The Physical Performance Show: Dr Dan Pronk – Ex Army Special Forces Doctor (Interest Edition)
In episode 146 of The Physical Performance Show Brad Beer shares a conversation with Dr Dan Pronk – Ex Army Special Forces Doctor (Interest Edition)
Dr Dan Pronk was a former doctor within the Australian Special Operations Command. Dr Pronk was deployed on operations on 5 occasions with the Army including one time to Timor and 4 times to Afghanistan. In serving as a Medical Doctor for the Australian Elite Combat, Dr Pronk required to survive, navigate and think in extremely high stakes life or death situations.
During this episode Dr Dan Pronk shares around mindset in high stakes environments but also in terms of his journey in completing medical school, the rigours of applying and successfully gaining entry into the SAS and then also the learnings he has taken from his 5 deployments in the Australian Defence Force. Recently Dr Pronk authored his first publication titled “Not your Average 70kg D***head: Motivational Lessons from an ex Army Special Forces Doctor”. You will also hear Dan outline 3 of those 17 principles including the power of persistence, ignoring criticism and competing with only yourself along with the highs, lows and many learnings of his remarkable career.
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Listen in as we delve into the following:
- Keeping up with the Ketogenic Diet
- Typical Day for Dan
- Growing up in an army family.
- Overview of Dan’s career journey
- How Dan prepared for his military selection
- What Dan’s emotions were like after all the training
- Dealing with going through with his mates (and fatalities)
- Experience as a Military Doctor and life in general
- What it was like attending to injured enemy
- 3 of 17 lessons in Dan’s Book (1. Persistence)
- Dr. Dan’s definition of failure
- 3 of 17 lessons in Dan’s Book (2. Ignoring Criticisms)
- 3 of 17 lessons in Dan’s Book (3. Competing with yourself)
- Physical Performance Round
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Quotes:
“It’s always a little further.” – Mantra
“It is not the critic that counts” – Mantra
“Flow” – Being in the Zone
“Don’t ignore the important things in life.” – Best Advice
“Intermittent fasting, low carb diets” – Physical Challenge
“I probably have the mental attitude that would be appropriate for the course.”
“It was terribly exciting, it was all new and very stimulating.”
“When you’re in that environment, the show goes on.”
“The thing that differentiates them is their mental resilience, determination and no quit attitude.”
“It’s not about being the smartest and most educated, it’s about being persistent.”
“Set ambitious goals and slowly start your mindset.”
“Failure is something that we need to look at differently.”
“I did not let criticism deter me.”
“If you compete yourself with others you may become vain or bitter.”
“Insecurities can be a positively motivator.”
To follow Dr Dan Pronk
Instagram: @danpronk
Twitter: @PronkDan
Facebook: @tacmedaustralia
LinkedIn: Dan Pronk
Timeline:
0:00 Start
3:45 Welcome Dr. Dan Pronk
4:20 What Dan Pronk is learning at the moment – keeping up with the Ketogenic Diet
6:16 Typical Day for Dan
9:45 Growing up in an army family.
13:58 How Dan prepared for his military selection
20:09 What Dan’s emotions were like after all the training
22:10 Dealing with going through with his mates (and fatalities)
27:31 Experience as a Military Doctor and life in general
31:58 What it was like attending to injured enemy
36:40 3 of 17 lessons in Dan’s Book (1. Persistence)
40:41 Dr. Dan’s definition of failure
42:27 3 of 17 lessons in Dan’s Book (2. Ignoring Criticisms)
46:01 3 of 17 lessons in Dan’s Book (3. Competing with yourself)
52:05 Physical Performance Round
1:02:06 Physical Challenge for the week
1:09:00 Finish
People Mentioned
Curtis McGrath – Paralympic KL2 Champion, 6 x World Champion Paracanoe (OAM), Episode 95 of The Physical Performance Show
Sgt. Brett Wood – Australian Special Operations Task Group
Sgt. Todd Langley – Australian Special Operations Task Group
For questions and comments about this Episode
Send to the show host @Brad_Beer (Twitter)
