View from the Skies: Military Transition Ryan Sweeney

Tom Coyle (https://www.linkedin.com/in/tom-coyle-231a4928/) has many side gigs, but really they are passions.  He has turned is hobbies into income.  These are not the side gigs that take away from your personal life (like being an entrepreneur) to make money, but rather supplement your personal life with added income with hobbies and interests you already have.
Tom thought he would be career military, but his side hobbies in music allowed him to start moonlighting in the industry.  He realized he enjoyed some of those freedoms and control he had lost in the military.  Music was an escape for him and he and his band was found on what he called "dumb luck" of being seen when all he was doing was having fun!
Unfortunately his contract fell through, but he realized he wanted a change from the military and began his transition with the State Department.  With his military and foreign experience, and love of leadership, he decided to launch a side business called "Adventures in Leadership" that focused on youth leadership fundamentals much like the army had trained him (think leaders reaction courses).  This culminated with a trip to the Gettysburg battlefield to talk leadership, not tactics.
With his constant trips, studies and interests of leadership at Gettysburg, he decided to write a book.  Which again, started out as a hobby (an E-Book), turned into a paperback edition. "Leadership Lesson from the Battle of Gettysburg."  He he focused a lot on the technological changes that the leaders failed to adapt to...which you guessed it, increased his interest in technology.  And as he read up on technology, "dumb luck" would have it again, that he has landed another side hustle in hologram development.
Some of this was deliberate and some was "dumb luck," but the point is he research and connected with his interests and those who had like interests.  And when asks, does this take away from his family?  He states, "No, he does it on his free time and needs them to stay sane!"
Other references not mentioned; Fiverr.com, upwork.com, and udemy.com

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Sean Halpin (https://www.linkedin.com/in/sean-ryan-halpin/) Active Army veteran and reservist and current Product  Manager with Dell Technologies discuss his background, his transition, and what it takes to be a product manager.

Transitioned via MBA program at the University of Virginia
His experience as a Military Intelligence officer in special operations gave him the knowledge that he wanted to work with a team of all-stars which made him focus on the Tech industry
Transition Tips:
1- Know what you are going to be doing
2- Know the personalities involved
3- Be selfish a little bit
4- Need to find yourself and know what you are looking for and why
5- What values you hold and who do you want to work for

Product management (What do you do? Who do you work with?  What is it?)
1- Manage products, part of the life cycle.  Prototype to Launch (Through the Marketing life)
2- Work with Customers, engineers, account managers, etc
3- Need to know Business Analytics
4- Need to balance value vs quality (a good product that stays on budget)
5- You need to be somewhat technical, but also need to realize you won't be the technical guru....Humble yourself and ask for help
6- Need some knowledge of Finance, Sales, Engineering, Customers and procurement

Skills that Translate from the Military
1- Resiliency
2- Planning (PACE) goes a long way as products evolve
3- Leadership (more cross-functional than direct)- Keep all the stakeholders on the same page!

References:
1- "Six Thinking Hats" by Edward de Bono


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1- Background and transition from Apache pilot, to attending MIT, to moving across the country and finding cannabis and launching an e-commerce company (iheartjane.com). 2- Discovering your why, finding your why or passion, but also what you don’t like. 3- making a drastic change means getting out of your comfort zone and taking control of the life you want and what you value, not what you are told to value. References: “Micah episode”. https://www.linkedin.com/in/socratesrosenfeld. https://www.thriftbooks.com/w/a-fistful-of-rice-my-unexpected-quest-to-end-poverty-through-profitability_vikram-akula/892176/item/3680542/?mkwid=FDs4IFHd%7cdm&pcrid=429968643834&product=3680542&plc=&pgrid=99980570796&ptaid=pla-896753933031&utm_source=google_shopping&utm_content=FDs4IFHd%7cdm%7cpcrid%7c429968643834%7cpkw%7c%7cpmt%7c%7cproduct%7c3680542%7cslid%7c%7cpgrid%7c99980570796%7cptaid%7cpla-896753933031%7c&gclid=CjwKCAjwgdX4BRB_EiwAg8O8HSc1EtVGlEhBITbWCQ8QBRrcPH0gvfFf_1F2TocsR0rBWOHGohr4dhoCIAQQAvD_BwE#isbn=1422131173&idiq=3680542

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Grant Bennett (https://www.linkedin.com/in/grant-bennett-686782a0/) Active Army and National Guard veteran talks his transition and what People Fund offers those looking to start a business, but may not have as strong of financial background as needed.  
Transition
1- Joined the army after not initially succeeding in college, but remained in contact with his high school and college friends)
2- Went back to School and interned at People Fund and basically "refused to leave."  Proved his worth and created a role for himself

People Fund
1- Non-Profit Small Business Lender- Providing capital for those looked over
2- Veteran Entrepreneur Program- works with other lenders to fund, educate and mentor veteran entrepreneurs 
3- Invest in business that invest in the community- seek to keep business going, keep people employed, and keep local economy healthy (See Lucky Lab Coffee example)
4- Work as a bridge for the "IDLE" loan and the small business administration loan
5- Focus on existing businesses, not start ups as much
6- Has an education program that coaches on: Networking; Training; Business Plan; Applying for a loan; Accessing capital; and Business management skills

References:
1- Lucky Lab Coffee
2- Vet to CEO
3- Bunker Labs
4- ACP
5- VetMet
6- Veterati
7- www.vet.loan

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A- His Background and transition from Army logistics to civilian logistics to transition specialist:
1- What worked:
- Having a process
- backward planning from target
- financial planning 
- deliberate networking
- starting early
2- What didn't
- Leading civilians with a military mindset
- Understanding military vs civilian "leadership"
- Getting off high horse
- Understanding civilian culture
- No formality (onboarding process)

B- Importance of self discovery 
C- Fellowships, Covid-19 and resources

References:
"At Ease" by Rob Campbell
https://www.linkedin.com/in/ericchorton/
https://vets2industry.com/
https://www.workforceessentials.com/index.php
https://anchor.fm/viewfromtheskies/episodes/Planning-your-transition-while-still-in-the-Service-with-Derek-Poor-e9odrk

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Sam Lark is an Account Manager and Personal Branding Specialist.  You can find him on LinkedIn, Veterati and on "The Journey" on YouTube.
- Though not a service member, Sam is a spouse and has experience shifting careers numerous times now and loves to share his experience.  He is currently an Account Manager with GoDaddy.
1- Social Media
- How it landed Sam a great job
- How to use it to build your brand
- How to showcase your cultural fit (not just technical skills)
- Is a complement to who you are (do what is good for you)
2- Growing a network 
- Not what you know, but who knows you
- How to interact and build relationships
- Keep yourself relevant 
- Be consistent in your message (be yourself)
- Get to know the other person (Listen)
- Not a quick fix
- Provides career security

References:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/samplarkjr/
"The Journey" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YEUB-odnY74&list=PLdg4YtrtIzunKOyQRezdH2fm32g3vXI2k
"How to Win Friends and Influence People" - Dale Carnegie

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