Beyond the Uniform

Why listen: In this interview we talk about networking & social media; we talk about interviewing and having a story ready to tell, as well as knowing what interests you;  we talk about the functional expertise that occurs in the civilian world that doesn’t occur in the military; we also talk about Comcast NBCUniversal’s commitment to hiring over 21,000 members of the military community by the end of 2021; and we talk about all the ways in which Comcast NBCUniversal is a great place for the military community (including spouses).   About Carol: U.S. Army Brigadier General (Ret.) Carol Eggert is Senior Vice President, Military & Veteran Affairs at Comcast NBCUniversal. In this role, she provides strategic leadership to the company’s military engagement in hiring, corporate social responsibility efforts, and business development. Carol’s military career included numerous overseas deployments, most notably a 15-month combat tour in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom as Chief of the Women’s Initiatives Division and Senior Liaison to the U.S. Embassy, Baghdad. She is the recipient of numerous awards and commendations in recognition of her contributions to the military, including the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star, and Purple Heart. Carol holds two master’s degrees in instructional design and strategic international studies, and a doctoral degree in organizational leadership. Carol serves on the Corporate Advisory Board for West Chester University, and the Boards of Directors for Valley Forge Military Academy, the Philly POPS, and PsychArmor. Her leadership in the private sector has been recognized by HillVets, who placed her on their 2016 list of the 100 most influential veterans in America; by We Are the Mighty, a military-focused media brand, who in 2018 recognized Carol as one of its “Mighty 25,” an annual list recognizing “individuals who are making a difference for military service members, veterans, and their families; and by Women Veterans ROCK!, a non-profit focused on women veterans that named Carol their 2018 Leaders & Legends Honoree of the Year.   Today's Sponsor: At Comcast NBCUniversal, our sustained commitment to Veterans, Military Spouses, and National Guard and Reserve members begins with our workforce, to which we added more than 10,000 military community members to between 2015 and 2017. We’re now expanding on that achievement with a goal to hire an additional 11,000 Veterans, Military Spouses, and National Guard and Reserve members, bringing our total to 21,000 military hires by the end of 2021. We want you to join our family. Visit Comcast Careers dot com slash Military and follow us on Twitter at Comcast Military to learn more.”

Why Listen:
Ryan Hogan is a serial entrepreneur who has started the majority of his companies while still on Active Duty. In this interview we talk about finding like minded people as accountability partners, and the importance of believing that anything is possible. We talk about what it’s like to have a startup fail, and how to recover from this in a way that might not seem intuitive to most listeners. We talk about finances, and how Ryan has started his company and grown it to over $18M in annual revenue without raising a single dollar of investment from outside investors (and how he borrowed money from his Thrift Saving Plan) to do it.

About Ryan:
Ryan Hogan is the Co-Founder & CEO of Hunt A Killer (HAK), the fastest-growing thriller subscription service in the world. Hunt a Killer is an immersive murder mystery entertainment service that challenges its players to hunt and catch a killer through its interactive monthly membership boxes and premium one-time experiences allowing thrill seeking minds to solve ongoing fictional murder mysteries. Ryan started out as an Enlisted Naval Aircrew member, and served in the Navy for 15 years, most recently as a Surface Warfare Officer. He is currently in the Navy reserves.

Our Sponsor: 

• StoryBox- People trust each other more than advertising. StoryBox provides the tools and supports businesses need to take the best things customers say about them, and use them to drive more sales and referrals. StoryBox offers a 10% discount to companies employing veterans of the US Armed Forces.

• Audible is offering one FREE audio book to Beyond the Uniform listeners. You can claim this offer here, and see a list of books recommended by my guests at BeyondTheUniform.io/books

Why Listen:
Jared (and the SVA) have a wealth of knowledge about Veterans in higher education. This interview is chalked full with data, insight, and advice for Veterans considering pursuing education after their military service. We talk about factors to consider when choosing a school, how importance self-knowledge is in finding a program, how to best maximize the use of one’s GI bill, how to avoid the “imposter syndrome” that prevents Verterans from succeeding, not selling yourself short, and more.

