The FourBlock Podcast

The FourBlock Podcast

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The FourBlock Podcast episodes

  • On the Other Side: Leadership After Transition

    This week, we're sharing an interview that FourBlock Founder Mike Abrams recorded previously with FourBlock Career Readiness Instructor Jeffrey Lodick for an episode of his podcast, "On the Other Side: Leadership After Transition," a podcast designed to bring leaders from all branches of service that have already made the transition to give some insight to transitioning service members and veterans who have already made the transition who may be struggling or seeking support.

    In the interview, Mike sits down with Jeffrey to discuss his transition and how the vision of FourBlock came to reality.

    A retired Master Sergeant in the U.S. Army, Jeffrey is now a professional speaker who does leadership development with student athletes and continures to serve as an advocate for service members in transition.

    Jeffrey retired from the United States Army after 20 years. He served as a Squadron Sergeant Major, Operations Sergeant Major, First Sergeant, Platoon Sergeant, and Drill Sergeant. He was a Master Rated Jumpmaster, a Pathfinder and a graduate of the Battle Staff Noncommissioned Officer Course.

    He has continued his service by assisting transitioning veterans as the podcast host of "On the Other Side: Leadership After Transition," where he seeks advice from transitioned service members as tools for current transitioning service members to use. He is an inspirational speaker, a member of the National Speakers Association and owner of Change Your Forecast, LLC.

    ABOUT US

    Welcome to the FourBlock Podcast, a show that examines veteran career transition and the military-civilian divide in the workplace.

    General Charles Krulak coined the term "Three Block War" to describe the nature of 21st-century military service defined by peace-keeping, humanitarian aid, and full combat.

    But what happens next? Veterans are often unprepared to return home and begin new careers. We call this the Fourth Block.

    FourBlock is a national non-profit that has supported thousands of transitioning service members across the nation in beginning new and meaningful careers.

    Mike Abrams (@fourblock) is an Afghanistan veteran, founder of FourBlock, and author of two military transition books. He represents the military transition perspective.

    Lindsey Pollak (@lindsaypollak) is a career and workplace expert and New York Times bestselling author of three career advice books. Lindsey represents the civilian perspective of this issue.

    Veterans, explore new industries and make the right connections. Find a career that fits your calling. Join us at fourblock.org/

    Sponsor our program or host a class to equip more of our veterans at fourblock.org/donate.

    Follow FourBlock on Social Media

    LinkedIn

    Facebook

    Instagram

    Twitter

    Podcast episodes are produced and edited by the Columbia University Center for Veteran Transition and Integration.

    58 min
  • Don't Retire, Rewire: Insights from America's "Rewiring" Expert

    Why do you or did you work beyond the money? Do you have enough money to retire to do what fulfills you? How many of us really know what really fulfills us?

    This week, motivational speaker, social researcher, and co-author of the nationally acclaimed book, Don't Retire, REWIRE! Third Edition Jeri Sedlar shares her expert insights on retirement life planning and how we figure out what will truly fulfill us after retiring or making a life or career transition.

    In conversation with FourBlock Founder Mike Abrams, Jeri discusses her background and career path, detailing how she developed an interest in aging from a young age and how it ultimately helped shape her career. Mike and Jeri also discuss current trends, and Jeri shares invaluable advice throughout for anyone preparing to retire or looking to find their next act.

    Jeri is a master of retirement life planning and has earned the title of America's "rewiring" expert. She has interviewed hundreds of professionals, executives, entrepreneurs, partners and pre-retirees in all industries about their hopes, dreams and fears about the future. She has discovered both the pleasures and pain and possibilities and pitfalls associated with retirement.

    Since the introduction of Don't Retire, REWIRE! in 2002, Jeri has been traveling the globe challenging individuals to get out of their own way and break through society's as well as their own individual "silver ceilings" to find the fun and fulfillment they deserve and desire at this life stage.

    Jeri's career has predominantly been in the personal development and transition arena, fostering change as Editor at Large of WORKING WOMAN and Senior Advisor at The Conference Board on the Mature Workforce.

