Episode #17: Own Your Transition Part 2 with Herb Thompson

From humble beginnings, Herb Thompson achieved all the goals he set for himself including becoming a Green Beret, serving as a Drill Sergeant and completing his Bachelor’s degree. After retiring in March 2019, he became a management consultant for a top-tier firm, pursued his executive MBA candidate at Cornell University and authored The Transition Mission. Herb shares so many tools for transition success that his conversation with Lori will be released over two weeks!

After you hear the first part of the conversation, listen to this episode for applying the military decision-making process to your transition, how to bridge the communication gap between civilians and former military personnel and a day in the life of a professional consultant.

Lessons Learned:

• Plan your transition like a military mission:
  • Distinguish facts from assumptions.
  • Determine current assumptions and label those as “facts” by talking to lots of people. Gain more assumptions to make better-informed decisions.
  • Analyze the mission and assess what you need to do.
  • Figure out multiple Courses of Action (COAs):
    • If you fail at one, then you have other options and you gained useful information.
    • Ask yourself, “What works best for me and my family?”

• The transition is hard. Just like you were motivated to succeed and promote within the military, apply your motivation to your civilian career path.

• When Herb initially connected with people on LinkedIn, he first reached out to those he had the most in common with. Then, he expanded his network.
  • Herb learned how to talk about himself in a more understandable way for his “audience,” especially those without military experience.
  • Ultimately, his networking led to his current position. That process took 5 months and completing an MBA.

• When you reach out to people, don’t start by asking “for a job.” You can ask to connect, learn more about an industry or company or learn more about specific problems that potential clients or employers need to solve.

• Be positive and adapt. Whatever plan or COA you made will probably need to be adjusted as you go.
  • Herb didn’t get accepted by his dream graduate school, and he didn’t get a job from his first interview after serving in the Army.

• Don’t settle. Your success is different from other veterans, so define it for yourself and go for it.

• You can find The Transition Mission here:
  • Connect with Herb on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/herb-thompson-sf2biz/

Find the book on Amazon at: https://www.amazon.com/Transition-Mission-approach-transition-military/dp/1734301503/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=the+transition+mission&qid=1611672454&s=apparel&sr=1-1-catcorr