Every year on Veterans Day, people across the country use this special day to commemorate the service and contributions that Military men and women have made for the greater good of our country. And while we continue to give endless thanks to these brave people this year, we want to celebrate and elevate those in the Veteran community specifically. I love how our nation comes together to recognize the fight and determination Veterans exude on the battlefield, but have we ever stopped to appreciate what my fellow Veterans continue to exhibit once they come back home?
More often than not, the more significant battle is on the homefront and not the battlefield. Why? Well, I will tell you why. We have a generation of warfighters, yes warfighters, men and women who raised their right hand to look the enemies of our country in the face, knowing full well the hazards of their chosen profession, who have now returned home, retired, and/or departed military service, and must transition into civilian life. This segment of our population solved many of the world's most complex problems through the violence of action, not spreadsheets, and showing up to Zoom meetings at 8:30 am or a business meeting at the local Starbucks. That change in lifestyles is a different type of battle that Veterans face. That’s why sometimes the larger battle exists on the homefront. Transition is tough. Whether transitioning from Military service to civilian life or from divorce into a new life. Change is HARD!
Speaking to all generations of Veterans and recognizing that transition is challenging. My era of warfighters' transition to civilian life has been made easier by the service, sacrifice, and advocacy of the prior generations of warfighters who served before me. Specifically, I must praise and exude gratitude to the Vietnam Veterans, for without their advocacy and commitment to never let what happened to them happen again, we would not experience the wonderful treatment we have today in the Veteran community. There is always room for improvement, but we can all agree that we have it a lot better today than before. For that, I am grateful as well as committed to ensuring that the next generation of warfighters on battlefields unknown to us today will get the advocacy and support they deserve. Hence, they reap the benefits just as we did from those who served before me.
I hear from those who are inside and outside the Veteran community, “Congratulations on your success,” said in a manner that is almost like a surprise. Why are they surprised? My people have accomplished very complicated tasks under tremendous pressure and circumstances with minimal resources while the realities of combat face every single decision. Why is it a surprise that one would succeed post-service?
I’m not surprised, and you shouldn’t be, either. My challenge to those in leadership positions, both in and out of the Military, is to have high expectations, no handouts, just high expectations. If you have Veterans in your workforce, give them their left and right limits and then let them run. They will push the boundaries. They want more. They want to WIN!
To my fellow Veterans, I will lean on my favorite core value of my company, core value #4 - We look into the mirror before we look through the glass. I say this today because most of life's problems are often solved the fastest in the mirror. However, we often look through the glass for reasons we aren't accomplishing whatever we want to achieve. That could be something very complex, simple, personal, or professional. So let's look in the mirror more for our solutions, and I 100% guarantee that you will get where you want to be faster and with less turbulence.
To quote one of my favorite MMA Fighters, I feel “we need to be humble in victory and defeat.” Raise your hand when you need help. There are more resources for our generation than any other generation of warfighters combined.
Success is how YOU define it. It isn't all about Lambos, fancy houses, and trips to Vegas. That stuff is fun, but real money doesn't make you. YOU make YOU. Success doesn't have to be about money or business. It has to be about what makes you happy. You may want to be the best baseball coach for your kids' little league or volunteering at a nonprofit becomes your why, or you may want to start and run a successful business.
My message to you is simple: Don’t become the barrier to your success. Identify your end goal and state your mission. Make a list of all things needed to accomplish it. Take ACTION and make it happen.
The resilience and strength that exists within the Military and Veteran community is profound and derives from the experiences across the battlefields of the globe and brought back home to the communities of the United States of America. Whenever I see a Veteran succeed, however, they define such success, I feel such a sense of honor and pride, knowing the sacrifices and courage it took to get there.
I want to take a second and recognize that because that is an extraordinary journey. As a Veteran myself, I know that Military life can be demanding and dangerous, not just for the service member but their family as well. Constantly having to stay alert to the possibility of war gave me surges of adrenaline that still lingered inside, even after I finished my service. As other Veterans can probably relate, once I returned to civilian life, that desire to accomplish great things remained an internal struggle. It seemed challenging to keep that high level of accomplishment going by simply going about my daily life. This uncertainty is a challenge for many others as well. I've seen so many of my people get pulled down in the wrong direction because of the expectations they put on themselves when they make their transition to civilian life. The discouragement and disappointment they felt they faced dragged them down dark holes that became hard to get out of. It’s happened to great men and women, but it doesn’t have to happen to everybody. It may seem difficult at first, but it is also very attainable. To those struggling, it can get better. You can still achieve goals and live a productive, meaningful life as a civilian. Start simple and watch the opportunities available to you. Create a plan and execute it, just like in the service.
To the men and women within Team LRG who stepped up to serve our country, I am so grateful to have you all on my team. The dedication you served with has transitioned into a commitment to helping people achieve their dreams. I can't thank y'all enough for making us one of the top real estate groups in the country.
To my LRG community, let's take today to appreciate the contributions our Veterans have made during and even after their service has ended because it takes strength to achieve both. Show your gratitude by thanking a Veteran and even offering words of encouragement where you can.
To any fellow Veterans reading this, we must find our appreciation for life where we're able to, even if that means redefining our meaning of a win. What can winning look like for you? Whether it's helping out other Veterans by volunteering, starting your own small business, or even becoming a role model of courage to the kids in your neighborhood, making a profound, positive impact is how we continue to succeed. Our service can continue after our time in uniform. Let's continue to be models of excellence in our own ways. Even starting small can put you on a path to something greater. So take the essential step: the first one.
If there's anything the past decade has taught me, life is a gift— a gift that many aren’t given for long. So let's not waste it but live the best we can.
