I Was a Navy SEAL, a Firefighter, and Still Fell Off Track. Here’s What Finally Got Me Back.

In this episode, I open up about something most high-performing men don’t talk about… the slow drift into mediocrity.

I share the moment I realized I had fallen off track — not in fitness, but in standards. As a 13-year Navy SEAL and firefighter, I’d been through the most demanding environments you can imagine… but none of that protected me from slipping into comfort, distraction, and autopilot.

You’ll hear what finally snapped me out of it, the system I used to regain my edge, and how I now coach other men to do the same inside the Rebuild the Man program.

If you’re a man over 35 who’s strong on the outside but slipping on the inside… this one’s for you.

🔥 DM “REBUILD” @thehighlyeffectiveman on Instagram to join the mission 

or visit HigherLevelCoaching.co

Send us a text

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:09):
Welcome to the Highly Effective man podcast, hosted
by former Navy SEAL turned lifeand fitness coach.
I'm your host, jp Bolwan.
This podcast is your resourcefor unlocking the healthiest,
most productive and highlyeffective man within you.
Let's go what's up, guys.

(00:34):
Welcome back to the HighlyEffective man podcast.
This is for men who want more,more strength, more energy, more
purpose.
I'm JP Bolwan, 13-year NavySEAL, veteran firefighter and
the coach that men turn to whenthey're ready to level up and
perform at their highest levelphysically, mentally and in life
.
So today's going to be a littlebit different.
Okay, no tips, no tactics, justthe truth.

(00:58):
I want to tell you about themoment that I fell off track and
what finally got me back,because here's the truth when
the standard slips, so does theman, and I've done things that
I'm proud of.
Right, I've made it throughbuds.
I became a Navy SEAL, playedcollege football in my 30s and

(01:22):
I've coached guys all over theworld in CrossFit, weightlifting
, even in health and fitness,but none of that mattered the
day that I looked in the mirrorand I thought what the hell
happened to me.
I wasn't broken, but I alsowasn't me.
I was drifting, just goingthrough the motions.

(01:43):
I look strong on the outside,but I was slipping on the inside
.
When the standard slips, sodoes the man.
You know, after the SEAL teams,I thought, man, I'm going to
crush civilian life right.
I did some real estate, I soldsome homes multimillion dollar
homes, taught fitness, Itraveled the world, played rugby

(02:06):
, but I lost something.
I had no mission, no team andno real fire.
I looked the part.
I still trained hard, but I wascoasting.
I was sleeping in, skipping onlike the little things, letting
little things slide, and I knewit.
The scary part is that I knewbetter, but I let the standard

(02:32):
drop anyway.
One night I stayed up late justwatching junk on YouTube.
I wake up the next morning late, feeling off.
My day was already slipping.
My kids needed me, my wifeneeded me, I wasn't locked in
and that was it.

(02:52):
I'd become average.
So I stripped it all back,started looking at my morning
routine.
Hard training, tight discipline, got clarity on who I wanted to
be, not just what I needed todo.
I didn't need more motivation,I needed to operate with mental

(03:13):
authority.
And that's when the highlyeffective man was born.
And I'm not just preaching this, I live it.
I coach it.
One of the guys right now in myrebuild, the man program is
already down 11 pounds, andthat's not even the best part.
He said JP, I've got an extrathree hours in my day now and it

(03:34):
almost feels wrong, like Ishould be doing something else.
And I told him I'm like man,that's a blessing.
People pay for that, but youknow what happens when you raise
your standard for that.
But you know what happens whenyou raise your standard your
life expands, your energy comesback and you remember who the
hell you are.
Being a highly effective manisn't just about fitness.

(03:56):
It's about ownership.
This is about taking your lifeback in your body, your mind and
your mission.
He's commanding, not with ego,but with presence, follow

(04:17):
through and results.
He leads himself first, thenothers.
He doesn't chase motivation.
He runs systems.
He has a body that's built forbattle, a mind that's built for
adversity and a mission that'sbigger than himself.
That's who we're building.

(04:39):
That's what this is all about.
Mind that's built for adversityand a mission that's bigger
than himself that's who we'rebuilding.
That's what this is all about.
When the standard slips, sodoes the man, but when you raise
your standard, your whole liferises with it.
And if this hits you and youknow it's time to take action,

(05:03):
then DM me the word rebuild orhead to higherlevelcoachingco
and fill out an application.
I work with a small group ofdriven men who are serious about
rising above average and theywant to build a mission-driven
life.
You're not too far gone goneand you're not behind.
You're just one decision awayfrom a whole new standard.

(05:25):
Thanks for listening to theHighly Effective man podcast.
If this episode fired you up,share it, leave a review and
send it to a man that needs tohear it.
Let's sharpen the blade andremember when the standard slips
, so does the man.
But that's not you, not anymore.

(05:47):
I'll see you on the next one.
Let's go.
Thank you for listening to theHighly Effective man podcast.
If you enjoyed or learnedsomething on this episode, do me
a favor and share this withsomebody who you think needs to
hear it.
And one last thing if you wantto work with me as your coach to
help you get fit, be moreproductive and, in general, just
be the most effective versionof yourself, head over to my

(06:10):
site, higherlevelcoachingco.
Once again, that'shigherlevelcoachingco and
schedule a call with me there.
Thank you again, let's go.