It'll buff: Recent Episodes
Daniel Grochowski
A podcast building a community by sharing stories, guidance, and miscellaneous things we wish we would have know for active duty officers looking to separate.
BLUF: Use your time wisely!
Dallas (Stowe) Faircloth used his time as an officer in the Army to not only lead soldiers well but simultaneously prepare for a future out of the military.
Stowe from commissioning as a 2LT played the long game. Separating from the Army was on his mind, but he was always where his feet were. What he was building and like most officer are constantly analyzing, what is my PACE plan. If certain circumstances don't fall into place how does Stowe still achieve his ultimate goal?
With that Stowe took on an MBA program while still active. In tandem with that he continued to network with resources outside of the Army so that one day when he separate he had a plan in place and people to support him.
Ultimately Stowe decided to separate from the military, and because he did his due diligence up front his transition went smoother than others. There were some potential blockers along the way, command approval, doing a DIY CSP, and timeline, but it all worked out in the end.
Stowe ultimately landed a role at PE firm. He didn't have to reinvent the wheel. Stowe just stuck to the same mindset as he/we all did as a 2LT, grind and figure it out. Show up, in the right place, with the right mindset, having a drive to win, and you will earn a spot anywhere.
If you are thinking about going this route and want to know more from Stowe, as he mentioned in this episode, don't hesitate to reach out!
If you are a pathfinder at heart, love taking the unbeaten path, or just love going after the next journey, this is the episode for you.
On this episode we had an amazing conversation with Leslie Irby going all the way back to her origin story of why she initially went into the navy to begin with.
Leslie knew early on school was not for her, she loved the idea of being able to forge her own path in the Navy. She signed up and immediately walked right into her first crucible. She was part of the push to put women all across the military, not just the navy, in to male only branch specific MOS's. Her navy career almost ended, but she got a second shot and really excelled.
As is the status quo on this podcast Leslie thought there was something else out there for her, She entered into the civilian world. Leslie walked through multiple careers successfully as she sought out her eventual landing spot. A traumatic event happened that lead to the loss of a loved friend and veteran.
Leslie didn't know where to turn so she took on the PCT and completed the whole thing. That hike taught her so much and out of that Climb4 was born. Leslie saw the power of being in nature. Being removed from the chaos of the world she was able to collect her thoughts and get clarity on a way forward. Now she helps sevicemembers and veterans get a full hiking set for free to go on these hikes. Oh by the way she also leads the hikes!
Leslie is already working on other ventures! Reach out she would love to talk if you are interested in taking a break from the chaos and going on an epic hike!
A huge shout out to Caleb Cambell for coming on the Pod and dropping some memorable knowledge that is applicable to any story of transition out of the military and into the civilian world.
Caleb's story is atypical in comparison to the rest of the stories leading up to this episode.
Caleb's military experience after commissioning starts with showing up to the Detroit Lions HQ to report for day one of summer camp, not BOLC like the rest of us. But here is where the story falls into line. On that same day Caleb was actually told he needed to report back to the Army and carry out his service obligation.
This didn't stop Caleb. He trained physically and mentally to get back to the Detroit Lions leading to a successful career in the NFL.
After Calebs professional football career he had to transition to a civilian role. Internally he was fighting a battle he had been fighting all along up to this day, more success is not synonymous with life satisfaction. He turned down multiple high paying offers to be a janitor which came with free therapy sessions to figure things out internally befor jumping into a civilian career.
You see for Caleb, more achievement was not going to satisfy what he was actually looking for, taking time with his thoughts to find the answer internally is what was going to make his transition be "successful".
Caleb teaches us a important lesson, take your time, be gentle on yourself, and really do some soul searching before you make the decision to join the civilian ranks!
Another dive into what it looks like diving into entrepreneurship after military service. For Andrew, this did just happen after the Army, he start to build GORX while still on active duty.
From its inception, Andrew always had a passion for micro economies dating back to his studies while in college. GORX is so much more than that and Andrew unpack this for you in our journey through his story.
Andrew's story in the Army was one that saw him go from National Guard, to full time active duty. As an infantry officer he got to take on ranger school. He even entered into SFAS got selected was on his way through Q school before he finally decided it was time to part ways with the Army in a full time active setting.
First and foremost Andrew wanted to spend more time with his family, but he also wanted the opportunity to dive into GORX more. The two went hand in hand. GORX grows strength he gets to spend more time with his family at home, and to build something that would build generational wealth!
GORX Fitness is off and running. Andrew is growing something amazing, A chance to have an impact on a local community in the same way we did as officer leading platoons, making communities stronger through fitness. GORX fitness is growing, its bringing on vendor partners, users, and affiliates. This isn't just a passion project anymore, it's the next big thing in the fitness industry.
Listen into this episode as we unpack this journey.
Go check out GORX Fitness!
A twist on our regular provided programming!
Our episode today address the question a lot of us have faced, do we stay in the military or do we get out?
Logan and I unpack this journey, this decisions making process, and cover a lot of concerns you may be facing right now.
Am I leaving my guys behind? Am I doing the right thing? Is the guy or girl coming behind me going to care about these service members the way I did. Did I give enough to my country? Whats next for me if I stay in?
