
Twitter - https://twitter.com/urskoenig
Website - https://urskoenig.com/

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Follow & Subscribe to the Ultrahabits Journey:
Apple - podcasts.apple.com/podcast/the-ultra-habits-podcast/id1551339373
Spotify - open.spotify.com/show/0eWBOT8L1ShaRy5aoPxOHp
Facebook - facebook.com/ultrahabits
Instagram - instagram.com/ultra.habits/
LinkedIn - linkedin.com/in/rj-singh-801a0436/
Oberit - https://gr3f.co/c/50833/JYgMG
Strava - https://www.strava.com/athletes/32692468
YouTube - youtube.com/channel/UC6Wx-9NQ81K_4mZYCmoNGvQ
Website - ultrahabits.co/
Rate the podcast - https://ratethispodcast.com/ultrahabits

Robin Taub is a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA, CA), keynote speaker and award-winning author. Her latest book, The Wisest Investment: Teaching Your Kids to Be Responsible, Independent and Money-Smart for Life, gives parents the information, strategies and inspiration they need to teach their kids about money.

Robin has held professional positions in both audit and taxation at two of Canada’s largest accounting firms, and spent five years in the complex world of Derivatives Marketing at Citibank Canada. She is also passionate about improving opportunities for women CPAs to advance into positions of leadership. From 2008 until 2017, she was a member, and then Chair, of the Chartered Professional Accountants of Canada’s Women’s Leadership Council.

Robin graduated with a Bachelor of Commerce degree (with High Distinction) from the Rotman School of Management at the University of Toronto. She earned her Chartered Accountant designation and went on to complete the Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants’ (CICA) In-Depth Tax Course. Robin values lifelong learning and participated in the Canadian Board Diversity Council’s Director Education Program.

She lives in Toronto where she and her husband have raised two (mostly) money-smart young adults, a son and a daughter. For fun, she loves to snowboard, cycle and go to concerts.

Notable moments in this episode:
(09:57) - why isn't financial literacy taught at schools?
(13:14) - having the right conversations around money to prevent financial stress
(29:12) - habits we can give our kids on financial literacy

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Follow Robin:
Book - g2g.to/C-Fm
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/RobinTaubFinancialConsulting
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/robin-taub-cpa-ca-1a516528/
Twitter - https://twitter.com/robintaub
Website - https://robintaub.com/

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Follow & Subscribe to the Ultrahabits Journey:
Apple - podcasts.apple.com/podcast/the-ultra-habits-podcast/id1551339373
Spotify - open.spotify.com/show/0eWBOT8L1ShaRy5aoPxOHp
Facebook - facebook.com/ultrahabits
Instagram - instagram.com/ultra.habits/
LinkedIn - linkedin.com/in/rj-singh-801a0436/
Oberit - https://gr3f.co/c/50833/JYgMG
Strava - https://www.strava.com/athletes/32692468
YouTube - youtube.com/channel/UC6Wx-9NQ81K_4mZYCmoNGvQ
Website - ultrahabits.co/
Rate the podcast - https://ratethispodcast.com/ultrahabits

In addition to being a retired Marine Corps Infantry Officer and decorated combat leader, Mike Ettore served successfully as a C-level executive in a publicly traded professional services firm with annual revenue in excess of $1 Billion.

His unique background enables him to understand the personal and professional challenges that senior business leaders face on a daily basis. Mike brings a wealth of practical, real-life leadership expertise and presence to every coaching engagement and serves as a catalyst to accelerate change and the achievement of positive results.

Working with forward-looking companies and select individual executives, Mike provides senior leaders with a confidential and neutral sounding board to discuss the leadership challenges they are experiencing.

