Walt Morgan is a retired Navy Commander and Navy helicopter pilot, and he’s also the founder of Translational Lift Coaching, where he works with individuals and teams to help them reach their full potential. Walt’s wide-ranging background as a leader, teacher, student, and parent gives him a unique approach to helping people identify what they are doing well, what they could be doing better, and how to make subtle-yet-powerful adjustments that can lead to lasting change.
Walt grew up in rural Oregon, where agriculture and working lands were an important part of his upbringing. He attended college on a military scholarship, graduated, and began flying helicopters for the Navy. After 23 rewarding years of service, Walt retired from the Navy and made his way into corporate America, where he quickly discovered his talent and passion for coaching. Today, Walt has combined his innate skills as a coach with his deep desire to help people, and he’s created a meaningful second act to his already impressive career.
I have had the great fortune of being coached by Walt for many years now, and I credit him and his guidance with helping me to identify the beliefs and ideas that are serving me well and to discard those that created friction. As you’ll hear in this conversation, several of the insights I gained from Walt’s coaching are what led me to leave the real estate business and fully focus on the purpose-driven work of conservation and this podcast. While I generally avoid blabbing about myself in these conversations, I feel that my personal experience with Walt speaks to the power of the work he does on a daily basis with many, many people.
Walt and I sat down at my dining room table and had a fun conversation about his life and career, including: Walt’s upbringing in rural Oregon; his decision to join the military; lessons learned from helicopters, deployments, and decades of service; his experience on the morning of 9/11 and his work in the aftermath; discovering his love of teaching; harnessing youthful wild energy into something productive; becoming a coach; the difference between coaching and therapy; the Enneagram and Integral Coaching methodology; favorite books and music; and much more.
A big thanks to Walt for taking the time to chat and for his guidance over the years. You can find links to everything Walt is doing in the episode notes, so be sure to click through. Hope you enjoy.
Photos courtesy of Walt Morgan, Header photo by D’Ann Boal
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RESOURCES:
Topics Discussed:
- 3:30 – How a saddle made it into Walt’s living room (a look into his upbringing)
- 8:300 – Walt’s journey in college
- 10:00 – Discussing Walt’s hometown of Yoncalla, OR, and the remarkable people connected to it
- 13:45 – Why Walt became involved in the military
- 15:30 – Walt’s character pivot from his 19-year-old self to now
- 18:30 – When Walt started at the US Navy post-graduate school
- 19:15 – Discussing when flying helicopters became a dream of Walt’s
- 21:45 – Whether or not flight school was a means for Walt to channel the negative experiences he was having in his personal life into something productive
- 23:45 – Describing Walt’s missions with helicopters
- 28:15 – Where Walt was on 9/11
- 31:00 – Walt’s deployments following 9/11
- 34:45 – Walt’s spiritual and emotional journey in corporate America, and starting his own business
- 42:15 – People’s reactions (including Ed’s) to receiving the kind of coaching Walt provides
- 48:15 – Defining Integral Coaching and the process that Ed has specifically worked through with Walt
- 53:30 – The difference between Integral Coaching and therapy
- 56:45 – Exploring the Integral Coaching methodology further, and discussing success stories in Walt’s work
- 1:05:15 – Why this coaching strategy is not widespread
- 1:08:00 – How folks can work with Walt
- 1:13:45 – Walt’s book and music recommendations
Information Referenced:
- Walt Morgan
- Walt on LinkedIn
- Coronado, San Diego
- Bonita, CA
- California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo
- Yosemite National Park
- Madonna Inn
- San Luis Obispo, CA
- Santa Cruz, CA
- Lompoc, CA
- Santa Maria Valley
- Team Roping
- Future Farmers of America
- University of Colorado, Boulder
- University of Purdue
- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
- Pepperdine University
- Less Than Zero
- Yoncalla, OR
- Church of the Brethren
- Martin Luther King Jr.
- Jesse Jackson
- Dr. Lydia Emery
- Warrant Officer, Marines
- Applegate Ranch
- Shannon Applegate
- Skookum by Shannon Applegate
- Rex Applegate
- Kill or Get Killed by Rex Applegate
- Living Among Headstones by Shannon Applegate
- West Lafayette, IN
- Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC)
- Ensign, Navy
- Pensacola, FL
- T-34 fixed wing aircraft
- Forrest Gump
- Huey Helicopter
- Guam
- Persian Gulf
- Vertical replenishment
- Video of Walt’s flying
- Top Gun: Maverick
- MH60 Sierra Helicopter
- Kinetic engagement
- War by Sebastian Junger
- Davita Healthcare
- Integral Coaching
- Enneagram
- Tim Ferris
- Ken Wilbur
- Integral Theory
- Laura Devine and Joanna Hunt
- Ivan Doig
- William Kitridge
- The Body by Bill Bryson
- A Short History of Nearly Everything by Bill Bryson
- Sapiens by Yuval Noah Herari
- 21 Lessons for the 21st Century by Yuval Noah Herari
- Circe by Madeline Miller
- Barbara Kingsolver
- John Irving
- Linda Ronstadt
- “Willin’” performed by Linda Rhonstat
- Lowell George
- Tyler Childers
- Sturgill Simpson
- Zoe Muth
- Lillie Mae
- Belinda Carlisle
- Emmylou Harris
- Dolly Parton
- Kaitlin Butts
Enjoy this episode? Then you might like these too:
- Dr. Eric Arzubi – A New Approach to Solving the West’s Mental Health Crisis
- Elliott Woods – Stories from Dangerous Places
- Jason Gardner – A Life of Purpose & Service
- Iris Gardner – Living with Intention
- George Hodgin – Mission-Driven Entrepreneur
- Juanita Vero, Part 2 – A Deep Desire to Serve
- Yemi Mobolade – Community Builder
Visit the podcast page for a full, searchable list of episodes
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