The military has great opportunities and have provided a lot of great experiences for Logan, but he feels there may be more for him to unlock outside of the military. Logan does an amazing job of thinking out loud and unpacking some hard thoughts.
Tune in to hear how we processed through this tough decision!
We mixed things up in this episode, we brought topic of health into play.
Paul Reilly's journey from military service to where he is today is proof that this whole process is evergreen. Paul has continued to learn and grow throughout his whole journey of transitioning into civilian life.
Exiting from the military was easy for him, but the rest wasn't. From the start Paul found himself in an industry that he felt wouldn't fulfill his dreams (medical sales), but he had a lot of fun and was very successful in medical sales.
He left his career of 20 years there and embarked on his entrepreneurial journey. He committed a lot to the journey. Stood up franchises for active Rx in 2012. The business model feel apart, but instead of shutting down Paul listened to his clients. So when Active Rx shut down and his investment was crushed, he rebranded.
Enter Midstrong! After working with many clients Paul listened to their needs and developed a process that would help his clients optimize their healthspan (the time in your life where you are physically able to be involved in life's activities)
As Service members we focus on all the right things when getting out of the military, job, living standards, benefits, etc. We forget to take care of ourselves. Don't miss out on more years down the road with your family by forgetting to do the things that will maximize your healthspan.
We covered so much in this episode, this was a great one of resilience, growth, and to keep chasing your dreams!
Where to begin on this episode?!
Drew provides a wealth of knowledge centered around best practices for both the transition out of the military and through a civilian career.
The transition is evergreen, as veterans we are always learning, growing, achieving, adapting, and overcoming all things placed in our path. Drew provides some key points amongst many others in this episode that we wanted to share up front.
The first, and this is one of the top pieces of advice I have heard in all the episodes, run towards something not from something. You might be thinking there isn't really much difference here or yeah no duh! Its surprising the amount of veterans I've talked through who are currently facing that conundrum, the outcome is a major difference so make sure you are doing your PCCs and PCIs before making life altering decisions!
The second, your civilian career is like a river, not a ladder. What does Drew mean by that? There are many different channels as they flow to the ocean, longer, shorter, rougher, smoother. You can flow through any of them and there is no set path.
There is so much more unpacked in this episode so tune in take some notes and enjoy the conversation!
Another great transition story from another amazing veteran! Kathy drops some knowledge bombs on us, kind of ironic since she previously defused them!
Kathy provides a deep dive inside look to her journey to where she is today. Mastering being a Navy diver and explosives expert, taking on the stunt double world, finding her way into a few start ups, landing the dream gig at Facebook, and now going back to her fitness roots at Crossfit, LLC.
Things we covered in this episode:
Be where your feet are and hold the dummy bag. Kathy's tip for early success in finding a job, get into rooms to be able to talk to the right people. For her that meant holding the dummy bag during stunt double training. That has transformed into at least two networking calls a month!
Master your story. Be able to master your elevator pitch i.e. the story that is going to make the person you are networking with want to hire you. Tips for this, be personal and figure out what the person you are talking to wants or needs. Framework for the chat: be interesting, be relevant, and keep it focused (1-3 mins)
Always be networking (ABN)! Kathy makes a great point. As military veterans we are never going to have the most lucrative resume for technical positions. We won't pass the AI resume gate, so talk to the gate keeper. Network and making sure its with the right people. You want to be a Data scientist? Make sure you are talking to someone on the data scientist team!
This episode has so much packed in, it could have gone on forever!
Enjoy, and go follow Kathy on LinkedIn!
What a great episode to kick the new year off to. This episode is filled with knowledge to help you think through yet another way to take on the transition from military to civilian life.
In this episode we covered a lot:
How does John make hard decisions? Why get out at the 14/15 year mark when pension is right around the corner? Why chose the road less traveled in an Army career? Because John is always looking for what is exciting!
Entrepreneurship is hard, but being a army football player gives him the competative advantage he needs. There is a scoreboard involved in entrepreneurship whether you like it or not, and your company counts on you leading the team to victory.
Most importantly smile! John's greatest advice in this convo (you might think otherwise) is to always be smiling, enjoy life and the ones you get to do it with, the rest, well, it'll buff!
Thanks for tuning in, and enjoy the episode!
After our most recent episode with Kyle Ryman success and how one defines it as has been on the mind.
As service members seeking to transition out of the military, you, we want to be successful. The problem or sink hole we may fall into is we let other peoples success define what our success should look like.
Just like each journey out of the military and into the civilian world there is no set path and the path looks different for everyone!
So tune in and listen as I dive into how should we even begin to define what success is. I know MDMP brings up some scary thoughts for some folks, we actually look to conducting MA or hasty MA to exam the current intel of the battlefield we are entering into.
It was a pleasure to talk about another path out of the military and into the civilian world.
Kyle Ryman broke down his journey going from being a captain in the Army to earning a coveted law degree and is now practicing law in the great city of Austin.
A few things to pull away from this episode:
If you are feeling passionate about taking on a different career path but don't have success the first time around, don't lose hope. Kyle's first attempt at the LSAT went bad. He knew what he wanted and crushed the LSAT the second time around!
While you go through your military career, be moldable. Kyle took command and saw how powerful the law can be both in support of or against soldiers. Experiencing that put his focus on a law career.
