About this episode

Herb Thompson shares his journey from a secure military career to becoming a Green Beret, emphasizing ownership and sacrifice.

Herb Thompson had already made it. He was Drill Sergeant of the Year, on a clear path to a top enlisted career, and could have stayed where it was safe. He didn't. In this conversation with Joe De Sena, Special Forces veteran Herb Thompson explains why he walked away from the secure path to chase the dream he had since childhood: becoming a Green Beret. Herb breaks down fear of failure, why most people talk instead of act, how he survived Special Forces selection without feedback, and what it took to rebuild purpose after retirement. This episode is about ownership, sacrifice, and performance under uncertainty. You will leave with practical rules for taking action, handling discomfort, and building a life around what you are willing to earn. Things You Will Learn: Why ownership matters more than motivation when the goal gets hard. How to break overwhelming pressure into small, winnable steps. Why sacrifice, not talk, is what turns a dream into a result. Tools & Frameworks Covered: Own Your Journey Rule: puts responsibility for progress back on you. Small Chunk Execution: breaks hard goals into immediate next steps under pressure. Sacrifice Filter: clarifies what you are willing…

People in this episode

Host: Joe De Sena

Guest: Herb Thompson

Topics covered

• ownership
• sacrifice
• performance under uncertainty
• fear of failure
• taking action

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Spartan.com

More episodes of The Hard Way With Joe De Sena

• Karl Meltzer on Running 100 Hundred-Milers, the DNFs That Haunt Him, and Why Anyone Can Do It · July 14, 2026 · 25 min
• Tina Seelig on Luck, Gratitude, and Why Your Phone Is Killing Your Opportunities · July 7, 2026 · 24 min
• Joel Del Rosario on Surviving an IED in Iraq, Losing His Memory, and Owning Every Decision After · June 30, 2026 · 21 min
• 11 Years Pro Soccer: Hugh Roberts on Getting Benched, Training Alone, and Never Quitting · June 23, 2026 · 25 min
• Building How Brian Duncanson Helped Turn a Napkin Idea Into Spartan Race · June 16, 2026 · 27 min
• Down Syndrome, Ironman Triathlons, and Never Quitting: Robert Norris on Doing the Work · June 9, 2026 · 17 min

Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the The Hard Way With Joe De Sena podcast page.