The Learn-It-All Podcast 184: Why Most Business Leaders FAIL When the Pressure Hits | Marty Strong
What can 36 combat missions teach you about judgment, trust, and leading boldly?
In this gripping episode, host Damon Lembi sits down with retired Navy SEAL, CEO, and bestselling author Marty Strong to unpack the real lessons of leadership from the battlefield to the boardroom. Marty reveals the mindset and frameworks forged under pressure—from never being a “single point of failure” to the three-step process for creative, resilient leadership. Whether you’re running a small project or motivating an entire organization, this episode delivers practical tools to help you train, adapt, and inspire at a higher level.
Discover why great teams out-innovate their competition, how mission-driven leadership outperforms metrics-chasing, and what to do when your strategy—and your ego—get stuck in the mud. Marty also shares powerful stories from his SEAL days and breaks down how to reignite creativity in yourself and your team, long after childhood.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
- The difference between “leading for mission” and “leading for metrics” (and why it matters)
- Marty’s three-part framework for bold, creative leadership—including intellectual humility, curiosity, and applied creativity
- How SEALs build trust, adaptability, and cross-trained teams to avoid a single point of failure
- Why businesses lose creativity as they scale—and how to bring it back
- The #1 lesson Marty learned when everything went wrong on a mission (and how it changed his leadership forever)
- Tools for driving buy-in, team empathy, and loyalty—no matter the stakes
Timestamps:
00:00 – Marty’s “single point of failure” lesson and opening thoughts on leadership
01:18 – What the Navy SEALs taught Marty about always being prepared
03:10 – Marty’s backstory and path to the SEALs
07:00 – The reality of leading high-performing, high-intelligence teams
08:52 – Trust, judgment, and adaptability in special ops
11:27 – Marty’s “work the problem” mud mission and lessons in humility
21:53 – Translating military leadership to the business world
25:34 – Building bench strength, team loyalty, and cross-functional empathy
29:46 – Marty’s books: Be Nimble, Be Visionary, Be Different
34:05 – Why companies (and adults) lose creativity over time
39:19 – The three-step framework: humility, curiosity, creativity
42:43 – How to drive more curiosity and openness in teams
46:27 – The difference between business as usual and true vision
53:36 – What keeps Marty learning and leading at the highest level
56:20 – Marty's speaking, writing, and fiction for the SEAL Veterans Foundation
57:47 – Where to connect with Marty online
58:11 – Show close and Damon’s call to “stay curious, keep learning”
About Marty Strong
Marty Strong is a retired Navy SEAL with 20 years of combat leadership—and a track record as a CEO, entrepreneur, and bestselling author. After leading 36+ special operations missions and teams in high-stakes environments, Marty transitioned into the business world, buying and selling companies and coaching leaders across industries. He’s the author of a leadership trilogy (Be Nimble, Be Visionary, Be Different) and donates all proceeds from his fiction books to the SEAL Veterans Foundation. Marty speaks and consults on leadership, culture, and bold thinking for audiences nationwide.
Resources & Mentions:
- Marty’s website: https://www.martystrong.com/
- Marty’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marty-strong-9676bb13/
- Marty’s books: Be Nimble, Be Visionary, Be Different (Amazon)
- Article: “Work the Problem” by Marty Strong (LinkedIn article)
- SEAL Veterans Foundation: https://www.vetspecialwarriors.org/ (fiction book proceeds)
- Best Robotics: https://www.bestrobotics.org
- Book referenced: Cantrell (likely Ed Catmull) on Pixar: Creativity, Inc. by Ed Catmull
Podcast Contact Information:
Website: www.learnit.com
Email: podcast@learnit.com
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