Odd, But Normal

As much as I would like to think preparation guarantees success, it is not always the case. I can think of examples from my Air Force career where that has been true. Preparing for a flight as a student didn’t always mean an excellent flight was going to follow- I saw this as a student and instructor. Thorough mission planning didn’t mean the weather was going to be what it was forecast to be or the ground party wouldn’t have issues to deal with effecting mission success. So I was naive to think going through an amazing transition program would iron out every wrinkle I could come across. It did provide me with great resources and some insight on what to expect, but that doesn’t mean I didn’t have challenges along the way. 

I discovered soon after the honeymoon phase of terminal leave ended that my sense of happiness or joy wasn’t what I expected. I quickly regretted sprinting to the finish line of my military career and wished I would have taken a few periods of leave prior to my departure to wean myself off of being in my unit. Now, over a year later, I understand that being part of my unit was a bit more like being on drugs than we often joked it was. Between the camaraderie, solving difficult problems, helping unit members’ achieve professional successes, and being a part of challenging, successful missions, my brain was in a near constant state of being supplied with all of the feel-good chemicals (dopamine, serotonin, endorphins, and oxytocin). Then I quit cold turkey. 

In those first few months, before I started my next career, I was doing everything I wanted to do and couldn’t do much of when I was on active duty. Lots of family time, volunteering at the kids’ school, playing golf, going to lunch with friends. It should have been great, but it felt just “ok”. I found myself interested in micromanaging my household and instinctively offering solutions to my wife and kids for any issue they were facing. Those are just the issues I recognized on my own. A year down the road, I read Jason Roncoroni’s book “The Other Side - Flourishing in Veteran Life” and learned a bit more.

The first thing I learned was my challenges are not abnormal and perhaps common for those with similar career arcs as mine. I spent a career, especially in my last 7 years on a staff and in leadership positions, being much more concerned with identifying risks, mitigating them, solving problems with incredibly talented colleagues, focusing on things we could improve on rather than things we did well, and communicating complex topics to senior DoD leaders. While in the moment some of those things were frustrating and we often seemed to be spinning our wheels, it was still rewarding, at least in a chemical sense. 

As a new retiree, my conditioned thought process would look right past the moments of joy in my life towards the next challenge or event. I wasn’t living in the moment because I was trained to look ahead- when is the next mission, take notes for after action reports on things we can fix, what are the talking points for the next senior leader brief, etc. Completing a difficult mission or getting approval for a concept of operations from a general officer had about a 5-10 second period of celebration prior to moving on. 

Another thing I have learned is that I’m still on my journey, not finished with it. Jason references this a lot in his book. Until I find a way to improve our society in some way, I am not taking advantage of my experiences and qualities. While on the surface this seems like solely an altruistic thing to do, there is a bit of selfishness here. I feel like until I am able to give back to society, there will be a portion of my self-worth ungratified. 

The second thing I need to do is learn how to find joy in those singular moments in life, live in the moment. To do so, I will work on mindfulness and meditation strategies to open up a pathway for me to do so (something my wife has suggested several times). I know it is possible to do so, I see other people truly enjoying moments in their lives and look at them with envy. I’ll get there soon, it will be a part of my journey. 


Odd... but normal

I missed a lot about my unit after I retired. At one point, I was told I might have romanticized the day-to-day a little and forgotten about all of the struggles and frustrations. That may be true. Even with those challenges though, and maybe even because of those, I really missed the people I worked with and the singular mission focus we had. 

One thing that can’t be denied though is while in the unit, I had a network of connections that I would see daily, weekly, or whenever the situation required. We had our own lexicon, common frustrations, and battle rhythm. Even in social situations, we had short-hand to talk about things in plain sight that were work-related but the words we used were effectively meaningless to the uninitiated. 

During heightened tensions, either real-world or exercise, it was amazing to have the trust and confidence of everyone around me to be the best at their job, constantly thinking steps ahead, aware of risks, and effectively able to communicate with the larger team. 

When I retired, this connection was lost. I developed closer relationships at home, but the loss of the professional environment like the one I was in can’t (and shouldn’t) be replaced by a personal, family relationship. I had a gap in my life, one that I don’t know if I realized was so important until I retired. 

I was not disillusioned to think I would ever have that same connection in my retired industry and I also knew I wasn’t alone. I had lunch with another retired unit member and confirmed what I knew. We decided that we would meet routinely to keep a solid connection with a person who had similar experiences. Of the next few months of essentially providing each other counseling sessions, we decided we should cast a larger net.

We started a social network page and reached out to other retired members and they joined in. This allowed us to have a “place” to turn to if there was a question about VA issues or professional networking opportunities. There was a channel to put out important dates for our former unit (retirement, promotion, Change-of-Command ceremonies, etc.) which would provide us with an opportunity to see each other and old friends still in the unit. 

Using this same platform, we thought it may be helpful for members within a year of retiring to join the community. This would open them up to dozens of perspectives regarding the retirement process to share lessons learned and answer other questions. To facilitate this, we contacted the transition team at the unit and had them add this to the checklist, so now it isn’t about who you know but it is a part of the process. 

We have a network that is connected now, but it took action to make it happen and has gone through some evolutions already. When you’re still in, the network is up and running all of the time. Names and faces change, but it is there and maintained by the nature of the work we do. It only took two people to discover this is likely a challenge for almost everyone and we’ve already seen it help quite a few people, even folks who have been retired for several years. 