    As a delegate to the White House Conference on Aging and a member of the New York State AARP Executive Council she continues to advance the concept of positive aging through engagement.

    Her rewiring message has resonated across the globe from workshops in Dubai to keynotes in Dallas to interviews with traditional media both on air and online. She writes a blog and as she says…"people are my passion and I want them to get their futures right!"

    ABOUT US

    Welcome to the FourBlock Podcast, a show that examines veteran career transition and the military-civilian divide in the workplace.

    General Charles Krulak coined the term "Three Block War" to describe the nature of 21st-century military service defined by peace-keeping, humanitarian aid, and full combat.

    But what happens next? Veterans are often unprepared to return home and begin new careers. We call this the Fourth Block.

    FourBlock is a national non-profit that has supported thousands of transitioning service members across the nation in beginning new and meaningful careers.

    Mike Abrams (@fourblock) is an Afghanistan veteran, founder of FourBlock, and author of two military transition books. He represents the military transition perspective.

    Lindsey Pollak (@lindsaypollak) is a career and workplace expert and New York Times bestselling author of three career advice books. Lindsey represents the civilian perspective of this issue.

    Veterans, explore new industries and make the right connections. Find a career that fits your calling. Join us at fourblock.org/

    Sponsor our program or host a class to equip more of our veterans at fourblock.org/donate.

    Follow FourBlock on Social Media

    LinkedIn

    Facebook

    Instagram

    Twitter

    Podcast episodes are produced and edited by the Columbia University Center for Veteran Transition and Integration.

    42 min
  • Bridging the Divide for Military Spouses

    This week, we welcome Susan Rietano Davey and Kelley Kelley Biskupiak, co-founders of Prepare 2 Launch U (PLTU), a learning company that provides instruction, inspiration, and community primarily to women and caregivers navigating work-life transitions along the continuum of life.

    In 2020, FourBlock joined forces with PTLU to create a comprehensive, instructional career transition program for military spouses looking to return to work or pivot into new careers.

    In this episode, Kelley and Susan are joined by Lisa Stern, Ed.D., FourBlock's Director of Program Impact and Assessment and our podcast co-hosts: Lindsey Pollak, career and workplace expert, New York Times bestselling author, and FourBlock Board member; and Mike Abrams, FourBlock founder and Afghanistan veteran.

    Over the course of the episode, Susan and Kelley discuss their professional backgrounds and how PTLU started, and the group discusses how the joint FourBlock-PTLU Military Spouse Career Readiness Program came to be, what they have learned together from working with military spouses, what the future of the program holds, and what it means to be 'ready' to apply to the program.

    The FourBlock-PTLU Military Spouse Career Readiness Program features live video coaching, flexible online learning modules, and all the instruction, tools, and inspiration a military spouse will need to navigate her or his way to a meaningful career. Military spouses who complete the program also gain access to an expanded community of FourBlock alumni, employers, and instructors for additional networking and mentorship. The program is offered at no cost.

    As career women and moms, too, PTLU co-founders Kelley and Susan have been helping women navigate work-life transitions for a combined 30 years.

    Susan and Kelley met while speaking at a women's conference in 2016. At the time, they were both independently consulting with companies and coaching a range of women (from seasoned professionals to young women navigating new motherhood) through life and career transition. Immediately, they felt a connection and knew that they could better help more women if they teamed up. So, the two joined forces first to share clients, then to run workshops, and, ultimately, to create the learning company Prepare to Launch U that provides instruction, inspiration, and community to women navigating work-life transitions along the continuum of life. Their original, signature online career re-entry course boasts students in 26 states and counting.

    In just a few years, Prepare to Launch U has introduced multiple online and live instructional offerings including a first-of-its-kind online maternity leave planning course, a proprietary family leave planning course on the LinkedIn Learning platform, and widely popular live corporate workshops on Negotiating and Work-Life Synergy, to list just a few. Susan and Kelley regularly collaborate with universities and Fortune 500 companies, and they are sought-after speakers and moderators for conferences across the country.

