165: From Navy SEAL to CEO with Tim CruickShank

About this episode

Tim Cruickshank discusses the lessons from his Navy SEAL training that apply to leadership and entrepreneurship.

Brief summary of show: What can Navy SEAL training teach you about leadership, business, and life? In this episode of Anything But Typical, Gary and Ben sit down with retired Navy SEAL Lieutenant Commander Tim Cruickshank, founder of Bone Frog Coffee Company, to break down the mindset, discipline, and team-first philosophy that shaped his journey. Tim shares how elite military training—including BUD/S and combat deployments—built the mental toughness and adaptability he now uses as an entrepreneur. More importantly, he reveals how his business was born out of a deeper mission: honoring fallen teammates and supporting Gold Star families. This episode is a powerful conversation on leadership, resilience, entrepreneurship, and what it truly means to put others first—in business, family, and life. Key topics discussed: 00:01:00 – The “heartbeat question” and defining your legacy 00:05:00 – Military upbringing and lessons in integrity and trust 00:09:00 – How Tim decided to become a Navy SEAL 00:18:00 – What BUD/S training is really like (mental + physical) 00:29:00 – Building mental toughness: “30 seconds at a time” mindset 00:33:00 – Combat lessons: adaptability, leadership, and…

People in this episode

Hosts: Gary Frey, Ben McDonald

Guest: Tim Cruickshank

Topics covered

• leadership
• entrepreneurship
• military training
• resilience
• teamwork
• mental toughness

Keywords

• Navy SEAL
• leadership
• entrepreneurship
• mental toughness
• Bone Frog Coffee
• resilience
• military training

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Bone Frog Coffee Company, Navy SEAL

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