Connection Is Lost

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The client will choose the topic to work through based on the most significant challenges facing them professionally, personally, or in some cases both. This could range from communication issues, goals, obstacles, leadership challenges, professional relationship struggles, etc. We'll work towards leveraging your strengths and values to overcome these challenges and plotting a path forward to make it a reality. 

Coaching Session

Client Directed Coaching

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As a leader or a leader in waiting, you should already recognize the critical importance of self-awareness. Often, we find ourselves fixated on our weaknesses—those areas where we feel less confident or competent. But what if we shifted our focus? What if we explored how to leverage our strengths to overcome those very weaknesses?

1. Acknowledging Imposter Syndrome: Imposter Syndrome—the persistent feeling of being a fraud despite evidence of our competence—is common, especially during transitions. Recognize that it’s okay to feel uncertain at times. By doing so, you can move beyond it and lead with confidence.

2. Harnessing Team Qualities: Leadership isn’t about being the strongest individual; it’s about orchestrating a symphony of strengths within your team. Each person brings unique abilities to the table. When team members shine in their areas of expertise, the collective impact is powerful.

3. Overcoming Internal Obstacles: Sometimes, the greatest barriers to leadership growth lie within us. Perhaps it’s self-doubt, fear of failure, or an ingrained belief that vulnerability is weakness. Our coaching sessions will explore these or other internal obstacles. Together, we’ll dismantle them, allowing you to flourish as a leader.

4. Leveraging Strengths and Values: Awareness is the first step. We’ll delve into your strengths and values—those core elements that define you. Armed with this understanding, we’ll craft a leadership approach that aligns with your authentic self. Leading successfully isn’t about conforming to a mold; it’s about leveraging your unique potential.

Remember, your journey isn’t about becoming someone else’s idea of a leader; it’s about becoming the best version of yourself. Let’s embark on this transformative process together, unlocking your maximum potential as a leader.

A previous client's review:
“Executive coaching with Chad provided invaluable guidance, offering insightful strategies that helped me navigate professional challenges with confidence. His expertise and personalized approach truly made a positive impact on my leadership philosophy and personal introspection.”, J.B. 


You will drive each of these discussions to identify internal obstacles, thinking traps, and understand how to leverage your strengths and values to achieve your leadership potential. 

Unlocking Your Leadership Potential

Unlocking Your Leadership Potential II

Unlocking Your Leadership Potential III

Understanding your strengths: A path to authentic, effective leadership.

Authentic Leadership

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As service members prepare to leave the military, they encounter a wealth of transition programs designed to ease their departure. These programs come in various forms: some focus on networking and job placement, others emphasize skill development, and still others provide coaching. Undoubtedly, these resources are valuable tools, and anyone transitioning out of uniform should explore the ones that best align with their needs.

However, here’s the crucial point: ***Transitioning isn’t a one-time event; it’s a process.*** Expecting any single program to cover all aspects of this multifaceted journey would be unrealistic. As I experienced firsthand after retiring, the mental challenges can catch us off guard. It’s not just about finding a job or updating your resume; it’s about adapting to an entirely new environment—one that might not speak the same language as the military or share the same work ethic.

Consider the gap that exists between most transition programs and the veteran beginning their post-military career. Unless their new employer offers specialized support, they may find themselves navigating this uncharted territory alone. How do they leverage the strengths they honed in the military when faced with colleagues who haven’t shared that same experience? And what drives them now that their mission no longer involves the signifcance of safeguarding the nation?

This is where my mission comes into play. By walking alongside veterans during the initial phase of their civilian lives, I'm addressing a critical need. Coaching sessions—tailored to your unique circumstances—will bring awareness to these challenges and empower you to reach their full potential. This about embracing a new purpose, discovering fresh ways to contribute, and continuing their Hero’s Journey beyond the military.

Previous Client's Review:
"Working with Chad has been transformative. His coaching sessions provided the clarity and motivation I needed to finish my book and take decisive steps towards my goals. Chad's ability to ask insightful questions and offer meaningful observations has not only helped me maintain momentum but also strengthened my confidence in my own abilities. I highly recommend Chad to anyone seeking to unlock their potential and achieve their aspirations.", JW

You will drive the discussion to and I'll help bring awareness to what is challenging you and how you can overcome it. This could be translating your strengths to the civilian world, how to identify your values now that you don't have your branches' core values guiding you, how can you continue to contribute to making a better society/community, or any other topic you would like to unpack.

Out of Your Element

This could be a continuation of the first session or diving in to a brand new topic. Examples could include adapting your leadership style to the civilian world, learning to live in the moment, or working through major life decisions. 

Out Of Your Element II

This could be a continuation of the previous session or diving in to a brand new topic. Examples could be adapting your leadership style to the civilian world, learning to live in the moment, or working through major life decisions. 

Out Of Your Element III

Bringing awareness to your values, strengths and purpose for your journey beyond the military.

Veteran Transitions: Starting Life After the Military

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As an Air Force SOF veteran and executive coach, my mission is clear: to support fellow veterans during their early post-military transition. While many organizations focus on pre-transition assistance—networking, skill development, and job placement—the critical period after leaving the military often lacks targeted support.

Those initial months in a new civilian career can be daunting. Without specialized coaching, veterans may struggle to adapt. That’s where I come in—I aim to ease this transition, helping veterans thrive beyond their service.

Additionally, I work with service members who continue their military careers. By raising awareness of their strengths and values, I empower them to lead authentically and credibly.

Certifications

Programs

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