Hey, thanks for checking out my site! If this is your first time visiting, you’re probably underwhelmed but curious.

Here’s a quick synopsis of what’s been happening with Socratic Warrior (me) the past couple of years.

A little over two years ago, I published my first book, Real Questions Unreal Results. It was an Amazon ‘best seller’ in several categories when it first came out and I have multiple 5-star ratings on it. I have also given away dozens of copies.

A little more than a year ago, I started a YouTube channel to promote my second book and to provide content on my training methods, etc. I soon realized I was spending more time on it than finishing Beyond the Arena (title of the book and YT channel). So I paused making videos and focused on completing the book.

Early last summer, I finished the introduction–an extended summary of the book–and sent out more than 30 copies to the major organizations, publications, and influencers in the rodeo community. I did everything according to what the ‘gurus’ advised when preparing to launch a book. I put the book chapter in custom-made mailers; included a copy of the book, business card and sticker; and generated personal cover letters for each recipient. Next, I planned a ‘book launch tour’ which would take us through more than 20 States where the majority of the stakeholders resided or worked.  However, the ONLY response I received was from the editor of our local newspaper (I have also been writing a weekly column called ‘Forever Fit’ for it the past couple of years).

Well, we still went on the vacation, but did not meet with anybody I sent the information to. During the trip, I realized several things I did wrong with the writing and launching of the book. First, I assumed that since there were NO books on rodeo training, the market needed or wanted one. Second, the individuals I sent the materials to have no personally vested interest in the topic.

The rodeo and equine/western industries are unlike any others, and I don’t think they realize how the information in my book could have drastically changed the future of rodeo and equine sports. Nonetheless, I put the entire project on hold.

So what did I do next? Well, I decided to try and go back to school and finish my PhD in psychology. To make a long story short, after completing my MBA in 2004, I decided to pursue a PhD in organizational psychology with Walden University. As I was still on active duty in the Navy, I had to fit in the courses, etc. during multiple deployments and overseas assignments. After ten years, when I retired from the Navy (June 2014), I also withdrew from the program. I had completed THREE separate dissertation proposals and all of them were declined right before conducting my formal research!

However, last fall I applied to Walden (it would have been too costly to attend another school) and was fortunate to have been re-accepted. Even better, they allowed me to pick up where I left off ten years previously!

Therefore, since Thanksgiving of 2024, I have been working on my PhD in organizational psychology with Walden. 

As long as I can remember, I have been interested in ‘why people don’t do what they know they should do in order to succeed.’ So that is my research question. In my 26+ years in the military, more than 45 years coaching elite athletes, and working with numerous first responders the past 10 years since retirement, I have found that the overwhelming majority of individuals who possess the knowledge, skills, and abilities to reach their goals, achieve more, and become successful in myriad pursuits end up not fulfilling their potential due to psychological, sociological, and physiological factors. A non-academic review of the literature confirms this is a global problem with a potential financial impact of over 1 trillion dollars just in the United States. Since anxiety and depression are two of the major factors that performance paralysis and suicides share, a potential solution to performance paralysis may help reduce the veteran suicide crisis and mental health issues affecting nearly 1 in 4 American adults and almost a billion people worldwide.

The proposed title of my dissertation is–Performance paralysis in military personnel: A constructivist grounded theory approach. It focuses on the lack of a theoretical model to help military personnel overcome the various psychological, sociological, and physiological barriers contributing to performance paralysis and unrealized potential in military contexts.

Since last fall, I have downloaded and read almost 2,500 pages of peer-reviewed journal articles; studied more than 100 books on my topic; and watched countless hours of informational and educational videos focusing on my dissertation and the process of writing it.

And that’s where I’m at…I hope to finish this year! After completing it, I plan on turning my research into journal articles, a book, a practical application, and go into teaching and consulting. 

Stay tuned for more updates!