He’s Worked With Delta Force, CIA, Apple, & Nike. Here’s What The Best Do Differently

Hey team,

Just sat down with Justin Klahn for a powerful episode of The Resilient Show.

Justin is an innovation strategist who’s spent over two decades inside some of the most demanding environments on the planet—Nike, Apple, DARPA, the CIA, and even working with Delta Force/CAG.

His job has always been the same: find the real problem, bring the right people in, and figure out what separates a good solution from a true breakthrough.

We dug into what he’s learned from elite performers, operators, executives, and innovators. One principle that kept coming up: “Solving the wrong problem well still fails.”

The best teams don’t just treat symptoms—they dig until they identify the actual issue. Execution is what separates people who know what to do from those who actually get results. And failure? It’s not something the highest performers fear. It builds resilience and shows you the next level you need to reach.

Justin shared how even the most capable, violent, high-bravado warriors struggle with fear—the greatest fear often comes from not being able to control outcomes.

We also talked about martial arts shaping discipline and our views on suffering and performance, lessons from high-pressure rooms (including time with figures like Kanye West), and how faith and surrender completely changed his understanding of true resilience.

And on the spiritual side: you can’t physically or clinically solve a spiritual problem—a spiritual problem requires a spiritual solution.

The environments look completely different—boardrooms, special operations, innovation labs—but the same principles keep showing up at the highest levels. I’m grateful Justin cruised in (literally, in his RV) to unpack it all with us. Watch or listen to the full episode here: Inside The Mindset Of The World’s Highest Performers | Justin Klahn

Stay dangerous. Live resilient.

Resources & Links from the Episode:

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