If you gonna pursue higher education, focus more on the place where you want land geographical and go to a top school there. Ivy League schools are great, but sometimes law firms pick heavily from local schools!
This episode has so much knowledge in it if you are thinking about taking on a law degree!
Thanks for tuning in!
Its always an awesome experience to sit down with like minded individuals and talk shop!
This episode was amazing. We covered all things from being a Commander, which is not the equivalent to being a CEO, to being a TAC officer, to instructing at USMA, to Strategic networking!
Zach provided some awesome Knowledge:
Transitioning is hard no matter when you exit from the military. You need to network and do it in a strategic way. As much as you would hate to admit we are only as strong as the network we create.
Don't be afraid to take bold steps and be different, just because someone tells you that is the right path doesn't mean thats correct!
You need a community! Version two of his book could be launching soon based on that statement, but community is very important!
This was a great episode! If you want to hear more of Zach's story go check out his book : https://www.bfibook.com/
What another amazing episode where we covered a lot that at its core drives home one main point, don't give up!
Logan walks us through his post Marine Corps journey from pursuing a career in personal fitness, to linking with an investor and starting a gym, to selling that Gym to Redcon1.
Then he went on to start a Fit-tech company that transformed into where he is at today in creating terrain maps for business to help them take on the multiple domains of the business battlefield.
we cover a lot in this episode, but the main point is this, two principles have got Logan to where he is today, crawl, walk, run and slow is smooth, and smooth is fast!
Whether you are going through it right now, have gone through it, or are yet to encounter it, separating from military service is hard. Why is it hard? Because to do it well you need time, and well, time is not on your side.
In this episode of fly solo we address the places where you should and maybe should not be spending the most of your time. Don't make the same mistakes as those going before you did, plan, prepare, execute and adapt!
What an eye opening episode that covers such critical knowledge. If you are seeking to separate from active duty military service and take on the civilian world as an entrepreneur this is the episode for you.
Cody walks us through his journey out of the military in a way that paints a good picture of the highs and lows of emotions and the realizations of separating is the easy part, finding true purposeful work is the hard part.
Before I dive into episode notes, stop what you are doing and join his facebook group for his book launch Service to CEO: https://m.facebook.com/groups/287853713887000/?ref=sharehttps://m.facebook.com/groups/287853713887000/?ref=share&exp=8ce3
Episode notes:
Choosing to pursue a "traditional" career is no more secure than pursuing entrepreneurship. Actually its the reverse, and your life is in your hands instead of someone you may never get to meet!
Fight for as much disability as possible. You could be missing out on opportunities to become a service disable veteran owned business (SDVOSMB). This means you are missing out on 32% to in the near future 37% of contracts the government sets aside for those small businesses!!
Be careful who you talk to out there in regards to your life after the military. Their are unfortunately bad people out there who are looking to scam veterans.
Lastly, being a good entrepreneur takes two skills, being a problemologist and having curiosity, if you can master those to feats, you will never go back!
Thanks for coming on Cody. I'm looking forward to more insightful conversations!'
Okay this is truly last go purchase Cody's book when it comes out and use this link when doing so!: https://www.fromservicetoceo.com/book-pre-order?am_id=daniel942
One year anniversary for the it'll buff podcast what a crazy thing to write down. I can't thank everyone who has joined in on this journey and helped make this possible.
The Community continues to give such great support to me that gives me the drive to keep going and keep pushing!
I hope you enjoy the full transparency of my journey!
You know the drill we cover the last 10 episodes and what has been covered this far!
Thanks for tuning in!
This episode was our first ever episode with two guests and better yet, a father son combo!
The McCullochs dove deep into the transition from active duty service member to veteran employee and how the skill that differentiates you and sets you up for the most success is leadership.
We covered the transitions into continued service to this country through non profit leadership and then into Government service with LTC (R) Oakland McCulloch. Simultaneously we talked diving into the construction industry with Oakland McCulloch and how company leadership and their desire to hire leaders won him over.
We have said it before, services members super powers are leadership, lean on that and search for companies that want that.
Other key points covered in this episode:
The transition into civilian life is evergreen, more than likely your first job isn't going to give you immediate purpose. It takes time to find that meaning in the company you work for. Remember it took you a couple of years to get on board with the military's mission.
Don't jump into the first offer, ask the hard questions, look at the leadership and remember they are trying out for you as much as you are trying out for them. A good management team is worth more than double the pay somewhere else with questionable leadership.
The 75% rule, be in the top 15% of your peers as a minimum always, if you strive for this, success will find you not the other way around.
We are the leaders the corporate world needs right now. Don't forget that. You don't need to be in a "leadership position" to lead. Lead by example every day, make peers asks questions about why you do the things you do, you will make a difference sooner than you know.
Tune in and listen to this episode it had so many great nuggets!
Go check out LTC (R) Oakland McCullochs Book on leadership, quick, easy read that will set you up for success immediately.
https://www.ltcoakmcculloch.com/
https://www.amazon.com/dp/1952037107?tag=wixlabs1234-20&linkCode=ogi&th=1&psc=1
If you think your transition out of the military was tough, pause what you are doing and listen to this episode!