About Jared:
Jared Lyon is the President and CEO of Student Veterans of America (SVA). The SVA is a Veteran Success Organization, and works on behalf of student veterans at the local, state, and national level. They represent a coalition of over 1,500 student veteran groups from college campuses across the United States and in four countries. Jared started out in the Navy onboard submarines, and has worked at Northrup Gruman, the Washington Nationals Baseball Club, the IVMF and more.

Our Sponsor: 

• This episode is sponsored by Secure Components - a certified small business supporting the warfighter since 2008.  Secure Components delivers innovative and cost-effective solutions for high reliability supply chain challenges; arising from diminishing manufacturing sources and material shortages, across a wide range of DOD legacy systems and platforms.  Secure Components’ commitment to a transparent supply chain, counterfeit avoidance, and strategic sourcing; translates to increased readiness, reliability, and efficiency for the warfighter.  Please visit their website at Securecomponents.com or call us at 484-881-3125

• StoryBox- People trust each other more than advertising. StoryBox provides the tools and supports businesses need to take the best things customers say about them, and use them to drive more sales and referrals. StoryBox offers a 10% discount to companies employing veterans of the US Armed Forces.

• Audible is offering one FREE audio book to Beyond the Uniform listeners. You can claim this offer here, and see a list of books recommended by my guests at BeyondTheUniform.io/books

Why Listen:
Special thanks to Dan Piontkowski from BTU #90 for making the introduction to Bezan. In this interview we talk about taking the long-game in one’s career, and not rushing to get rich quick. Bezan gives some spot-on, tactical advice on networking, resume prep, LinkedIN profiles, financials responsibility, and other topics that are broadly applicable to anyone going through a career transition.  This is a resource-rich episode, so be sure to check out the show notes at BeyondTheUniform.io to check out links to all the books, podcasts, and more that we discuss. 

About Jesse:
Bezan Morris is a Financial Advisor at Raymond James, a public company based in Florida that provides financial services to individuals, corporations and municipalities. Bezan started out at the Naval Academy, after which he served in the Marine Corps as an Artillery Officer for over 6 years. His civilian career has included work at Toll Brothers, Turner Construction, Amazon, and Chewy.

Why Listen:
This is an inspirational episode. Jesse is a case study in pursuing one’s dream - figuring out what unique aspirations you have, finding others to hold you accountable, and not letting the opinions or doubts of others get in your way. Jesse talks about how he used a kickstarter campaign, credit cards, and his personal savings to inch his way closer - one race at a time - to becoming  a NASCAR driver. We talk about advocating for yourself, how to run a crowdfunding campaign, and how to train day in and day out to make your dreams come true. The topics we cover in this episode are relevant to every single career path - whether you too want to become a NASCAR driver, or want to start your own business, or write a book, or whatever your personal goals may be. If you like this episode check out our show notes at BeyondTheUniform.io, where, in addition to the resources we discuss in this episode, I also list 3 other episodes very similar to this one.

About Jesse:
Jesse Iwuji is the first active duty US Naval Officer to compete in NASCAR. He is also the Founder of The Red List Group which is an auto racing event company bringing drag racers together from the West to compete for trophies and cash prizes at track events. He started out at the Naval Academy, after which he served as a Surface Warfare Officer for 7 years before transitioning to the Navy Reserves. 

Our Sponsor: 

• This episode is sponsored by Secure Components - a certified small business supporting the warfighter since 2008.  Secure Components delivers innovative and cost-effective solutions for high reliability supply chain challenges; arising from diminishing manufacturing sources and material shortages, across a wide range of DOD legacy systems and platforms.  Secure Components’ commitment to a transparent supply chain, counterfeit avoidance, and strategic sourcing; translates to increased readiness, reliability, and efficiency for the warfighter.  Please visit their website at Securecomponents.com or call us at 484-881-3125

• StoryBox- People trust each other more than advertising. StoryBox provides the tools and supports businesses need to take the best things customers say about them, and use them to drive more sales and referrals. StoryBox offers a 10% discount to companies employing veterans of the US Armed Forces.

