93. The Masters of Uncertainty with Rich Diviney

In this powerful first installment of a two-part conversation, former Navy SEAL commander and performance expert Rich Diviney returns to The Dwayne Kerrigan Podcast to discuss his groundbreaking new book, The Masters of Uncertainty.

With decades of leadership inside one of the world’s most elite military units, Rich unpacks how we can all perform better under pressure, lead with clarity in chaos, and transform anxiety into purposeful action.

Dwayne and Rich dive into the neuroscience behind fear, the underestimated power of identity, and the simple yet potent tools you can use to build teams that scale with integrity. Whether you're a business owner, leader, or high performer—this episode is a masterclass in navigating the unknown with confidence and precision.

Timestamps:

00:00 – Welcome back Rich Diviney

02:00 – Why The Masters of Uncertainty had to be written

05:40 – The book format that turns ideas into tools

07:00 – Life after SEALs: Business, family, and building with purpose

11:30 – Humans first: Common ground in conflict zones

13:30 – The irony of great leadership: Make yourself obsolete

16:00 – From Navy SEALs to CEO: The universal language of leadership

18:10 – The language of performance and the power of attributes

20:00 – Scaling wisely: Patience vs. pressure in entrepreneurship

26:00 – The psychology of transition & identity

33:00 – “I AM” statements and their impact on behavior

37:00 – Why we freeze, panic, or procrastinate

40:00 – The science of fear: Uncertainty + Anxiety

48:00 – The “Physiological Sigh” and open-gaze breathing

53:00 – Cold plunges, breathwork, and nervous system mastery

57:00 – Teaser: What to expect in Part 2

Notable Quotes:

“Leadership is about creating the environment where your team can outrun you.” – Rich Diviney

“When the shit hits the fan, personality goes out the window. That’s when attributes take over.” – Rich Diviney

“True confidence is knowing that when uncertainty hits, I’ll figure it out—and I’m okay.” – Rich Diviney

“Most people are not aware of how driven they are by the need for certainty. That’s what holds them back.” – Dwayne Kerrigan

Resources & Tools Mentioned:

• Rich Diviney’s assessment & attributes work: www.theattributes.com
• Assessment tool use promo code KERRIGAN15: https://hub.theattributes.com/
• The Masters of Uncertainty – https://learn.theattributes.com/mastering-uncertainty
• The Attributes Book (2021) – foundational read on human performance
• Physiological Sigh (breathwork tool) – Explained in Andrew Huberman’s work
• Open-gaze technique – A tool for reducing autonomic arousal instantly

Top Takeaways for Business Leaders:

1. Uncertainty + Anxiety = Fear
2. → Break the cycle by managing one or both.
3. The Identity Shift Matters
4. → Retire old “I AM” statements that no longer serve you. Choose new ones consciously.
5. Breath and Vision Are Performance Tools
6. → Use the “physiological sigh” and panoramic vision to reset your nervous system.
7. Attributes > Personality in Stress
8. → Know how your team shows up under pressure, not just how they act when it’s easy.
9. Great Leadership is Scalable
10. → Teach a language of performance so others can lead with the same clarity and...