If you go to work on your goals, your goals will go to work on you. If you go to work on your plan, your plan will go to work on you. Whatever good things we build end up building us.
-Jim Rohn
Most people begin the whole process of transitioning to the business world all wrong. They are focused on the external parts of the job search – write a resume, contact the recruiter, write a cover letter and attend the military career fair. These tactics are all important but aren’t very useful as you prepare for the journey. Focusing on the external part of the journey misses the most fundamental part of any change – beginning on the inside. I call this mastering mindset shifts.
Here is the first mindset shift on your military transition journey – realizing that your military transition is the ultimate vehicle for your personal growth.
The Journey is the Destination
This may sound counter-intuitive but it’s an important realization: The Journey Itself is the Destination!
Now I’m not trying to purposely confuse you with some paradoxical ancient Chinese or Zen wisdom 
What I mean here is that during your military transition process your energy and thoughts are on the new job or position you will land. Understandably, that’s what you are most likely focused on right now.
But looking back on my transition journey the first position I got in the business world doesn’t really stand out. Yes, I am grateful for the opportunity that began my business career. But what was really most significant for me was the person I had to become to earn that new position.
It’s not about your first job – it’s about the person you will have to become to earn and attract your first job in the business world.
As a result, the path itself is most important. You need to master the skill of continual practice and growth – not just to gain something else, but for its own sake; for the person you need to become.
Forging a better you in the crucible of difficult circumstances
My military transition experience was tough. I’m not going to sugar coat it. I had to deal with lots of job rejections, fear, uncertainty and personal doubt.
But I came out a better person. And because of this experience I had the ‘’internal’’ tools to be able to deal with future transitions and career changes. This is a great skill set to develop because your business career will be full of changes.
Like my basic training at West Point I look back at my military transition for the person I became:
For the character development.
For digging deep inside myself and finding the strength to succeed.
For overcoming all challenges.
For being bigger than my problems.
For knowing when to get advice from others more experienced than me.
For never giving up.
For keeping my eyes on the path.
I forged a better me in the crucible of a difficult circumstance – transitioning to the military world. The same applies to your business career change.
Very little growth happens when everything in life is going your way. The important stuff really happens to you when it’s not.
Keep Your Eyes Focused on the Path
I know some people say “Keep your eyes on the prize,” but I disagree. When your eyes are stuck on the prize, you’re going to keep stumbling and crashing into things. If you really want to get ahead, you’ve got to keep your eyes focused on the path.
-Russell Simmons
I love this quote from hip-hop mogul turned yoga master Russell Simmons. If the journey is more important than the destination – and I truly believe that – the key to success is keeping your eyes focused on the path.
You may ask what about the big picture; the prize you want to achieve; the vision of your future. Yes, vision is important. It creates the pull to inspire you to an exciting future. But without focusing on the path itself the prize will never be achieved.
To have more you must become more
As you start out your career change journey this idea about the importance of personal growth may sound hollow. You may question why personal growth should be so important at this stage of your life and career.
I challenge you to make the awareness of personal growth an important mindset shift. Changing careers to the business world will require you to expand from your current situation and circumstance.
And to have more, you must become more!
Keep this in mind as you progress on your journey. When you get stuck and find barriers along your path ask yourself one empowering question:
Who is the person I have to become to succeed at the task in front of me and ultimately to achieve my objective?
If you answer this question honestly and openly you will realize that you will have to develop new traits, skills and awareness such as:
- Dealing with change
- Becoming comfortable with being uncomfortable (getting out of your comfort zone)
- Mastering emotions around fear, uncertainty and doubt
- Learning about a new profession: business
- Interpreting your military skills and experience
- Translating your skills for the world of business
- Selling and positioning yourself
- Overcoming rejection(s)
That’s a lot to master. And I’m here for you – it’s one of the reasons I started this blog
But it’s starts with a realization that you will have to become more – you will have to grow.
Begin Your Heroic Journey!
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