Thanks for coming on Jared and sharing a chaotic journey that landed you right where you need to be!
BLUF: Transitioning out of the military is hard!
Some key points:
You are never too prepared while trying to separate from the military. The fact is for a majority of you trying to separate from the Army, you are still committed to the mission. So don't put things off, you never know when you are going to have something come up
You need a community, accountability, somebody to look you in the eyes and ask you the hard question, whats holding you back, is there anything left for you in the army? If not to put it in the rearview mirror and drive on!
If you are going to get an MBA, MAXIMIZE your CCC GRE test!
Start to get your resume dialed in sooner than you think, you never know when you are going to need it perfect. Even going into Hiring or Heroe can be a struggle without a good resume.
Tune into this episode for these awesome points and more!
Key resources mention;
https://www.commitfoundation.org/
Chamberlain Advisors: https://www.chamberlainadvisors.co/warriors
What an episode this was! Conner's "still going" separation form the military is perfect evidence there really is no set path to getting out.
We covered the journey from the military, to Hiring our Heroes, to Lockheed, to Oracle, to starting two companies with his main focus now being Rollup.
We covered so much in this episode but here are some main points:
Never be a closed door because you never know where you are going to go and what you are going to learn with each opportunity that is presented. Three different careers later and Conner is still learning and growing and keeping all doors open to do that.
Just because you are set on one role in the civilian world doesn't mean that might actually be the best fit for you. Conner focused on supply chain as what he wanted to pursue, but industry taught him there are some other great jobs he can be good at!
Entrepreneurship is hard, and can force you to completely pick up your life to pursue you dreams. So don't take the idea lightly!
Side gigs are the way to help drive growth for your company or side income for your misc. adventures in life, go check out RollUp.
Thanks for coming on Conner. This was an awesome conversation and I can't wait to have more in the future!
What an episode this week with Alexandria (AL) Rodgers on the different ways a transition out of the military can unfold. We covered a lot in this weeks episode that really helps shine a light on how important it is to just get into the industry you think you are passionate about and go from there.
Topics we covered in this episode:
Even when you reach the pinnacle of your current career, if you aren't passionate about it, you will be looking elsewhere. As a MI officer working in support of SPEC ops on a deployment AL was still thinking there must be more out there for me.
While post graduate education was on the table for AL, she wanted to get her feet wet in her desired industry before she went on to pursue more education. She "might have wasted time on an MBA if she hadn't done that"
Follow what you are passionate about and the rest will fall into place!
Tune in for more in this weeks episode. We had a great conversation! Thanks for coming on AL!
What an awesome episode with Jessica. We covered a lot, from enjoying being a logistician in the Army thinking she was going to do 20+ years, to knowing its time to leave and pursue a company she is genuinely passionate about their mission.
Jessica provided a lot of insight to the grit of leaving the army and grind of sticking to knowing what she wants and not settling until she finds it.
Some key points from the episode:
You career interests can shift quickly, and that is okay, but be sure to know what you want, have a plan, and understand that sometimes the path that follows may be tougher than expected.
BE A PROFESSIONAL! We get it, work place culture is shifting but if you show up on time looking professional and address people professionally, it's an easy way to set yourself apart.
Hold out and join a company whose mission is one you want to be apart of. Does this mean waiting a little longer, getting a few more rejection letters, yes. Once you land, your passion will shine through your work.
If you are no longer having fun in the army that is still a great reason to leave the army. Fun drives passion, passion drives success, success drive growth!
Listen to this episode for more awesome topics covered!
Thanks again Jessica for coming on, I had a great conversation!
This was another great episode with pivotal insight into joining the private government contracting world.
Davis reached out to me to share his story and I'm glad he did because he provided a ton of knowledge into how to break down the barriers into this tough to get into industry. Once you are in though, you are set.
Things covered in this episode:
Lockheed is looking for awesome talent right now, reach out to Davis and go get your foot in the door!
This was yet another unconventional route where Davis found himself working at Lockheed in a round about way.
Sometimes life doesn't pan out exactly the way you think it would, but thats okay, stick to it, and keep going.
Any position can be a SkillBridge position at Lockheed, just type it in the application notes and go from see if they are willing to work with you.
We covered so much more in this podcast episode, Davis shared yet another great story, go give it a listen.
Thanks again Davis for coming on!
In this weeks episode we dive back into one of my favorite series, so you want to be an entrepreneur w/ Michael Klemmer, Founder of Aerial Resupply coffee.
If you are / want to be an entrepreneur post leaving active duty service, you want to listen to this episode.
BLUF: Be the change you want to see in your industry of choice, no matter what people or the odds tell you.
Some of what we covered:
Who cares if the industry you want to enter into as an entrepreneur is "saturated", just make a better product, starting with how you interact with the community, you are your brand!
Entrepreneurship isn't easy, but don't let that scare you. If you allow yourself to be vulnerable, accept you don't know everything, and go attack the industry with a desire to learn and grow, you will achieve more than you thought you could.
Your first job out of the military WILL NOT be your forever job, so don't get hung up on trying to make that the perfect job. You never know what you are going to like doing until you actually go do it!
Tune in for these topics and more on this weeks episode.
Go check out Aerial Resupply coffee for you new home brew of choice!
