Most of what we think we know comes from controlled environments. But there’s a massive difference between understanding something in theory and executing it in reality. This week on The Collective, we broke down “Field Time” with country music artist Dallas Alexander and performance coach Seb Lavoie. We discussed the burden of self-selection, the necessity of internal friction for growth, and how true professionals handle the unexpected.
This Week’s Panel:
– Dallas Alexander: Former Canadian military special operations sniper turned country music artist.
– Seb Lavoie: Retired RCMP ERT Sgt. Major, BJJ black belt, and performance coach.
Key Insights from Our “Field Time” Discussion:
1. The Succession of Fields
Dallas beautifully illustrated that “the field” isn’t just a military term. For him, it was training for competitive hockey, then special operations deployments, and now it is writing a song and stepping onto a stage to perform it. Life is a succession of fields. The arena changes, but the requirement to test your preparation against reality remains constant.
2. Validation in the Field is Not a Forever Thing
Seb warned against treating your past field experience as a permanent credential. The field is the ultimate proving ground. It is where you validate your preparation. But that validation is not an end state; it requires constant, ongoing iteration. If you stay out of the field too long and simply fall in love with the story of who you used to be, you self-limit your growth. Referencing the “warrior in the garden” adage, Seb noted that if you stay in the garden too long, the warrior disappears. You must actively find a new field to continue your refinement process today.
3. Auditing Your Engagement in the Field
Seb emphasized that simply stepping into a field isn’t enough; you must critically analyze your presence within it to keep both feet on the ground. He constantly audits his own “field time” by asking hard, uncomfortable questions: Am I even in the right field? Is my engagement obsessive, or am I just a dabbler? True field time requires a visceral, “wheels-to-the-pavement” assessment of your actual performance. Ultimately, stepping back into the field should be a deeply humbling experience that reminds you how much you still have to learn.
4. Shifting Gears Without Losing Identity
Dallas described his day as shifting through gears, moving from the open, vulnerable state of a songwriter to the focused, execution state of a performer. We discussed that stepping into different rooms doesn’t mean changing who you are; it means dialling your intensity up or down to match the moment. You must be the same person at the core, just utilizing a different gear for the mission at hand.
5. Field Friction Creates Reality
I proposed a simple equation: the more friction, the more reality. If you live a highly insulated life without challenge, your understanding of the world is theoretical. You must seek out environments that push back against you, whether it’s a BJJ mat, a new business venture, or a stage, because that friction is what actually shapes your truth and grounds you.
6. Internal vs. External Fields
When you join the military, you spend all your time solving the external puzzle: the tactics, the environment, the enemy. But as we all noted, we often leave the service with a massive gap in our internal world. Dallas found that his new field of music required a deep dive into internal vulnerability that the military never demanded. The internal puzzle offers as much as the external puzzle.
7. The Burden of Self-Selection
I pointed out a common struggle for veterans: in the military, your path is selected for you. You are shaped and guided. When you get out, no one tells you what to do next. You have to self-select your new field. This new lack of structure can cause intense friction, and veterans shouldn’t beat themselves up for struggling to navigate a freedom they were never trained for.
8. Rolling with the Punches
Seb warned against the trap of cognitive over-engagement. We often try to over-plan to avoid discomfort. But the cost of experience is paid in life. Sometimes, the most valuable lessons come from jumping in completely blind, without preparation, and being forced to adapt to reality as it hits you.
9. The Need for New Fields
I noted my own philosophy on seeking out new fields: I refuse to stay in rooms where I feel like a “big deal.” If you are the most competent person in the room, your curiosity dies. You must continually seek out rooms where you feel like a white belt, where the discomfort and the difficulty force you to remain sharp and humble.
10. The Reality of Field Malfunctions
During the podcast, Dallas suffered multiple technical failures, his computer buzzed out, his phone died, and he kept dropping off the screen. But he handled every malfunction with calm, seasoned professionalism. Chance pointed out that this is the ultimate proof of “field time.” When the plan falls apart, the reps you’ve put in dictate whether you panic or simply solve the problem and carry on.
Final Thought: You cannot master a theory.
You can read every book, plan every contingency, and visualize every outcome, but until you step into the field, you are just guessing. The field is the only place where your theories are tested against reality.
What new field do you need to step into to test your reality?
Listen to the full “Field Time” discussion here: Field Time
Keep seeking friction,
Shaun & The Collective Crew
