Your Mission
To my veteran friends,
Do you remember those days during our deployments, when we would tell stories and share ambitions? Remember those things you often talked about to pursue when you get out of service? Where are you with that progress? How is that plan going? Are you pursuing it? If so, please share with us how that process is going. There are so many veterans who are just getting started with their transition and they can learn from our experiences.
If you have not started any of those plans you talked about, why haven’t you started? I want to remind you of the discipline you have. Remember how we did missions to completion? It didn’t matter how long it took, but we made sure it was complete regardless of the obstacles in the way, mainly IEDs at the time.
How have you channeled that same discipline to accomplish your life goals? With the same attitude of mission completion, nothing can stop you if you want to start a business, or going to school you want, or pursue something else that interests you. Nothing can stop you.
When you find the time, go somewhere you have space to think. Go to the park or take a walk, and just think. Think about your business or your goals and what else you want. Picture it. Imagine it. See it right in front of you. Then write it down or record it. Then start allocating time every day to that one specific goal. Yes, find the time. Even if it means waking up a few minutes early or right before you go to bed. Just take 20 minutes to write something down about your business or goal or something towards completing your goals.
There are also some of us veterans who fall victim to complacency; sometimes out of the challenges, we are faced with. But we are a multi-tasking group of people, you know this. We used to do so many different things at any given moment. You know that culture well when things changed every 45 minutes – and that’s me being modest. So, let’s learn how to multi-task our lives the way we did in the military. Let’s deal with the healing and with the challenges, and also with working toward our goals. Be fair to you by being aware. Reach out to your friends who may be successful in their areas for advice. Adapt to changes quickly and the culture around you as you pursue your goals so that you have room to make adjustments just as quickly as you did in the military.
All your dreams and goals – make those your mission. Only this time it’s a mission for your own personal development. The advantage here is that you have time to seek guidance; to tweak what is needed to continue the pursuit. You cannot stop. There is nothing to stop you. You never stopped while conducting your missions during deployment, so take that same discipline pursuing your personal future
So, stop and believe that you have what it takes and can see your goals and mission to completion. That is what has worked for me. It is a journey I started 10 years ago as I set goals to pursue a future for myself despite the medical challenges and injuries – PTSD and TBI among many other injuries. I have continued on, one step at a time. I have only competed with myself because only I knew the importance of my goals. I remind myself that the same way I got through a 16-month deployment; I will keep reminding myself that this time around. I will get through any obstacle and will not allow others’ doubts to reflect on me. Self-awareness is key. Be present. Think and believe that those dreams and goals have room to grow.
Go get started. If you need guidance as a veteran in the state of Florida, let me know and I will find your guidance. Even if not in Florida, let’s have a chat. Let’s talk about your goals and how you can go about achieving them. Be patient with yourself.