    ABOUT US

    Welcome to the FourBlock Podcast, a show that examines veteran career transition and the military-civilian divide in the workplace.

    General Charles Krulak coined the term "Three Block War" to describe the nature of 21st-century military service defined by peace-keeping, humanitarian aid, and full combat.

    But what happens next? Veterans are often unprepared to return home and begin new careers. We call this the Fourth Block.

    FourBlock is a national non-profit that has supported thousands of transitioning service members across the nation in beginning new and meaningful careers.

    Mike Abrams (@fourblock) is an Afghanistan veteran, founder of FourBlock, and author of two military transition books. He represents the military transition perspective.

    Lindsey Pollak (@lindsaypollak) is a career and workplace expert and New York Times bestselling author of three career advice books. Lindsey represents the civilian perspective of this issue.

    Veterans, explore new industries and make the right connections. Find a career that fits your calling. Join us at fourblock.org/

    Sponsor our program or host a class to equip more of our veterans at fourblock.org/donate.

    Follow FourBlock on Social Media

    LinkedIn

    Facebook

    Instagram

    Twitter

    Podcast episodes are produced and edited by the Columbia University Center for Veteran Transition and Integration.

    41 min
  • How an Infantry Officer Got Into a Career in Tech

    This week we welcome West Point graduate and U.S. Army veteran George Chewning, who served five years as a U.S. Army Infantry Officer including a deployment to Afghanistan.

    In conversation with FourBlock Founder Mike Abrams, George shares details of his time in the Army and his service in Afghanistan; his military transition and what made him realize he needed support with the transition; and his post-military career as a non-technical veteran who transitioned into a civilian career in technology. He shares insights from his transition journey and what he's learned from making multiple transitions throughout his career. George also discusses how he found his way back to a career serving his community and shares his advice for fellow veterans in transition now.

    After his transition out of the military, George earned his MBA from the George Washington University. He served as a Legislative Director for the Global War on Terror Memorial Foundation and then transitioned to a Program Manager role at Facebook before being selected as a Presidential Innovation Fellow at the Department of Veteran Affairs. He just recently began a new role as Deputy Director for the Beeck Center for Social Impact + Innovation.

    George is an alumnus of FourBlock's Veteran Career Readiness Program and also serves as a volunteer member on our National Leadership Council.

    ABOUT US

    Welcome to the FourBlock Podcast, a show that examines veteran career transition and the military-civilian divide in the workplace.

    General Charles Krulak coined the term "Three Block War" to describe the nature of 21st-century military service defined by peace-keeping, humanitarian aid, and full combat.

    But what happens next? Veterans are often unprepared to return home and begin new careers. We call this the Fourth Block.

    FourBlock is a national non-profit that has supported thousands of transitioning service members across the nation in beginning new and meaningful careers.

    Mike Abrams (@fourblock) is an Afghanistan veteran, founder of FourBlock, and author of two military transition books. He represents the military transition perspective.

    Lindsey Pollak (@lindsaypollak) is a career and workplace expert and New York Times bestselling author of three career advice books. Lindsey represents the civilian perspective of this issue.

    Veterans, explore new industries and make the right connections. Find a career that fits your calling. Join us at fourblock.org/

    Sponsor our program or host a class to equip more of our veterans at fourblock.org/donate.

    Follow FourBlock on Social Media

    LinkedIn

    Facebook

    Instagram

    Twitter

    Podcast episodes are produced and edited by the Columbia University Center for Veteran Transition and Integration.

    29 min
  • Operational Excellence: Bringing Commandership to the Corporate World

    This week on the FourBlock Podcast, FourBlock Founder Mike Abrams welcomes U.S. Marine Veteran and Regional President at TK Elevator Benjamen (Ben) Herther.