Notable moments in this episode:
(16:04) - the similarities between business and the US Marines
(42:36) - the three hard questions every CEO needs to ask their executives
(46:21) - when to be a mummy/daddy and when to be a mother/father

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Follow Mike:
Books - https://www.amazon.com/Books-Mike-Ettore/s?rh=n%3A283155%2Cp_27%3AMike+Ettore
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/FidelisLeadershipGroup/
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikeettore/
Podcast - https://www.fidelisleadership.com/podcast
Twitter - https://twitter.com/fidelisleader
Website - https://www.fidelisleadership.com/

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Follow & Subscribe to the Ultrahabits Journey:
Apple - podcasts.apple.com/podcast/the-ultra-habits-podcast/id1551339373
Spotify - open.spotify.com/show/0eWBOT8L1ShaRy5aoPxOHp
Facebook - facebook.com/ultrahabits
Instagram - instagram.com/ultra.habits/
LinkedIn - linkedin.com/in/rj-singh-801a0436/
Oberit - https://gr3f.co/c/50833/JYgMG
Strava - https://www.strava.com/athletes/32692468
YouTube - youtube.com/channel/UC6Wx-9NQ81K_4mZYCmoNGvQ
Website - ultrahabits.co/
Rate the podcast - https://ratethispodcast.com/ultrahabits

Justin Zorn and Leigh Marz take us on an unlikely journey—from the West Wing of the White House to San Quentin’s death row; from Ivy League brain research laboratories to underground psychedelic circles; from the temperate rainforests of Olympic National Park to the main stage at a heavy metal festival—to explore the meaning and importance of silence and the art of finding it in any situation.

Golden is a field guide to getting beyond the noise—not just the noise in our ears, but also on our screens and in our heads. Drawing on lessons from neuroscience, business, spirituality, politics, and the arts, Marz and Zorn explore why auditory, informational, and internal silence is essential for physical health, mental clarity, ecological sustainability, and vibrant community. They show how to go beyond the ordinary rules and tools of mindfulness to help individuals, families, organizations, and whole societies dial down the noise and find pristine attention.

In this engaging and unexpected rethinking of the meaning of quiet, Marz and Zorn make the bold and convincing argument that we can repair our world by reclaiming the presence of silence in our lives.


Notable moments in this episode:
(13:04) - how does society deal with the uptick in noise?
(22:25) - how silence can help executives flourish in their organisations
(27:51) - what to do when heightened stress kicks in and having to make difficult decisions

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Follow Justin Zorn & Leigh Marz:
Book - https://www.amazon.com/Golden-Power-Silence-World-Noise/dp/B09RM7L5BT
LinkedIn (Justin) - https://www.linkedin.com/in/justin-talbot-zorn-1113544/
LinkedIn (Leigh) - https://www.linkedin.com/in/leigh-marz-9881a13/
Website (Justin) - https://justinzorn.com/
Website (Leigh) - https://leighmarz.com/

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Follow & Subscribe to the Ultrahabits Journey:
Apple - podcasts.apple.com/podcast/the-ultra-habits-podcast/id1551339373
Spotify - open.spotify.com/show/0eWBOT8L1ShaRy5aoPxOHp
Facebook - facebook.com/ultrahabits
Instagram - instagram.com/ultra.habits/
LinkedIn - linkedin.com/in/rj-singh-801a0436/
Oberit - https://gr3f.co/c/50833/JYgMG
Strava - https://www.strava.com/athletes/32692468
YouTube - youtube.com/channel/UC6Wx-9NQ81K_4mZYCmoNGvQ
Website - ultrahabits.co/
Rate the podcast - https://ratethispodcast.com/ultrahabits

Dr Jo Mitchell is a clinical and coaching psychologist and Co-Founder of The Mind Room, an innovative and creative psychology community in Collingwood, Victoria. Jo works with individuals and organisations to manage mental illness and build wellbeing. Her current focus is on wellbeing design and immersive cultural experiences that promote mental health beyond the therapy room.

Jo has an applied and academic interest in wellbeing science – including ACT, positive psychology, mindfulness and technology - and completed the first Australian PhD in this field. With over twenty years of experience in mental health, business and sport (including AFL, Olympic and Paralympic sports and Orienteering) Jo is motivated by creative collaborations that make positive health and social change.