• Audible is offering one FREE audio book to Beyond the Uniform listeners. You can claim this offer here, and see a list of books recommended by my guests at BeyondTheUniform.io/books

Why Listen:
Chris is a Performance Coach with prominent companies including Johnson & Johnson. In this interview we talk about the psychology of high performers. We talk about “perpetual transition” and how one’s transition from the military is a continuous and ongoing process, not a one-time event. We talk about finding a new purpose after the military, and how to build it out of one’s own experiences, values, and relationships. We talk about the process of pursuing a PhD, and more. 

About Chris:
Chris Diaz is a Performance Coach at Equilibria Leadership Consulting. He is also the co-Founder & Executive Director of Action Tank, which tackles tough problems by harnessing the experiences, skills, and relationships of service-minded citizens to improve the social conditions of our community.. Currently working toward a PhD in Clinical Psychology, Chris also serves as a performance coach for the Johnson and Johnson Human Performance Institute. Chris started out in the Navy as a Hospital Corpsman, where he served for 6 years. 

Our Sponsor: 

• StoryBox- People trust each other more than advertising. StoryBox provides the tools and supports businesses need to take the best things customers say about them, and use them to drive more sales and referrals. StoryBox offers a 10% discount to companies employing veterans of the US Armed Forces.

• Audible is offering one FREE audio book to Beyond the Uniform listeners. You can claim this offer here, and see a list of books recommended by my guests at BeyondTheUniform.io/books

Why Listen:
If you have seen  the movie, 12 Strong, or read the book Horse Soldiers, you know a little bit about Mark’s work. Both in the military and out of it, Mark has played a pivotal role in our countries defense. In this interview, we talk about his work in special operations immediately after September 11th, as well as his career since his military service as Assistant Secretary of Defense for Special Operations/Low Intensity Conflict. Mark works with a $13B budget and a 70,000 person team. This is a great interview for those of you looking to learn about government contracting roles or becoming a Senior Executive Service government employee, or those of you looking to hear some INCREDIBLE military stories.

About George:
Mark Mitchell is the Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Special Operations and Low Intensity Conflict at the Office of the Secretary of Defense. For those of you who have read the book Horse Soldiers, or seen the movie 12 Strong, you will be familiar with some of Mark’s incredible work. Mark started his career in the U.S. Army, where he served for over 28 years, most recently as a Colonel. Mark was among the first U.S. soldiers on the ground in Afghanistan after 9/11 and advised the Northern Alliance prior to the fall of the Taliban regime. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for his actions in the November 2001 Battle of Qala-I Jangi in Mazar-e Sharif.

Our Sponsor: 

• This episode is sponsored by Lockheed Martin. At Lockheed Martin, veterans are at the center of everything they do — in fact, one in five of their employees has served in uniform. Lockheed Martin is proud to help men and women like you successfully transition into civilian careers. Join Lockheed Martin and you will find opportunities to take on the same kind of long-term challenging assignments you tackled while in the military.  Whether you’re on active duty, transitioning or already embarking on your civilian career, Lockheed Martin’s Military Connect is your online community for professional support. You can find out more at https://lockheedmartin.bravenew.com

• StoryBox- People trust each other more than advertising. StoryBox provides the tools and supports businesses need to take the best things customers say about them, and use them to drive more sales and referrals. StoryBox offers a 10% discount to companies employing veterans of the US Armed Forces.