    A recently retired U.S. Marines Lt. Col. who also served as the Battalion Commander, 3rd Battalion, 14th Marines for the Marine Forces Reserve before passing the torch to Mike, Ben brings a unique perspective on leadership to his corporate career, where he currently serves as the Regional President for the Midwest Region at TK Elevator.

    In conversation with Mike, Ben shares why he decided to serve, discusses his time in the Marine Corps, and explores the parallels between leadership in the Marines and the corporate world, sharing his experiences serving as both a Battalion Commander in the Marine Reserves and a leadership role in the corporate world at the same time.

    Ben also provides some informative background on TK elevator, the company culture, and how the entrepreneurial mindset of the company helps empower its leaders.

    To close out the episode, Ben shares his advice for both transitioning service members looking as well as those in the corporate world looking to hire veterans.

    ABOUT US

    Welcome to the FourBlock Podcast, a show that examines veteran career transition and the military-civilian divide in the workplace.

    General Charles Krulak coined the term "Three Block War" to describe the nature of 21st-century military service defined by peace-keeping, humanitarian aid, and full combat.

    But what happens next? Veterans are often unprepared to return home and begin new careers. We call this the Fourth Block.

    FourBlock is a national non-profit that has supported thousands of transitioning service members across the nation in beginning new and meaningful careers.

    Mike Abrams (@fourblock) is an Afghanistan veteran, founder of FourBlock, and author of two military transition books. He represents the military transition perspective.

    Lindsey Pollak (@lindsaypollak) is a career and workplace expert and New York Times bestselling author of three career advice books. Lindsey represents the civilian perspective of this issue.

    Veterans, explore new industries and make the right connections. Find a career that fits your calling. Join us at fourblock.org/

    Sponsor our program or host a class to equip more of our veterans at fourblock.org/donate.

    Follow FourBlock on Social Media

    LinkedIn

    Facebook

    Instagram

    Twitter

    Podcast episodes are produced and edited by the Columbia University Center for Veteran Transition and Integration.

    30 min
  • The History, Evolution, and Future of the Transition Assistance Program (TAP)

    This week on the FourBlock Podcast, we welcome Acting Director of the Military Civilian Transition Office (MCTO) Mike Miller to take us on a deep dive into the Transition Assistance Program (TAP) for transitioning service members. In conversation with FourBlock Founder Mike Abrams, Mike Miller walks us through the program's history and evolution, sharing how it has progressed, where it stands today, and what the vision is for the future of TAP.

    Mike serves as the Acting Director of the Military Civilian Transition Office (MCTO). The MCTO designs, supports, oversees, and evaluates the DoD Transition Assistance Program (TAP), the Yellow Ribbon Reintegration Program (YRRP), and the Beyond the Yellow Ribbon program (BYR). MCTO provides streamlined transition and reintegration services to efficiently deliver resources, training, information, and deployment-cycle support to transitioning service members, members of the National Guard and Reserve, and their families worldwide.

    Mike has over 38 years of civilian and military leadership experience that includes team building, talent management, leader development, policy development, strategic planning, corporate culture change, diversity and inclusion, organizational management, and resource management. He is a retired U.S. Army Veteran and "Soldier for Life" who served strategic enterprise assignments with United States Forces Korea and Headquarters, Department of the Army; Chief Human Capital Officer assignments at U.S. Army installation, Division, Combined Joint Task Force, and Corps; and operational deployments in Somalia and Afghanistan.

    ABOUT US

    Welcome to the FourBlock Podcast, a show that examines veteran career transition and the military-civilian divide in the workplace.

    General Charles Krulak coined the term "Three Block War" to describe the nature of 21st-century military service defined by peace-keeping, humanitarian aid, and full combat.

    But what happens next? Veterans are often unprepared to return home and begin new careers. We call this the Fourth Block.

    FourBlock is a national non-profit that has supported thousands of transitioning service members across the nation in beginning new and meaningful careers.

    Mike Abrams (@fourblock) is an Afghanistan veteran, founder of FourBlock, and author of two military transition books. He represents the military transition perspective.