Notable moments in this episode:
(18:22) - how you can be flourishing in your life
(33:10) - this Japanese study of 30,000 people shows which people live longer and healthier lives
(45:00) - take on these habits to start having a fit mind today

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Follow Jo:
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/TheMindRoom/
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/themindroom/
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jo-mitchell-8930537/
Twitter - https://twitter.com/themindroom
Website - https://themindroom.com.au/

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Follow & Subscribe to the Ultrahabits Journey:
Apple - podcasts.apple.com/podcast/the-ultra-habits-podcast/id1551339373
Spotify - open.spotify.com/show/0eWBOT8L1ShaRy5aoPxOHp
Facebook - facebook.com/ultrahabits
Instagram - instagram.com/ultra.habits/
LinkedIn - linkedin.com/in/rj-singh-801a0436/
Oberit - https://gr3f.co/c/50833/JYgMG
Strava - https://www.strava.com/athletes/32692468
YouTube - youtube.com/channel/UC6Wx-9NQ81K_4mZYCmoNGvQ
Website - ultrahabits.co/
Rate the podcast - https://ratethispodcast.com/ultrahabits

Her life is all about Gold: a kind of modern-day ‘Alchemist’: from studying geology of gold, to a Paralympic gold medal and explorer of both the inner world as much as the outer.

Karen started her working life as a geologist in the Bolivian Andes, researching gold, but a life-changing accident left her paralysed from the chest down. She moved away from being a ‘rock-doctor’ to exploring both outside and within. She loved to discover and to find ways to align mind, body and spirit to do extraordinary things. This has led her to ski across icecaps, kayak at extreme latitudes of the planet, and handcycle the world’s biggest mountain ranges and longest rivers. Karen believes we create results and happiness from the inside out. Utilising our thoughts – the language of our mind, and our emotions – the language of our body, we can create health and freedom. She believes that with desire, awareness and resources, and permission to unleash who we truly want to be, anything is possible.

Today she is the author of 3 books, and her purpose is about helping individuals and organisations ‘Find Inner Gold’: turning challenge into opportunity, through the process of digging deep to find the essence of presence, performance, possibility and inner calm.


Notable moments in this episode:
👀 (06:15) - the moment Karen became a paraplegic
❓ (27:00) - this mechanism will get you curious in fearful situations
🛡️ (38:39) - avoid these because they’re giving you limiting beliefs

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Follow Karen:
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/karenquest79
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/handbikedarke/
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/karen-darke-317b0a7/
Twitter - https://twitter.com/kdarke
Website - https://www.karendarke.com/
Wikipedia - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_Darke
YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUmsZ7LrAEdURv19M1QlpqQ/videos

***

Follow & Subscribe to the Ultrahabits Journey:
Apple - podcasts.apple.com/podcast/the-ultra-habits-podcast/id1551339373
Spotify - open.spotify.com/show/0eWBOT8L1ShaRy5aoPxOHp
Facebook - facebook.com/ultrahabits
Instagram - instagram.com/ultra.habits/
LinkedIn - linkedin.com/in/rj-singh-801a0436/
Oberit - https://gr3f.co/c/50833/JYgMG
Strava - https://www.strava.com/athletes/32692468
YouTube - youtube.com/channel/UC6Wx-9NQ81K_4mZYCmoNGvQ
Website - ultrahabits.co/
Rate the podcast - https://ratethispodcast.com/ultrahabits

Welcome to episode 4! We have a special guest, a psychotherapist and relationship coach, Bede Draper. You may remember when he first appeared on the podcast back in episode 20.

Bede Draper is a New Zealander who has a MSc and has been formally trained in Western methods of psychotherapy and Western philosophy. He spent 14 months studying under Swami Dayananda in India. He has an avid interest in Vedic psychology as unfolded by Swami Dayananda and now uses this psychology as a foundation for his psychotherapy and life coaching practice. As a young man he was in a Roman Catholic religious order studying to be a priest.


Notable moments in this episode:
(21:36) - how we as a species have fallen away from what we say and do
(36:35) - understanding our values / what we want
(43:28) - do this if you are arguing with your spouse

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Follow Bede:
Website - https://beingfreewhileliving.org
Website - https://www.manability.com.au/about/
YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3hlY-ZmwrganWwSze7ZSOQ?app=desktop

***

Follow & Subscribe to the Ultrahabits Journey:
Apple - podcasts.apple.com/podcast/the-ultra-habits-podcast/id1551339373
Spotify - open.spotify.com/show/0eWBOT8L1ShaRy5aoPxOHp
Facebook - facebook.com/ultrahabits
Instagram - instagram.com/ultra.habits/
LinkedIn - linkedin.com/in/rj-singh-801a0436/
Oberit - https://gr3f.co/c/50833/JYgMG
Strava - https://www.strava.com/athletes/32692468
YouTube - youtube.com/channel/UC6Wx-9NQ81K_4mZYCmoNGvQ
Website - ultrahabits.co/
Rate the podcast - https://ratethispodcast.com/ultrahabits

Early in her career, Sonia was told that “while you could learn to manage, you could not learn to lead.”

