How can Navy SEAL training principles transform medical practice amid rising uncertainty?

In this special guest-hosted episode of Succeed in Medicine, John Schneider interviews Rich Diviney, as he recounts developing The Attributes during his time leading selection for SEAL Team Six, distinguishing between teachable skills and innate qualities that underpin performance under stress. Listeners learn about the 41 attributes assessment available at theattributes.com, which reveals personal "dimmer switch" settings to enhance self-awareness without judgment. The discussion bridges military and medical worlds, exploring how ER physicians and SEALs share traits like compartmentalization, while roles like general practitioners demand higher empathy.

Transitioning to Masters of Uncertainty, Rich delves into identity's role in performance, advocating "I am" statements tied to attributes for resilience during career shifts. He introduces the "Moving Horizons" tool to generate personal certainty by chunking challenges, drawing from SEAL Hell Week and Apollo missions to show how it dissipates fear through neuroplasticity. The episode culminates in dynamic subordination—a fluid leadership model where teams adapt like an amoeba, empowering all members in uncertain environments, with parallels to surgical teams. Essential listening for physicians navigating change, burnout, and team dynamics.

Three Actionable Takeaways:

1. Assess Your Attributes – Visit theattributes.com to take the free assessment and identify your unique strengths and blind spots. Use this self-awareness to match roles that align with your innate qualities, enhancing performance in high-stress medical settings.
2. Practice Moving Horizons – In moments of uncertainty, ask: What do I know? What can I control? Choose a short, achievable horizon (e.g., next 10 breaths or task) to generate dopamine and focus, building resilience through daily practice like workouts.
3. Foster Dynamic Subordination – Lead by behavior, not title: Create environments where the most competent person steps up, and others support. In teams, use first names and empower voices to optimize decision-making in fluid, high-stakes scenarios like surgery or emergencies.

About the Show:

Succeed In Medicine covers patient interactions, burnout, career growth, personal finance, and more. If you're tired of dull medical lectures, tune in for real-world lessons we should have learned in med school!

About the Guest Hosts:

· John Schneider – An academic neurosurgeon and physician coach, guest hosts the Succeed in Medicine podcast, interviewing former Navy SEAL Rich Diviney. He trains residents, values self-discovery through assessments, and champions dynamic subordination in teams. Fascinated by human behavior, Schneider initially aimed to be an economist before pursuing medicine.

Rich Diviney – A retired Navy SEAL Commander with over 20 years of service and 13 deployments, authored The Attributes and Masters of Uncertainty. As a performance consultant, he advises high-performing teams, using his SEAL Team Six experience to develop assessments and strategies for mastering uncertainty and enhancing self-awareness

Connect with Rich Diviney:

Website: https://theattributes.com
Email: rich@theattributes.com

This medical podcast is your physician mentor to fill the gaps in your medical education. We cover physician soft skills, charting, interpersonal skills, doctor finance, doctor mental health, medical decisions, physician parenting, physician executive skills, navigating your doctor career, and medical professional development. This is critical CME for physicians, but without the credits (yet). A proud founding member of the Doctor Podcast Network!

Visit www.physiciansguidetodoctoring.com to connect, dive deeper, and keep the conversation going. Let’s grow!

Disclaimer:

This podcast is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical, financial, or legal advice. Always consult a qualified professional for personalized guidance.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Ready to turn procrastination into productivity and make to-do lists work for you?

Dr. Bradley Block and Dr. Russell Ramsay continue their discussion on time management for physicians. In part two, Dr. Ramsay explores forgiving procrastination through normalization, identifying progressivity (productive avoidance), and breaking tasks into small, actionable steps. He shares tips on using daily planners, keeping to-do lists manageable (2-5 items), and incorporating self-compassion to sustain motivation. While rooted in ADHD strategies, these insights help anyone in high-demand fields like medicine avoid overcommitment and build momentum. Tune in for practical advice on planners, task breakdown, and iterating for success—perfect for shifting work-life balance.

Three Actionable Takeaway:

1. Forgive and Normalize Procrastination – Recognize that relapse is 100%, and focus on understanding why it happens (e.g., lack of planning or overcommitment). Dr. Ramsay advises reframing through normalization and self-compassion: acknowledge slip-ups, identify specific causes, and get back on track without self-judgment to minimize future occurrences.
2. Avoid Progressivity with Task Prioritization – Identify when you're doing lower-priority tasks (e.g., organizing files instead of charting) as avoidance. Dr. Ramsay suggests making priority tasks more appealing by focusing on hands-on starts, clear endpoints, and small steps—like mowing the lawn before taxes—to build momentum and prevent productive procrastination.
3. Optimize To-Do Lists and Planners – Keep lists short (2-5 bite-sized items) and specific (e.g., "run errand" vs. vague goals). Dr. Ramsay recommends using planners for time-blocking, sequencing tasks logically, and iterating if needed; if a task lingers, break it down further into initial steps like "get to workstation" for sustained progress.

About the Show:

Succeed In Medicine covers patient interactions, burnout, career growth, personal finance, and more. If you're tired of dull medical lectures, tune in for real-world lessons we should have learned in med school!