    Lindsey Pollak (@lindsaypollak) is a career and workplace expert and New York Times bestselling author of three career advice books. Lindsey represents the civilian perspective of this issue.

    Veterans, explore new industries and make the right connections. Find a career that fits your calling. Join us at fourblock.org/

    Sponsor our program or host a class to equip more of our veterans at fourblock.org/donate.

    Follow FourBlock on Social Media

    LinkedIn

    Facebook

    Instagram

    Twitter

    Podcast episodes are produced and edited by the Columbia University Center for Veteran Transition and Integration.

    48 min
  • Pursuing Performance Excellence at the Veterans Benefits Administration

    On this episode of the FourBlock Podcast, we are honored to be joined by former Under Secretary for Benefits in the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and U.S. Army Veteran Dr. Paul R. Lawrence.

    In conversation with FourBlock Founder Mike Abrams, Lawrence generously shares details of his background and upbringing, his military career and transition, and his post-military career in the private sector before giving us a behind the scenes look at his time as the Under Secretary for Benefits at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Lawrence talks about the priorities that he focused on as Under Secretary, including getting veterans the benefits they earned in a manner that honors their service, fiscal stewardship, and collaboration -- working more with veterans' stakeholders like VSOs, nonprofits, and others who wanted to help.

    A businessman, author, and passionate veteran advocate with 35 years of experience solving management problems in large, complex organizations, Lawrence also shares what he continues to do to advocate for veterans today.

    As a private sector executive, Lawrence was a consulting Partner at two Big-Four accounting firms and a Vice President in two Fortune 500 companies. He is a government management thought leader, having written several books on the subject.

    For almost three years, Lawrence served as Under Secretary of Benefits at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, unanimously confirmed by the Senate on April 26, 2018. As Under Secretary, he was in charge of the Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) leading a team of 25,000 people with an operating budget of $4 billion, administering $120 billion in benefits annually. He implemented proven business practices, streamlined the bureaucracy, and created a public presence rebranding VBA as an organization successfully supporting Veterans.

    Prior to becoming a political appointee, Lawrence was a Vice President at Kaiser Associates, a Partner at Ernst & Young, a Vice President at Accenture, a Senior Director at the MITRE Corporation, a Vice President with IBM, and a Partner at PricewaterhouseCoopers.

    He has written extensively on management, government, and technology. He is the co-author of Succeeding as a Political Executive: 50 Insights from Experience, What Government Does: How Political Executives Manage, Paths to Making a Difference: Leading in Government and the co-editor of Transforming Organizations and Learning the Ropes: Insights for Political Appointees.

    He serves on the Board of Directors of Vets2Industry, a non-profit organization helping Veterans pursue a career in the private sector. He is also a Senior Advisor to Search & Acquire, a non-profit focused on helping Veterans become CEOs via Entrepreneurship through Acquisition.

    He was selected three times by Federal Computer Week as one of the top 100 public service leaders. In 2019 he was recognized as Government Executive of the Year by Service to the Citizen. He is a Fellow of the National Academy of Public Administration.

    Lawrence earned his Master of Arts and Ph.D. in economics from Virginia Tech. He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in economics from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, graduating Phi Beta Kappa. He is an Army Veteran. He completed his ROTC requirement as an Airborne-qualified Captain.

    Find Paul Lawrence on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/drpaullawrence/.

    Lawrence's book, "Transforming Service to Veterans: How I Pursued Performance Excellence at the Veterans Benefits Administration in the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs is available here: https://www.amazon.com/Transforming-Service-Veterans-Performance-Administration/dp/B09DMQZN4N/

    ABOUT US

    Welcome to the FourBlock Podcast, a show that examines veteran career transition and the military-civilian divide in the workplace.

    General Charles Krulak coined the term "Three Block War" to describe the nature of 21st-century military service defined by peace-keeping, humanitarian aid, and full combat.

    But what happens next? Veterans are often unprepared to return home and begin new careers. We call this the Fourth Block.

