The VIBE with Kelly Cardenas #716 How a Navy SEAL Builds Businesses: Jeff Engel’s OODA Mindset"
Jeff Engel—former Navy SEAL and CEO of LocationTech—brings battlefield clarity and boardroom wisdom to this conversation. From heart attack scares to hot tea mishaps, Jeff shows how the OODA loop (Observe, Orient, Decide, Act) isn’t just military strategy—it’s a roadmap for life, parenting, and business.
What you’ll hear:
Why “no regrets” matters more than “no mistakes”
How grace helps balance discipline and self-talk
Jeff’s heart attack story—and how it reshaped his approach to leadership
The connection between SEAL training and parenting with freedom, not fear
What Carlsbad, Encinitas, Fish 101 tacos, and procurement all teach us about timing and trust
How the VIBE Method™ (Heart, Mind, Skills) aligns with OODA to create impact that lasts
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This Episode Is Brought To You By...
🌟 Cardenas Law Group – Protecting what matters most. https://cardenaslawgroup.com
🌟 Inchstones: The Vibe Within – Transform your life one Inchstone at a time. https://a.co/d/4CYg4vG
🌟 The VIBE Method™ – Heart, Mind, Skills in alignment: https://a.co/d/6tgAJ4c
👉 For all of our sponsors and exclusive offers: https://solo.to/kellycardenas
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LISTEN / SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST
🎧 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/attitude-determines-altitude-the-kelly-cardenas-podcast/id1330521935
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MORE WAYS TO VIBE WITH US
📩 The VIBE Report Newsletter: https://kellycardenas.substack.com
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📘 The VIBE Method™ (Book): https://a.co/d/6tgAJ4c
🎥 Clips Channel: [Insert link once live]
🌎 Official Website: https://kellycardenas.com
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ABOUT THE SHOW
The VIBE with Kelly Cardenas Podcast exists to transform leadership and life one Inchstone at a time. The VIBE is not just the energy you bring—it’s the way people feel when you leave. Through the lens of The VIBE Method™—Heart (belief system), Mind (intentions), and Skills (actions)—Kelly brings humor, authenticity, and powerful conversations to help you align who you are with how you show up in the world.
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FOLLOW JEFF ENGEL
🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffengel1/
🌐 LocationTech: https://www.locationtech.com
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CHAPTERS
0:00 Intro – Navy SEAL lessons and OODA explained
4:10 Grace, McRaven, and the battle with self-talk
9:05 Hot tea, beanies, and learning through mistakes
13:40 Jeff’s heart attack story and new perspective on leadership
20:20 Parenting through freedom, not fear of regrets
26:45 Encinitas vs Carlsbad – timing, trust, and tacos
32:50 The straight line of the consumer and procurement lessons
39:15 Applying OODA and SEAL discipline to business decisions
45:30 The VIBE Method™ meets military clarity
50:40 Final reflection – leadership is how people feel when you leave
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Close your eyes for a moment—where do you need to stop replaying regrets and start trusting your own OODA loop?
This edition of The VIBE Report is proudly sponsored by Cardenas Law Group.