Thanks Again Mike!
What another amazing episode and one that continues to prove that there is no set path to getting out of the Army.
Hannah was an incredible guest and we unpacked a lot in this episode
BLUF:
The Army can be your oyster if you know where to look and who to reach out to. Look left and right before leaving the Army you never know what jobs are in the Army that can be right for you.
You can live in Miami, FL on the Army's dime!
VTIPing is easier than you think and there is no command authority involved in the initial steps, so if you are thinking about getting out, maybe VTIP first.
Don't be afraid to try something and then restart. Hannah went back to a SkillBridge to try again and landed an awesome gig for her that she would have never thought of.
The ride is crazy, make sure your why for getting out of the military is a solid foundation. If it is, no matter what the transition throws at you, it will buff out!
Tune in for more info in the episode, remember it'll buff!
We are flying solo today.
The topic of discussion today is the recent MILPER message and how it affects officers looking to participate in the CSP program dedicated to Army soldiers looking to transition.
We broke down the SkillBridge process, the three different types, and the risk associated with each.
So if you are thinking about getting out tune into this episode for all things SkillBridge and how to still capitalize on this opportunity.
This weeks episode is all about resilience and continuing to realize the big picture and how everything comes together.
This was an amazing episode with Kyle Alentado. A Captains Career Course peer and someone whose feedback I value greatly, it was an honor to have him on the podcast.
This was yet another journey that was totally different from all aspects, from going OCS after being in the civilian work force, being in the army wanting to get out, to getting a job where he thought maybe I can find another route in the army, to finally getting that dreaded 0200 hour email saying you are being put on orders to deploy.
Some key take aways from this episode:
You can never be too prepared for what life is going to throw at you. Whether its missions that don't allow you to try and get out, injuries that put you in a job that inspires your drive for the military, or a 0200 deployment heads up email, always keep your head on a swivel.
Whether you are staying in or getting out be sure to always network over begin in competition. That person who may be freeloading, could also be a huge ticket into the civilian world one day.
Always fight for your career, at the end of the day whether military or civilian nobody cares about you like you do!
As you are getting out fight for work life balance. Getting out is hard and puts a huge toll on you mentally and physically. Fight for time off, at this point who cares about your last OER!
Thanks again Kyle for coming on, I'm looking forward to the next one!
You know the deal this is just a brief walk through of episode 21-29.
There were some great ones, if you hear something you like go check it out!
After talking with 100's of veterans who have gotten out of the military, one thing always holds true, time is a huge factor during the whole process.
Most of those who have gone before you have wished they had more time during one part of the transition process or the other. Whether it was more time to reflect and really take the time to know what they wanted to do after the military or just needed more time to prepare for chasing their dream job, more time was desired.
Key take aways:
There are always going to be more jobs out there, so take the time to dial in exactly what you want to do post military so you aren't wasting time later on down the road.
Don't rush to failure.
Sometimes the road less traveled looks more daunting and time consuming, but it often leads to the best places. Don't be afraid to do what others won't because of "time" or effort, set yourself up to have plenty of time and reap the rewards.
There is one thing we can't get back, it's time. Don't waste it on things that don't matter. You are getting out of the military for a reason, don't go back into it but this time just wearing a suit and tie because of the wrong reasons.
Take your time do it right, you owe it to yourself to be sure you are doing the right thing, in reality you have a lot of opportunities once you leave the military, but this can lead you to taking too long to find where you belong.
Tune in to this episode its a short one packed with a lot of information.
BLUF: Go after what you are passionate about and the rest will fall into place.
What an awesome conversation with Corey, we covered the transition from the military to the strength and conditioning world in depth and dove into the nuances that may prevent people from entering into that world. But if Corey taught us anything its that if you are passionate about something the ups and downs cultivate an amazing journey that shape you into a SME.
Some amazing points from this episode:
Don't be afraid to go after something just because it seems hard or not many have paved a path for you.
Trust in yourself, invest in yourself, and get creative. In the strength and conditioning world its all about getting one pound better at a time. Take the same approach to your career. Keep going after that next job.
Do extra! don't miss out on an opportunity to go the extra mile. Even though it may require extra work, its usually those times that shape you and your career.
Always be learning. The S&C world is always learning and growing, do yourself a favor and get a good mentor and pick their brain for all its worth.
Set up a skill bridge S&C coaches all over are looking for help especially if you can provide them huge value at no cost to them for 6 months!
These are just a few points that made this episode awesome. Go listen to the full thing and enjoy.
Give Corey a shout if you are thinking about joining the S&C world!
Communication is only as effective as your ability to do so. Ali Kershner delivered some awesome insight into effective communication and how that ultimately is what separates the very successful ones from the mediocre. You can have the greatest ideas, intentions, and motivations, but if you can't communicate that effectively, then it won't really matter.
What we covered in the episode:
Understand communication types! If you don't know what type you are and what type the person you are trying to talk to is, you are more than likely wasting time.
Communication is key to getting the results you want. Words mean things, so be sure to choose the right ones for the right person.
Practice your communication via role playing. In the military we role play all kids of scenarios so why don't you role play what an interview is going to be like?