She told herself “you’re either born a leader or not.”

Years later she realised that leaders are actually developed over time through direct experience, passion, and resilience. Leadership isn’t about who has the loudest voice or even how much you know.

Regardless of your title, your background, or whether you’re introverted or extroverted, YOU have the potential to be an inspiring and influential leader.

True power derives from the ability to make other people powerful. If you can inspire someone to tap into their strengths with confidence and be exceptional, you are a leader.


Notable moments in this episode:
👀 (09:56) - having an upbringing where you were “invisible” growing up
🚀 (19:35) - how you can transition from a technical specialist to influencing and leading a team
🗡️ (47:00) - the practical steps you can start today on building confidence

***

Follow Sonia:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/influentialleaderscommunity/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/soniasinghinternational/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/soniaksingh/
Website: https://www.soniaksingh.com/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqA4w8bmUN7LtBPKDMNkDJA

***

Follow & Subscribe to the Ultrahabits Journey:
Apple - podcasts.apple.com/podcast/the-ultra-habits-podcast/id1551339373
Spotify - open.spotify.com/show/0eWBOT8L1ShaRy5aoPxOHp
Facebook - facebook.com/ultrahabits
Instagram - instagram.com/ultra.habits/
LinkedIn - linkedin.com/in/rj-singh-801a0436/
Oberit - https://gr3f.co/c/50833/JYgMG
Strava - https://www.strava.com/athletes/32692468
YouTube - youtube.com/channel/UC6Wx-9NQ81K_4mZYCmoNGvQ
Website - ultrahabits.co/
Rate the podcast - https://ratethispodcast.com/ultrahabits

Admiral Sandy Stosz started out in the US Coast Guard as an ensign serving on polar icebreakers, conducting national security missions from the Arctic to the Antarctic. Her forty-year career is filled with leadership lessons gleaned while breaking ice and breaking glass as the first woman to command an icebreaker on the Great Lakes and to lead a US armed forces service academy. Along the way, Sandy served for 12 years at sea, commanding two ships, and led large Coast Guard organizations during times of crisis and complexity. She finished her career as the first woman assigned as Deputy Commandant for Mission Support, directing one of the Coast Guard’s largest enterprises.

She has lectured widely on leadership, and has been featured on CSPAN and other media outlets. In 2012, Newsweek’s “The Daily Beast” named Sandy to their list of 150 Women who Shake the World. She volunteers in leadership roles for several organizations and runs Sandra Stosz, LLC. Sandy enjoys hiking, swimming, birdwatching, beachcombing, and spending time with her family.

In her new book ‘Breaking Ice and Breaking Glass: Leading in Uncharted Waters’, Admiral Sandy Stosz draws upon 40 years of extensive leadership experience and wisdom to provide tools that will help leaders navigate complexity to reach their goals and succeed at every level.


Notable moments in this episode:
🎯 (21:42) - how women can take extreme ownership of their own path without getting bogged down in victim mentality
🪖 (30:45) - what advice to give to women who are leading male-dominant teams
🗡️ (50:29) - the practical habits you can take on today to become a better leader

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Follow Sandy:
Book: g2g.to/HD8D
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sandra-stosz-584a652b/
Twiter: https://twitter.com/SandraStosz
Website - https://sandrastosz.com/

***

Follow & Subscribe to the Ultrahabits Journey:
Apple - podcasts.apple.com/podcast/the-ultra-habits-podcast/id1551339373
Spotify - open.spotify.com/show/0eWBOT8L1ShaRy5aoPxOHp
Facebook - facebook.com/ultrahabits
Instagram - instagram.com/ultra.habits/
LinkedIn - linkedin.com/in/rj-singh-801a0436/
Oberit - https://gr3f.co/c/50833/JYgMG
Strava - https://www.strava.com/athletes/32692468
YouTube - youtube.com/channel/UC6Wx-9NQ81K_4mZYCmoNGvQ
Website - ultrahabits.co/
Rate the podcast - https://ratethispodcast.com/ultrahabits