What does it take to lead when lives are on the line?
In this compelling episode of The Greatness Machine, former Navy SEAL Commander Rorke Denver joins Darius to explore what real leadership looks like under pressure. Drawing from years of leading special ops missions, Rorke shares how the same principles that guide elite warriors—clarity, discipline, and trust—can transform how we lead in business and life.
He reveals why great leadership isn’t about having all the answers, but about staying calm in chaos, making tough decisions, and inspiring others through character. Whether you’re leading a team, a company, or your own life, this episode offers powerful insights for anyone ready to lead with courage and purpose.
367 | Rorke Denver | Former Navy SEAL Shares Leadership Lessons from the Front Lines
In this episode, Darius and Rorke will discuss:
- Introduction and Special Occasions
- Rorke’s Origin Story and Path to Becoming a Navy SEAL
- Leadership Lessons from Coaching and Military Experience
- The Crisis of Masculinity and Modern Leadership
- Experiences in BUD/S Training
- Mindset and Resilience in Adversity
- Embracing Challenges for Growth
- The Role of Suffering in Strength
- Leadership Lessons from the Battlefield
- Transitioning from Military to Civilian Life
Meet Rorke:
Commander Rorke Denver is a decorated Navy SEAL, bestselling author, and leadership expert. He’s led over 200 combat missions, run SEAL training, and earned the Bronze Star with “V” for valor. Rorke is the author of “Damn Few” and “Worth Dying For,” and starred in the film Act of Valor and FOX’s American Grit with John Cena. A former All-American lacrosse player at Syracuse, he holds a master’s in Global Business Leadership and now leads EVER ONWARD, a leadership and performance brand.
Meet Darius:
Darius is your host of The Greatness Machine. Darius is a mad scientist, high-growth CEO, serial entrepreneur, author, conscious capitalist, speaker, and entertainer. Darius is on a quest to create 1,000,000 Core Value Driven Organization by 2030. He is calling this “The Core Value Revolution.” Darius is an alumni of the Birthing of Giants Entrepreneurial Program at MIT and Stagen Integral Leadership Program. Darius’s accolades include being ranked #9 Top Rated CEO in America on Glassdoor, has won numerous Stevie Awards, and has founded and grown organizations that have been ranked #40 in the Inc. 500 and were ranked #3 Best Places to Work By the San Francisco Business Time. He is all about the P’s: Passion, Pizza, Puzzles, and, especially, Pink Unicorns. His book, The Core Value Equation, is an Amazon #1 Best Seller and is available at www.thecorevalueequation.com.
The Greatness Machine shares lessons on how to framework your drive for results, create limitless space, and win the war on talent.
My team and I are on a mission to help YOU create a cultural revolution. I want to teach you how to build a core value driven organization.
#GreatnessMachine
Make Greatness Happen!
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Facebook: @therealdariusm
Instagram: @imthedarius
Twitter: @kingdarius
LinkedIn: @dariusmirshahzadeh
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Don’t let your Core Values become a company artifact! Learn how to make Core Values the language of your organization. Pre-order my book The Core Value Equation found at the link below
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