Role playing helps to get you in the right head space, it allows you to get multiple reps from different vantage points
Negotiation is a little bit of art and science. In order to master negotiation you must understand all the different outcomes you are willing to work with and understand the power dynamics you have control of.
Don't bring a deal to the table unless you have at least three different COA's and remember the other side needs to benefit from it as well!
Tune in for these points and so much more! This was an awesome episode!
Thanks again Ali for coming one the show!
https://community.fiveandfly.com/invitation?code=EJ45DA
nothing more to say here this episode is quick and talking about what is on the platform, what is coming to the platform, and where it is going!
This was such a great informative episode with Haley Williams. As our previous guest and husband of Haley, Zach Williams promised, this was such an amazing and inspiring story. I really want to take this opportunity to thank Haley for coming on the podcast and sharing this inspiring story.
This episode was a great reminder that this journey is not only tough on the military service member, but the spouse as well. I'm thankful that I get the opportunity to sit down and have conversations with these spouses and allow them to shed light on a whole other side of this journey through and out of the military.
Haley's story was one of a kind as they all are, but here are a few key take aways:
- Due to the nature of the Army, spouses will potentially have to give up their careers to support the Army's calling of their service member, but this doesn't have to define you. Haley reminded us that you still play such a significant role in the whole process whether that is being a stay at home parent, or getting a job that provides some more income that may not have been what you thought, it is all super important. Most important of all the spouses greatest job and most important is supporting their service member.
- If you need help mentally, go get it! Haley was so gracious enough to share her personal battle field while being in the army and with that came the realization that there are people there to help, it's not easy, but go seek it!
- Community is important! Even though you have to move around in the Army, find and seek community. It may help save you and other things that could feel like they are falling apart while you are in the military. Haley was blessed to have amazing support throughout their time in the military and encourages you to find, seek, or start a community of your own.
- Haley closed off the episode with reminding all the moms out there right now who are going through this to take pride in exactly where you are in the season of life you are in right now. You only get to do it once and you never know what you will learn about yourself!
- MOST IMPORTANTLY she thanks God for protecting her and getting her to where she is today!
To all the listeners out there, this is one of those episodes i encourage you to sit down and listen to this episode with your spouse and then discuss what you are working through. You are a team and Haley showed how important that is in this episode.
Enjoy this episode!
Where do we even start for this episode besides the secret sauce to Matt's success in continuing to follow a calling no matter where it leads you.
We covered so much in this episode but here are a few key take aways:
Start with the skill of knowing oneself, know how you feel, and what you genuinely want in life!
Drive the UBER! Do the side hustle to help make the bottom line work. We covered that sometimes an ego check is what is needed to pursue your dreams, so don't be afraid to take on the odd jobs in the beginning you'll never know what you learn and how that will come into play later on down your career.
Imagination and stoic presence! We can never unlock our true potential if we don't give ourselves time to imagine what is possible. In that remain in full control of the present and make sure you crush your day to day objectives!
Create a brand for yourself, be the person that does the right thing and people have nothing but good things to say about when you aren't in the room.
These are just a few point but we have a ton of knowledge bombs. Sit back and enjoy this episode.
Wether or not you want to be an entrepreneur or seek growth in a corporate organization you want to do yourself a favor and listen to this whole episode.
In this episode we dive into what it really takes to be successful, the secret is there is no secret!
Here is what we covered:
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You need to set your priorities in life to make sure that your foundation is set to take on what the corporate world throws at you.
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As entrepreneurs you learn more about riding the ups and downs and responding appropriately.
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Its not rocket science! We have all the skills we need as transitioning leaders from the military to take on the tough path.
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Discipline is your greatest asset, again you already have this skill.
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Use each opportunity as a time to learn and grow! It's only failure if you don't learn something from it or give up.
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Most importantly, Feel the fear and then lean in!
So much more was covered, stay tuned to this episode if you want to find how to create the best base possible for leaving the army!
Thanks again Corey for coming on the podcast!
In this episode we cover a brief flashback of each episode and key parts of those episodes.
If this is your first episode please go back and listen to these previous episode there was a lot of amazing content and so much knowledge shared.
Now for the BIG ANNOUNCEMENT:
On JUNE 1st Five and Fly is launch a platform for a membership based community. This is something that we have been wanting to do for a while.
We wanted to create a space where like minded people on the same mission can come together, pour into each other, share best practices, things to avoid, all while helping each other reduce stress and the unknowns of the separation out of the military process.
I can't wait to see what this turns into. Five and Fly is on a mission to create the one stop shop for all things separating from the military and traversing the corporate world as a veteran. And now we have a community that will support that mission!
Stay tuned we are just getting started!
Another new series!
So excited to kick off this new series, So you want to be an entrepreneur?, with none other than Joseph Cabrera!
Joseph Cabrera Has accomplished so much over his journey in the army, then into the civilian world as a teammate of multiple organizations. It didn't stop there, while he was a member of multiple teams he found a problem, and like all great entrepreneurs set out to solve. Thus enters CabreraToro and the Professionally offensive podcast: link to podcast here, https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/professionally-offensive/id1558927333
We covered a lot in this episode but here are a few key take aways:
Joseph was convinced he was to be a 20+ year soldier and then move on to the civilian world. He was called elsewhere. What lead him there? He knew the Army was going to be left in good hands, and he honestly found the Army to be too comfortable and he wanted to take on a new endeavor, he was curious and courageous.