• Audible is offering one FREE audio book to Beyond the Uniform listeners. You can claim this offer here, and see a list of books recommended by my guests at BeyondTheUniform.io/books

Why Listen:
After the loss of her leg, Patty continued to serve on Active Duty and eventually competed for the US in the Paralympics. In this interview she talks about how her accident changed her view on athletics, and how to shift one’s thinking from Post Traumatic Stress to Post Traumatic Growth. We talk about the difficulties Veterans face in their career transition around finding a new identity, and how to get out of your comfort zone and find new goals to combat this. We talk  about the “imposter  syndrome,” workalike balance, consulting, and more.

About Patty:
Patty Collins is a Principal at the McChrystal Group, which has leadership development offerings that are designed to equip leaders with the knowledge and tools to shape culture and cultivate performance within their organizations. Patty served as an Army Communications Officer for over 24 years, and spent over seven years assigned to Special Mission units within the Joint Special Operations Command. After her transition from the military, Patty was a member of the 2016 US Paralympic Team, representing the U.S. in the sport of Triathlon in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil. Patty holds a Master’s degree from the National War College and a Bachelor of Arts from Rutgers University.

Our Sponsor: 

• This episode is sponsored by Lockheed Martin. At Lockheed Martin, veterans are at the center of everything they do — in fact, one in five of their employees has served in uniform. Lockheed Martin is proud to help men and women like you successfully transition into civilian careers. Join Lockheed Martin and you will find opportunities to take on the same kind of long-term challenging assignments you tackled while in the military.  Whether you’re on active duty, transitioning or already embarking on your civilian career, Lockheed Martin’s Military Connect is your online community for professional support. You can find out more at https://lockheedmartin.bravenew.com

• StoryBox- People trust each other more than advertising. StoryBox provides the tools and supports businesses need to take the best things customers say about them, and use them to drive more sales and referrals. StoryBox offers a 10% discount to companies employing veterans of the US Armed Forces.

• Audible is offering one FREE audio book to Beyond the Uniform listeners. You can claim this offer here, and see a list of books recommended by my guests at BeyondTheUniform.io/books

Why Listen:
Today’s interview was a real privilege for me. I saw Simon Sinek’s TED Talk years ago called, Start With Why, and it has had a major impact on my professional and personal life. If you have not seen this 20 minute video, you really owe it to yourself to check it out, as well as Simon’s book, Start With Why. My guest today is Simon’s right-hand man, and works with leaders throughout the world about helping them find and pursue their purpose. Many of the guests I’ve had on the show have talked about how difficult it is to find a new purpose after the military - this interview is exactly the help you need to set you on this path.

About Peter:
Peter Docker is part of the Start With Why team, where he helps individuals and organizations harness the power of Why. The result is extraordinary cultures and sustainable high performance. Peter is the co-author of Find Your Why, a practical guide on how to discover the Why for any individual, team or organization. He's also a guide of the online Why Discovery Course.

Peter's multifaceted career has included being an international negotiator, leading an aviation training and standards organization, teaching postgraduates at the UK’s Defence College and leading multibillion dollar international procurement projects.

Standing shoulder to shoulder with the Start With Why team since 2011, Peter works with organizations around the world to help them articulate their purpose, educate their leaders and to create cultures where each individual thrives.

Our Sponsor: 

• This episode is sponsored by Lockheed Martin. At Lockheed Martin, veterans are at the center of everything they do — in fact, one in five of their employees has served in uniform. Lockheed Martin is proud to help men and women like you successfully transition into civilian careers. Join Lockheed Martin and you will find opportunities to take on the same kind of long-term challenging assignments you tackled while in the military.  Whether you’re on active duty, transitioning or already embarking on your civilian career, Lockheed Martin’s Military Connect is your online community for professional support. You can find out more at https://lockheedmartin.bravenew.com

• StoryBox- People trust each other more than advertising. StoryBox provides the tools and supports businesses need to take the best things customers say about them, and use them to drive more sales and referrals. StoryBox offers a 10% discount to companies employing veterans of the US Armed Forces.

• Audible is offering one FREE audio book to Beyond the Uniform listeners. You can claim this offer here, and see a list of books recommended by my guests at BeyondTheUniform.io/books