About

Empowering Future Business Leaders From the Military

Welcome to Military to Business (M2B) Mentor!

I’ve created this site to empower and inspire you, the military veteran and service member, in your journey from military hero to business leader. I am frustrated constantly reading the following headlines:

  • “Veterans can’t find jobs”
  • “Coming home is when the battle begins”

I believe that a military background is a great foundation for a successful business career. Uncle Sam may not have had corporations and capitalism in mind when he created our military. Nevertheless, your experience in serving our country and the skills, strengths, and talents you developed in the process will help you succeed in business.

Your First Business Mentor

It’s a challenge making this change from the military to the business. I won’t tell you differently. But it’s important to know you don’t have to do this alone. The shortcut to success – in any field – is having a mentor. Mentors are people who have already achieved the success which you aspire to.

“It can be no dishonor to learn from others when they speak good sense.”
- Sophocles

In fact, the original mentor comes from a military story – the Trojan War. Odysseus, from Homer’s epic poem The Odyssey, introduced the world to mentors when he entrusted the care of his kingdom to Mentor. Mentor served as a guide and teacher to his son Telemachus.

My intention is to be one of your first business mentors! You will have many more mentors in the future as you progress in your business career, but the hardest part is finding the first one.

What Will You Find in Military to Business (M2B) Mentor?

I’ve created Military to Business (M2B) Mentor to accelerate your transition and help you learn the secrets of success in your new chosen field – the world of business. Military to Business (M2B) Mentor is a blog that will provide you:

  • A repository of useful articles with real world guidance from an experienced business executive.
  • The map of the terrain for your journey from military hero to business leader.
  • Inspiration to develop your most important asset – personal growth.
  • How to discover the world of business and align it to your strengths, skills and passions developed in the military.
  • Learn to develop a personal marketing plan to position and promote yourself as a unique brand.
  • A collection of resources to help you get started.

Who Is Tom Pappas?

In many ways I’m just like you – I wore the uniform, proudly served my country and decided to make the leap from the military to business.

Looking back, I’m proud of my accomplishments…

  • West Point graduate
  • Army officer (Captain, Field Artillery) serving in Europe
  • MBA in the Netherlands
  • International marketing executive
  • Husband and father of two beautiful daughters

My Own Journey of Discovery

Pretty good background, right? This may sound like a great career success, but scratch below the surface and the picture is a bit more complex.

Dozens of job rejections – check. Confronting nay-sayers – check. Told I didn’t have enough “real-world experience” and “leadership,” – check. Stressed out beyond belief – check. Self doubt and insecurity about my career change choice and taking care of my family – check.

You see, I decided to take an unconventional route and begin my business career in Europe. New country, new culture, new language, new work environment.

I learned some hard fought lessons along the way. Here is the most important one: leaving the military for the world of business is more than just a career transition. It’s a complete transformation. It’s a journey of self-discovery and personal growth. It’s a Heroic Journey! During my transformation I unlocked some amazing secrets and developed a process for myself to help guide my thinking and actions.

I am here to help you begin your Heroic Journey!

Connect With Me

Here are some ways you can connect with me:

Connect With Me on LinkedIn LinkedIn: http://nl.linkedin.com/pub/tom-pappas/0/50b/61a
Become a Facebook Fan Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Military-To-Business-Mentor/208065880788
Follow Me on Twitter Twitter: http://twitter.com/_Tom_Pappas
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