Saw peers going down the army 2.0 route and wasn't interested. Joseph attended The McCombs School of Business at the University of Texas and attained his MBA. His favorite MBA however, is the school of hard knocks and learning on the fly in the organizations he was apart of. The guidance and wisdom he gained from leaders in organizations he was a part of helped to shape his mentality today. He is grateful for the network he created will traversing the path of an MBA
If he could go back and do it all over again, immediately after leaving the army he would take his wife, dog, and SUV across country and listen to what the wildernesses was calling him to. Take the time to really process through what his next adventure should be. As he says, we all have more time than we think!
Entrepreneurship is like a hockey stick, its flat and seems as though nothing is happening, but if you stay the course, lay the right foundation, you will see the exponential growth!
At lastly, before you begin your journey, call your friend and ask them what they envisioned you being when you grow up!
This is an amazing episode, you will be glad you listened!
Today we kickoff a new series: Mastermind with a Master of the MindOur first guest is Dr. Nate Zinsser performance psychology consultant and author, former director of the performance psychology program at the U.S. Military Academy.In todays episode we walked through a lot in developing a confident mind. Part of separating from the military is developing a confident mind to make sure you walk into each corporate setting with the confidence that you are the right person for the job.Quick episode take aways to ensure you are mastering your mind and building confidence.Start with a daily reflection of ESP:E - EffortS - SuccessP - ProgressThen we build constructive thinking practices in the presence:Set the bar high!Think about what you want as if you already have itCBA (C - confident thought, B - Breath into the body, A - attach your awareness)Constructive thinking in the futureNerves don't know imagine v. realityCreate a version of what you actually wantThen we take those things and Enter into the arenaMake the decision and have a process to master the arenaLastly we close on responding to setbacks:TLNT - temporary v. permanentL - Limited where they occur (localized)N - Non-representative of who you are and what bring to the table
What an episode to say the least. We covered so much in this episode.
Most importantly inline with recent episodes we dive deep into the fundamentals for why Zach transitioned from the Army the to the civilian world. Zach experienced a great and fulfilling Army career and was looking to make it all the way, but God had other plans for Zach
As Zach went through his career he experienced many shaping crucibles that he is very thankful for: the loss of his right hand man Chris Celiz who was KIA, fighting the inner turmoil of returning to duty to lead his men, and adapting to the life as a commander of troops to name a few. Chris instilled in Zach key values that he uses today to have a better wholistic view on life that also helped him to over come trials and tribulations he faced.
We covered in great detail how eventually it was God who called Zach to pick himself up and pursue this life that in someways he didn't realize he was ready for. Zach is taking on huge endeavors of leading a company, pursuing an MBA, being a great husband and father, and most importantly following Gods purpose for his life. This story is an amazing one that should be share with everyone.
Taking on inner demons is so important to come out the military successfully and Zach walks us through exactly that! Thanks again Zach for coming on!
In this episode we reflect the importance of starting with why and how that drives your azimuth. This azimuth sets the direction for the path you are about to embark on and helps to align you in your efforts of turning your military success to eye popping resume bullets that cause companies to want to hire you or bring you on their team for an internship. It drives you to follow the footsteps and catch up to the people who have gone before you. As pathfinders trudge their way in creating paths for you they can look back and help direct you on better paths. Use this to your advantage. Remember networking is personal and it will require commitment that may be uncomfortable. Through discomfort we can cultivate strength and team members for life. If you want to learn more about how to craft your why, build a resume, or network please go to fiveandfly.com to schedule sometime with me and we can work through this!
We are building the foundation of the Five and Fly Methodology. In this episode we start with why.
We brake this down into three practical steps:
1) Determine a life vision and values to hold on too
2) Create a tangible none descriptive why out of that so someone can hold you accountable
3) Find someone or a group of people to hold you accountable
Its not as easy as it seems. Please reach out if you want to embark on this journey to creating a basis for separation journey or just for your career path in general!
Reference episode ten for more background on the over all methodology: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/itll-buff/id1646322276?i=1000588134791
Thank you Renée for coming on and sharing your incredible journey through, out of, and now on the other side of the army as you continue to pursue further education at Yale Law school. This was such an eye opening and informative conversation that helps to paint a light on so many more opportunities pursue as you transition out of the military. Please reach out to Renée if you have any questions or feel free to hit up the links provided to pursue a great path into further education as a veteran.
Renée Mihail LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/reneemihail
Service to School: https://service2school.org
What another great podcast episode this time with Kate Utter. We got to hear the other side of Ryan's story from Kate's POV to include the infamous sending Ryan out to an interview while Kate was in labor! This episode provides such a good look into how it takes a team with a succinct vision to make the transition as successful as it can be! Thanks again guys for hopping on!
Savannah provides a great perspective on Hayden's separation from the army. She helps to provide key examples of how Army spouses play a critical role in the transition from army to civilian life. For Hayden that was, helping keep him accountable, pushing him out of his comfort zone, and helping him grow/perfect his network.
Army spouses are pivotal to a successful transition!
Reach out to Savannah if you need some guidance on how to help, she is an amazing resource!
