#0037 - Stephen Kaplan - Living the Dream: Adventure Entrepreneurship

In this conversation, Kevin and Greg interview Stephen Kaplan, the owner of Trident Adventures and a former Navy SEAL. They discuss Stephen's career in the Navy SEALs and his experiences working with other special forces units. They also talk about the challenges and rewards of being a country officer and running high-risk training programs. The conversation provides insights into the life of a Navy SEAL and the importance of teamwork and adaptability. The conversation in this part revolves around the false missile alarm in Hawaii and the unique bond and mindset of military personnel. The hosts share personal experiences and discuss the impact of life-threatening situations on perspective and priorities. They also touch on the challenge of recreating the brotherhood and sense of purpose in the business world. Steve Kaplan shares his experience of going through Navy SEAL training and the challenges he faced along the way. Despite multiple injuries and setbacks, Kaplan's faith and determination kept him going. He emphasizes the importance of the Navy SEALs as a rite of passage and a way to define manhood. Kaplan also discusses his business, Trident Adventures, which offers high-end diving experiences and focuses on providing a unique and exceptional customer experience. Trident Adventures offers a range of unique experiences, including scuba diving, snorkeling, helicopter tours, shooting packages, hunting trips, and spearfishing. They have developed distinctive specialty programs, such as helicopter diving, where participants jump out of helicopters into the water and go scuba diving. Trident Adventures also offers opportunities for service members to use their GI Bill benefits for on-the-job training and skill bridge programs. The company is known for its commitment to providing exceptional experiences and treating everyone with honor and respect.Show Links Get 1-month of FREE access to the ⁠Vet Collective Community⁠ by using discount code: NLT1UQTI Join us here: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.collective.vet⁠⁠⁠ Episodes also available on Spotify, Apple, and Amazon Music. https://linktr.ee/harder_not_smarterStephen’s Linkshttps://www.linkedin.com/in/stephen-kaplan/ Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Stephen Kaplan and Trident Adventures 01:27 Experiences in Different Locations 03:32 Transition to Being a Country Officer 05:05 Running High-Risk Training Programs 07:03 The Importance of Teamwork and Adaptability 29:07 Military Bond and Mindset 30:55 Reorganizing Priorities and Appreciating Life 33:24 Challenges of Recreating the Brotherhood in the Business World 45:14 Sports that Prepare Individuals for Military Training 55:17 Introduction and Sadistic Laughs 56:04 Jewish Identity and Faith 57:06 The Power of Never Quitting 57:41 Overcoming Challenges and Childhood Experiences 01:00:38 Nostalgia for Dial-Up Internet 01:04:35 Choosing to Become a Navy SEAL 01:10:05 The Importance of the Brown Shirt 01:14:02 The Role of Doctors in SEAL Training 01:16:45 The Birth of Trident Adventures 01:19:58 The Difference in Approach 01:21:18 Stories of Perseverance 01:24:06 The Value of the Experience 01:25:25 The Motto: On Time and Sober 01:26:02 Running a Good Business with Honor and Respect 01:27:28 The Helicopter and Business Partnership 01:29:21 Shaking Hands and Building Trust 01:30:20 The Purpose of Business and Making Money 01:32:07 Utilizing GI Bill Benefits at Trident Adventures