Keeping the Goal in Mind
Transitioning out of Military Service
Keeping the Goal in Mind
Transitioning out of Military Service
The big question is, how do you stop listening to the negative doubting voice to make a positive impact? As I look back on my life, I have been fortunate to have a strong supporter of my mom. She has been the one consistent support that I have had my entire life. We haven't always agreed but she has always been there. I’m luck that now I have my wife and kids to also add to that support system. As I think back, I've had many people that supported me in life, My 6th-grade teacher as I had just immigrated to the US and did not speak the language, My Junior High School Science teacher that supported my interests, My High School JROTC instructor that helped me step up in a leadership role and kept me on track, my Navy recruiter that didn’t bullshit me and helped me get what I wanted, My Company Commander at Boot Camp that set the example of a United States Navy Sailor could achieve, A good and lifelong friend I made along the way that continues to support me, and a few leaders I had the honor of serving with during my time in the service.
Don't get me wrong, my time in service did not start well; I was a great corpsman but not a great "sailor." But it didn't take me long to figure out how the game was played, and once I got my bearing in the military, finding people I could and would want to emulate wasn't that hard. Many times help, assistance, and mentorship was provided without me asking. I learned to thrive in the service by understanding the rules and vision of what I wanted to accomplish. As time went on and I was nearing my 10-year mark, I found myself thinking about life after the military and where I wanted to be. I saw enlisted service members leaving just to come back a few months later or join a different military branch and some leaving the military after 20 years, only to start almost at the bottom of the ladder again in the civilian community. Leaving the service frightened me! It's where I thrived, and I knew I fit in… But at the age of 28, I took that giant leap knowing I had the support I needed, a clear goal in mind, and a few things I had learned in the service…
Keep your eye on the goal!
Know the goal is not permanently fixed; it can change and even move!
Know your resources, even if it's just you (your own strengths, knowledge, and skillset).
Build your alliances.
Understanding you may have to make sacrifices to achieve your goal!
Give yourself permission to Fail! But failure cannot be the final destination!
Celebrate every success!