Savannah's LinkedIn:l inkedin.com/in/savannahhunter
Another episode jam packed with great information on how to succeed in yet another direction when looking to transition out of the military. TJ provides amazing points on how to take the blinders off and pursue an industry that seems interesting, not necessarily what everyone else is doing. We cover preferences and things he wasn't willing to sacrifice while separating from the army. This is yet another amazing story of how trials and tribulations during separation lead to happiness and fulfillment while working in the corporate world!
TJ's info: linkedin.com/in/tjbinkowski
What a great episode we covered so much from the initial decision to get out of the Army to trying different avenues, to landing in Banking and pursuing an MBA at the same time. Ryan provides a wealth of knowledge and helps to paint a great picture of the difficulties of finding where you fit in the corporate world. Thanks for coming on Ryan.
Ryan Utter's info: linkedin.com/in/ryan-utter
More on Chapter 31 Program: https://www.va.gov/careers-employment/vocational-rehabilitation/
I sat down and had a conversation with my wife to help the community see how the most important people in our lives view and are impacted by our separation journey out of the military. This was such an eye opening experience as was helpful to reflect over where we were and how far we have come during this journey. Just know the journey doesn't stop once you land a job it is a continual growth process.
In this episode we covered the reoccurring themes and motifs that popped up during episodes 2-9. I spent a little bit of time on each topic to shed a more in depth look on each topic. This episode helps to paint a good picture of the Do's and Do not's of each topic that has been covered and how to maximize you separation from the army and land the best internship and job possible. Hope you enjoy this episode!
What an amazing episode to close out the separation from the army series with a good friend Alex Day. There were so many topics covered during this podcast episode from forming a network that didn't initially land a job to over coming imposter syndrome while growing your career. This episode jsut isn't for those out there that have just separated, its for the people out there who also might be looking for the next step in there professional career. Tune in, take notes you will want to pay attention to this episode!
Alex Day's LinkedIn profile link: linkedin.com/in/craig-alex-day
What an amazing episode. Chris was so transparent about the crucible he overcame being the separating from active duty service journey. It wasn't easy, it wasn't comfortable, but he landed on the other side in spot he didn't even think he would be in, and loves it. This paints yet another great picture of just how different every separation story is. Chris covers so many do's and don'ts during this episode so please, tune in you don't want to miss this one.
Chris Carnegie's info: linkedin.com/in/chriscarnegie
We covered a lot in this episode all of which is fresh information as Neb just finished his transition out of the military and is now just waiting to accept a job offer. We cover salary negotiation, practicing for your interviews, how to network, and trudging your way through the nightmare of working with your unit to get your CSP internship approved. You will enjoy this episode.
As always Neb's information: linkedin.com/in/nebyou-abera
Here is his transition guide mentioned in this episode: https://www.sutori.com/en/story/the-military-transition-guide-i-wish-i-had--neKEiwGvCVS7veAei58G9TUT
Wether you are thinking about staying in, on the fence, or already committed to separating from military service, this is a must listen episode. Keith covered learning crucibles during his separation journey that are pivotal to helping you be successful on your journey. This was an amazing episode and an amazing honor to talk with Keith. Keith is now a member of the community, so reach out if you want to pick his brain on all things MBA, becoming a VP of a large organization, or just need mentorship as you find your way through your active duty service.
Keiths LinkedIn info: linkedin.com/in/keith-parry
Please if you are a senior officer and listening to this reach out Keith is a wealth of knowledge and is ready and willing to help any brother and or sister in arms in any capacity.
Our first Naval academy grad and what an amazing conversation it was. Transitioning from the Marine Corp too rising at Citi Nank and everything in between. Such great insight on all things. Enjoy the listen it was a great conversation. Even a little army navy rivalry talk.
Quincy's info here: linkedin.com/in/quincy-adams5
We covered a lot in this episode, starting with life at the academy and how Darrell accomplished a double major, how finding yourself in a TRADOC position is great for setting up a smooth transition, free resources, and getting a federal job to reach his 20 year pension.
As always Darrells info: linkedin.com/in/darrell-bishop-pmp-35bb31159
email:darrell.bishop23@gmail.com
Reach out if you are interested in this path.
Also we mentioned a few links for free certification services:https://ivmf.syracuse.edu/programs/career-training/
and how to find federal jobs: https://www.usajobs.gov/
Separating from the army, using his network, to seeking out great managers, to working towards getting an MBA, we cover a large array of everything you would encounter when separating from the army into the corporate world.
hope you enjoy and as always Darron's LinkedIn information: linkedin.com/in/darron-blair-8b5b14122
In this conversation we cover a lot! A look into the Hiring our Hero's internship process, how powerful networking can be, how to excel once you land your job, and much more.
As mentioned in the podcast here is Haydens LinkedIn info: linkedin.com/in/hayden-mcmahon
Hope you enjoy the episode!
This is the very first of many episodes! I enjoyed getting my story out there for the world to hear. This is just the beginning and I hope my story gives a brief look into the nuances of separating from active duty service and that no matter who you are, trials and tribulations will come your way. Enjoy episode one, and stayed tuned as I will be releasing one episode a week covering new and exciting separation from active duty stories!