"Motivation will go away. Discipline is doing the work even when you don't want to."
Marc Fitzwater, retired Green Beret and founder of I-68 Consulting Group, shares how pride refined by grace, discipline over motivation, and unwavering service shape leadership, entrepreneurship, and community impact long after military service ends.
Protector begins as a calling. It's not just a title. Marc Fitzwater joined me carrying the quiet authority of someone who has lived under pressure for decades. Ten deployments shaped his understanding of responsibility, discipline, and grace, but they did not define the end of his service. They clarified its direction.
Marc built I-68 Consulting Group to empower everyday people to become protectors of what matters most. The work is not about gear or bravado, but rather about developing confidence earned through disciplined training, honest feedback, and community. Marc and his cadre train with intention, keeping standards high and growth responsible, because trust is built person by person.
We talked about entrepreneurship the same way Marc approaches leadership in the field. Set clear intent. Learn continuously. Stay humble enough to adapt. Faith carried him through the stress of buying land, navigating months of bureaucracy, and carrying financial weight before the facility produced revenue. Grace was not theoretical. It was lived daily through uncertainty.
I think you'll agree with me and appreciate Marc's clarity. Service does not end when the uniform comes off. It evolves. Pride becomes stewardship. Discipline replaces motivation. Mission remains.
• Pride anchored in service creates lasting leadership
• Grace sustains builders through pressure and uncertainty
• Discipline outlasts motivation in business and life
• Community strengthens confidence and accountability
• Grow at a pace that protects standards and culture
• Service continues long after formal roles end
Marc Fitzwater is the founder of I-68 Consulting Group and a retired Green Beret with 23 years of service, including 16 years in Special Forces and 10 deployments. He now leads defensive training, situational awareness, and security consulting focused on empowering everyday protectors.
Rick Meekins (https://rickmeekins.com) is a serial entrepreneur, strategic business disruption advisor, podcast guest, and host of The Relentless Pursuit of Winning Podcast, where he explores what it actually takes to build, lead, and sustain meaningful businesses. With over 30 years of experience working alongside founders and leadership teams, Rick focuses on helping companies develop and implement disruptive advantages and developing platforms to explore and distribute human insight.
Interested in working together, having Rick speak, or partnering with the show?
Start here: (https://rpowpodcast.com/contact/)
00:00 Welcome and mission framing
00:41 Marc's transition from service to entrepreneurship
02:13 Why community impact matters
05:13 Building confidence through disciplined training
09:08 Military autonomy and civilian leadership
11:29 Laying a strong foundation before scaling
14:01 Business planning, mentors, and learning fast
16:05 Designing training with purpose
19:35 Standards, culture, and collaboration
23:02 Word of mouth and experience-driven growth
24:36 Valkyries, Ares, and community events
27:21 Fundraising and continued service
28:34 Buying land, stress, and grace under pressure
32:13 Leadership built on trust and intent
36:11 Mistakes, lessons, and resilience
40:03 Gratitude, faith, and family
44:24 Advice for builders and future leaders