    FourBlock is a national non-profit that has supported thousands of transitioning service members across the nation in beginning new and meaningful careers.

    Mike Abrams (@fourblock) is an Afghanistan veteran, founder of FourBlock, and author of two military transition books. He represents the military transition perspective.

    Lindsey Pollak (@lindsaypollak) is a career and workplace expert and New York Times bestselling author of three career advice books. Lindsey represents the civilian perspective of this issue.

    Veterans, explore new industries and make the right connections. Find a career that fits your calling. Join us at fourblock.org/

    Sponsor our program or host a class to equip more of our veterans at fourblock.org/donate.

    Follow FourBlock on Social Media

    LinkedIn

    Facebook

    Instagram

    Twitter

    Podcast episodes are produced and edited by the Columbia University Center for Veteran Transition and Integration.

    41 min
  • My Wakeup Call Podcast with Dr. Mark Goulston

    This week, we're honored to share an interview that FourBlock Founder Mike Abrams did with Dr. Mark Goulston for Dr. Goulston's podcast, "My Wakeup Call," where guests share how their own wake up calls changed their lives and changed how they would go on to spend the rest of their lives. During the conversation, Mike shares his personal experiences growing up, serving in the Marines, having a family of his own, and how the concept of service has been a constant throughout his life.

    A Marshall Goldsmith 100 Coaches Member, Dr. Goulston coaches entrepreneurs, CEOS, chairs, managing directors, and other executives to become the best version of themselves. He is also an international keynote speaker helping audiences do the same.

    Originally a UCLA professor of psychiatry for over 25 years, and a former FBI and police hostage negotiation trainer, Dr. Goulston's expertise has been forged and proven in the crucible of real-life, high stakes situations. He is the author or co-author of nine books with his book, "Just Listen," being translated into twenty-eight languages and becoming the top book on listening in the world. He is the host of the highly rated podcast, "My Wakeup Call" and the co-host of "Out of Our Minds and In Your Space" on Twitter Spaces, which is a mashup for creatives and thinkers.

    ABOUT US

    Welcome to the FourBlock Podcast, a show that examines veteran career transition and the military-civilian divide in the workplace.

    General Charles Krulak coined the term "Three Block War" to describe the nature of 21st-century military service defined by peace-keeping, humanitarian aid, and full combat.

    But what happens next? Veterans are often unprepared to return home and begin new careers. We call this the Fourth Block.

    FourBlock is a national non-profit that has supported thousands of transitioning service members across the nation in beginning new and meaningful careers.

    Mike Abrams (@fourblock) is an Afghanistan veteran, founder of FourBlock, and author of two military transition books. He represents the military transition perspective.

    Lindsey Pollak (@lindsaypollak) is a career and workplace expert and New York Times bestselling author of three career advice books. Lindsey represents the civilian perspective of this issue.

    Veterans, explore new industries and make the right connections. Find a career that fits your calling. Join us at fourblock.org/

    Sponsor our program or host a class to equip more of our veterans at fourblock.org/donate.

    Follow FourBlock on Social Media

    LinkedIn

    Facebook

    Instagram

    Twitter

    Podcast episodes are produced and edited by the Columbia University Center for Veteran Transition and Integration.

    47 min
  • 2022 Podcast Update

    Over two years ago in the fall of 2019, we launched the FourBlock Podcast to help bridge the military civilian divide in the workplace through conversations with veterans, thought leaders, and executives. Over 100 episodes and 30,000+ downloads later, we're excited to continue these conversations in the new year with some enhancements.

    Moving forward, we will be releasing episodes every two weeks. With each full episode, we will be creating additional pieces of content to include videos, articles, lesson plans for our classes, and most importantly, continuing the conversation with our listeners here on LinkedIn.

    We have some great people and interesting conversations lined up in the new year. Next week, we'll be releasing an episode with Dr. Mark Goulston, author of the book "Just Listen."

    Thank you for listening to our podcast. We sincerely appreciate it. We would love to hear your recommendations for topics as well as any guests that you would like us to interview. Please reach out to [email protected].

