An Unplanned Event
I was at the Army War College enjoying life as the Director for International and European Studies, a wonderful job in a magical place.
I had been informed that I was nominated to become the Defense Attaché at the U.S. Embassy in Bonn, Germany. The fulfillment of a dream for an Army Foreign Area Officer. Two months later on Saint Patrick’s Day I was notified, along with 17 other colonels, that we had been selected for mandatory retirement. For those of us on that fateful day, we called it the Saint Patrick’s Day Massacre.
It was 1992, the Cold War and the First Gulf War had come to an end, the Clinton administration was cashing in on the so-called peace dividend and the armed forces were being reduced as the defense budget was being cut.
Wow, I certainly didn’t see that coming. Seven months later I was out of the Army.
I hadn’t given life after the Army much thought. When I retired from active duty I had trouble finding a job. I did the obligatory submission of applications and mailing of resumes. But this became tiresome and frustrating. Following numerous rejections, I considered going back to school to learn some business skills but in the end decided to start a company and learn by doing. I formed a Limited Liability Corporation (LLC) called American Innovations and dabbled in numerous ventures, from door-to-door sales to direct marketing. What I learned during those trying times is what I was capable of doing. I also developed a keen appreciation for what it takes to be successful in the private sector—lots of hard work, a keen appreciation for preparation and organization and the value of understanding and appreciating human nature.
What I didn’t have during this period were coaches and mentors to help guide me on my journey. My stubborn reliance on self-determination was partially a result of pride. This eventually caused some anxiety with my wife but she didn’t mention a thing to me at the time. She remained steadfast in her support but concerned about our future.
Thankfully, I was rescued one day, two years into my new adventure, by a call from a friend who invited me to join a group of guys evaluating a military exercise in Europe. I dropped everything I was doing, bought an airline ticket and that humble start as a military analyst launched what proved to be the beginning of a successful career. Half of which was spent as a senior executive in the for-profit and nonprofit sectors.
On reflection, I should have done what I learned on active duty; that there is no substitute for preparation and planning and that teams always perform better than individuals.
As you begin your journey, who do you have on your team that will help guide you along the path to success?
Bob helps military professionals transition to private sector employment at the Center for Transitional Leadership: www.ctl-inc.org