About the Guest:

Dr. Russell Ramsay is a psychologist specializing in the assessment and psychosocial treatment of adult ADHD. With international lectures and over six books, including CBT for Adult ADHD and The Adult ADHD Toolkit, he advises on behavioral strategies for efficiency and well-being. Formerly at the University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, he focuses on helping professionals, including physicians, manage procrastination and perfectionism.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/russell-ramsay-a8bbb310

Website: https://www.cbt4adhd.com

About the Host:

Dr. Bradley Block – Dr. Bradley Block is a board-certified otolaryngologist at ENT and Allergy Associates in Garden City, NY. He specializes in adult and pediatric ENT, with interests in sinusitis and obstructive sleep apnea. Dr. Block also hosts Succeed In Medicine podcast, focusing on personal and professional development for physicians

Want to be a guest?

Email Brad at brad@physiciansguidetodoctoring.com or visit www.physiciansguidetodoctoring.com to learn more!

Socials:

@physiciansguidetodoctoring on Facebook

@physicianguidetodoctoring on YouTube

@physiciansguide on Instagram and Twitter

This medical podcast is your physician mentor to fill the gaps in your medical education. We cover physician soft skills, charting, interpersonal skills, doctor finance, doctor mental health, medical decisions, physician parenting, physician executive skills, navigating your doctor career, and medical professional development. This is critical CME for physicians, but without the credits (yet). A proud founding member of the Doctor Podcast Network!

Visit www.physiciansguidetodoctoring.com to connect, dive deeper, and keep the conversation going. Let’s grow!

Disclaimer:

This podcast is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical, financial, or legal advice. Always consult a qualified professional for personalized guidance.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Can physicians break the cycle of procrastination and reclaim their personal lives?

Dr. Bradley Block and Dr. Russell Ramsay dive into practical approaches for managing time, tackling dreaded tasks like charting and difficult patient calls, and addressing perfectionism. Drawing from his expertise in adult ADHD, Dr. Ramsay discusses behavioral scripts, implementation intentions, and reframing tasks to build momentum and reduce avoidance. While emphasizing that these skills benefit everyone, he highlights the role of social capital, small actions for big gains, and tools like talk-to-text for efficiency. Tune in for insights on current challenges, actionable strategies, and how to stay motivated—part one of a two-part series.

Three Actionable Takeaway:

1. Behavioral Scripts for Task Initiation – Break down challenging tasks, like difficult patient phone calls, into clear roles and minimal actions (e.g., communicate key information). Dr. Ramsay explains this reduces avoidance by focusing on fulfilling your professional duty, similar to starting gym routines with small steps like wearing gym clothes.
2. Combat Perfectionism with Good Enough Standards – Identify where perfectionism slows you down (e.g., over-editing notes or emails) and reframe to "fully competent" outcomes. Dr. Ramsay suggests using timers, word limits, or talk-to-text to draft quickly, and evaluating trade-offs like lost family time to incentivize efficiency.
3. Build Momentum Through Small Actions – Use implementation intentions ("If X, then Y") and "touch the task" techniques to start admin work or self-care. Dr. Ramsay notes that small steps, like opening a chart or comparing colleagues' efficient notes, create inertia and help shift from "have to" to intentional productivity.

About the Show:

Succeed In Medicine covers patient interactions, burnout, career growth, personal finance, and more. If you're tired of dull medical lectures, tune in for real-world lessons we should have learned in med school!

About the Guest:

Dr. Russell Ramsay is a psychologist specializing in the assessment and psychosocial treatment of adult ADHD. With international lectures and over six books, including CBT for Adult ADHD and The Adult ADHD Toolkit, he advises on behavioral strategies for efficiency and well-being. Formerly at the University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, he focuses on helping professionals, including physicians, manage procrastination and perfectionism.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/russell-ramsay-a8bbb310

Website: https://www.cbt4adhd.com

About the Host:

Dr. Bradley Block – Dr. Bradley Block is a board-certified otolaryngologist at ENT and Allergy Associates in Garden City, NY. He specializes in adult and pediatric ENT, with interests in sinusitis and obstructive sleep apnea. Dr. Block also hosts Succeed In Medicine podcast, focusing on personal and professional development for physicians

Want to be a guest?

Email Brad at brad@physiciansguidetodoctoring.com or visit www.physiciansguidetodoctoring.com to learn more!

Socials:

@physiciansguidetodoctoring on Facebook

@physicianguidetodoctoring on YouTube

@physiciansguide on Instagram and Twitter

This medical podcast is your physician mentor to fill the gaps in your medical education. We cover physician soft skills, charting, interpersonal skills, doctor finance, doctor mental health, medical decisions, physician parenting, physician executive skills, navigating your doctor career, and medical professional development. This is critical CME for physicians, but without the credits (yet). A proud founding member of the Doctor Podcast Network!

Visit www.physiciansguidetodoctoring.com to connect, dive deeper, and keep the conversation going. Let’s grow!

Disclaimer:

This podcast is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical, financial, or legal advice. Always consult a qualified professional for personalized guidance.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.