    Thank you and have a great 2022!

    ABOUT US

    Welcome to the FourBlock Podcast, a show that examines veteran career transition and the military-civilian divide in the workplace.

    General Charles Krulak coined the term "Three Block War" to describe the nature of 21st-century military service defined by peace-keeping, humanitarian aid, and full combat.

    But what happens next? Veterans are often unprepared to return home and begin new careers. We call this the Fourth Block.

    FourBlock is a national non-profit that has supported thousands of transitioning service members across the nation in beginning new and meaningful careers.

    Mike Abrams (@fourblock) is an Afghanistan veteran, founder of FourBlock, and author of two military transition books. He represents the military transition perspective.

    Lindsey Pollak (@lindsaypollak) is a career and workplace expert and New York Times bestselling author of three career advice books. Lindsey represents the civilian perspective of this issue.

    Veterans, explore new industries and make the right connections. Find a career that fits your calling. Join us at fourblock.org/

    Sponsor our program or host a class to equip more of our veterans at fourblock.org/donate.

    Follow FourBlock on Social Media

    LinkedIn

    Facebook

    Instagram

    Twitter

    Podcast episodes are produced and edited by the Columbia University Center for Veteran Transition and Integration.

    2 min
  • Top 10 Most-Downloaded Episodes: #1 – How to Live a Life of Significance

    "There's nobody who doesn't want to live a life of significance."

    This week, we complete our look back at the top ten most-downloaded episodes of the FourBlock Podcast since it first launched in the fall of 2019. Topping the countdown as the #1 most-downloaded episode is "How to Live a Life of Significance" with retired General and the 31st Commandant of the United States Marine Corps, General Charles C. Krulak.

    In this episode, General Krulak discusses his own military transition and shares the three things you need to be successful in life and the workplace.

    General Krulak started his career commanding a rifle platoon and two rifle companies during the Vietnam War. Throughout his 36 years of service, he held just about every single command and staff position that an infantry officer could hold. His awards include the Defense Distinguished Service Medal with bronze oak leaf cluster, Silver Star, Bronze Star with Valor device and two gold stars, and the Purple Heart with Gold Star. General Krulak also rewrote the Marine Corps' basic combat study text, MCDP 1: Warfighting, incorporating his theories on operations in the modern battlefield.

    After retiring from the Marine Corps, General Krulak joined MBNA America as the chief administrative officer and went on to serve as the Senior Vice Chairman and CEO of MBNA Europe. He then went on to be the 13th president of Birmingham Southern College and continues to serve on the board of several companies including as the honorary chairman of FourBlock.

    ABOUT US

    Welcome to the FourBlock Podcast, a show that examines veteran career transition and the military-civilian divide in the workplace.

    General Charles Krulak coined the term "Three Block War" to describe the nature of 21st-century military service defined by peace-keeping, humanitarian aid, and full combat.

    But what happens next? Veterans are often unprepared to return home and begin new careers. We call this the Fourth Block.

    FourBlock is a national non-profit that has supported thousands of transitioning service members across the nation in beginning new and meaningful careers.

    Mike Abrams (@fourblock) is an Afghanistan veteran, founder of FourBlock, and author of two military transition books. He represents the military transition perspective.

    Lindsey Pollak (@lindsaypollak) is a career and workplace expert and New York Times bestselling author of three career advice books. Lindsey represents the civilian perspective of this issue.

    Veterans, explore new industries and make the right connections. Find a career that fits your calling. Join us at fourblock.org/

    Sponsor our program or host a class to equip more of our veterans at fourblock.org/donate.

    Follow FourBlock on Social Media

    LinkedIn

    Facebook

    Instagram

    Twitter

    Podcast episodes are produced and edited by the Columbia University Center for Veteran Transition and Integration.

    44 min

About The FourBlock Podcast

From the publisher's feed

Welcome to the FourBlock Podcast, a show that examines veteran career transition and the military-civilian divide in the workplace.