28: Pat Dossett on Naval Special Warfare, Self-Mastery, and Rewriting the Narrative

In this episode of Hold The Standard, host Logan Gelbrich sits down with Pat Dossett, former Navy SEAL and co-founder of Madefor, for a powerful conversation about identity, leadership, and the hidden cost of chasing external validation.

Pat unpacks his journey from high-stakes military service to the world of behavior change and human development, reflecting on how his years in Naval Special Warfare shaped his mindset and how he had to unlearn parts of it to fully grow. What emerges is a deeply thoughtful take on high performance, vulnerability, and the courage to evolve beyond the roles we’ve been assigned.

Together, they explore:
• What it takes to transition from elite military service to civilian impact
• The role of daily practices in shaping identity
• How trauma, ego, and purpose intersect in leadership
• Why discipline is most powerful when it's rooted in compassion
• The internal war between “doing more” and actually being better

This episode invites listeners into a nuanced and honest reflection on what it means to pursue growth not as a performance, but as a way of living with integrity.