“A bit of advice given to a young Native American at the time of his initiation: ‘As you go the way of life, you will see a great chasm. Jump. It is not as wide as you think.’”
-Joseph Campbell
We’ve come to end of the Heroic Journey Series. You’ve learned my step-by-step process to prepare and begin your career transition from the military to the world of business.
I know some of you are thinking this whole concept of Heroic Journey is too difficult or doesn’t apply to a military transition. Let me conclude the entire series by showing you that you understand the Heroic Journey processes much better than you think. In fact, you are part of a minority group of adults who have experienced the entire process when you began your current profession – in the military.
The Hero’s Journey really describes the transformation that occurs during a rite of passage. In today’s modern society there just aren’t many opportunities for an authentic rite of passage experience for adults. Indigenous groups like Native Americans and the Australian Aboriginals incorporated this process and rituals into important tribal milestones such as puberty, coming of age or marriage. But for the modern citizen they have to really go out of their way to create such an experience. You as a military service member already have experience in the entire process. Let me explain.
Here are the three stages I explained in the earlier stages of the Heroic Journey Series – Introduction, Part 1, Part 2 and Part 3. Now let’s see how they apply to your military initiation – basic training!
1) Departure – Leaving the Civilian World
Step one begins with departure. You will recall this means leaving your existing situation and getting out of your comfort zone. You first answer the call to adventure (and probably refuse it several times) and then begin your journey.
Think about your experience in joining the military. You went through this same process. Your call to adventure may have been the opportunity to serve your country, improve yourself, follow in your family’s footsteps, get money for education and a number of other reasons. Whatever the motivation you had to leave your existing world (home as a civilian), seek the help of others and get comfortable real fast with being uncomfortable. And the key success factor at this stage? Mastering a new mindset to succeed in the military world.
2) Initiation – Learning to Survive and Thrive as a Soldier, Sailor, Airmen or Marine
Step two is your initiation. Here is where your transformation takes place. You face a crisis, overcome stiff challenges and find your treasure – your holy grail.
Let’s go back to your basic training experience. If you were like me, you probably experienced a number of large and small crises as you tried to adapt to the military way of life. You had to dig deep, learn the new rules and adapt and overcome to all the challenges you faced.
But there was a time during the experience when you not only survived but thrived! For some it was a rather quick experience, for others it took much longer. Either way, I bet you remember when this transformative experience happened.
3) Return – Assuming Your New Identity and Being Incorporated to the Military
OK, we are almost done. I’m going to ask you to go back in time one last time: graduation of basic training. Recall what you were feeling at that moment – pride, gratitude, relief, enthusiasm, accomplishment? I bet you were flying high.
Graduation and the experience of being incorporated to your first unit in the military illustrates the final step in your Heroic Journey – the return. You’ve taken that gift you have uncovered and discovered about yourself during the initiation – your ability to survive and thrive in the military – and are ready to bring it back the world. You have completed your rite of passage and assumed your new “identity’’- ready to properly enter the military.
Relax, You’ve Done This Before
We’ve come to the end of the Heroic Journey Series. By now you will have a firm foundation of the map of the terrain and the three steps to go from military hero to business leader.
After reading the final step I hope it’s clear to you that you do have experience with personal transformation. Your initial experience at basic training is a great example of the Heroic Journey in action in your life. In fact, every new job and PCS you experienced in the military is also an experience of the Heroic Journey; some smaller in nature, but all adding up to a wealth of experience in transforming your personal and professional life.
I encourage you to continue reading all the other articles on the blog as I dive deeper on all the topics in the Heroic Journey series.
Begin Your Heroic Journey!
Related Posts:
- Heroic Journey Series, Introduction – The Map of the Terrain
- Heroic Journey Series, Part 1 – Departure: Master the Mindset of the Inner Work of Success
- Heroic Journey Series, Part 3 – Return: Land Your First Business Job By Marketing Brand You
- Heroic Journey Series, Part 2 – Initiation: Discover the World of Business and Align to Your Skills, Strengths and Passions