Leveraging Curveballs to Shape Future Successes
- By Wayne Waldon
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- 06 Apr, 2017
Have you ever taken a step back to look at how the chapters of your life have unfolded to-date? I recently had the privilege of being a guest at The Sentinels of Freedom Scholarship Fund Annual Gala. While at this wonderful evening, in support of an amazing organization, I found myself reflecting on previous chapters in my life: my time in the military, my injury, and ultimately, my recovery. As I journeyed down memory lane, I was once again reminded of my good fortune, and sometimes that when life throws you a curveball (baseball is starting up again and seemed like an appropriate metaphor), you need to take a step back and focus on the things you can control.
Curveball Context.
I once had the greatest job in the world, serving in the U.S. Army Infantry. But in 2007, I was injured by an IED and was sent to Walter Reed, to go through treatment and subsequent recovery. As I went through Occupational Therapy, I couldn’t help but wonder:
- What am I going to do once I’m out of the Army?
- Where am I going to live?
- Do I go back to school, or should I go back to work?
- What’s my life going to be like post-injury?
As luck would have it, I was soon introduced to Mike Conklin, the CEO of Sentinels of Freedom, whose mission is to assist severely wounded and injured post-9/11 veterans, by providing tailored support that helps them transition back into civilian life. As I spoke with Mike, my future, that once seemed so unsure to me, began to look far more manageable.
A New Mission.
Sentinels of Freedom Scholarship Recipients in attendance during the 2017 Annual Gala. Pictured (L-R) are Venol Raymond (Army veteran), Jason Church (Army veteran), Wayne Waldon (Army veteran), Paul Nawrath (Marine Corps veteran), and Michael Thompson (Navy veteran).
For the support that I received from the Sentinels of Freedom and their advocates, I will eternally be grateful. The impact they’ve had on my life, and the 292 veterans that they’ve helped to date, cannot be overstated. Since exiting from the Army in December of 2009, and receiving my MBA from Georgetown’s McDonough School of Business (while working full time for General Dynamics IT), I was constantly reminded that all of us struggle and that sacrifices must be made. Ultimately, it was the knowledge and skills gained through these life experiences that gave me the confidence to take the next step in my professional career.
In 2014, I decided to take a leap of faith with a colleague and friend, Selah Rhodes. We decided that with a passion for developing solutions and a vision of creating something bigger than ourselves, we’d start a business, which is now known as Reveille Group. Together we continue to look forward to each day that we spend growing our organization, one that fosters the same type of comradery and culture that make for high-performing teams in our nation’s military. An organization that leads to genuine relationships with our clients, as we work with them in achieving their goals.
Lessons Learned.
Here are four valuable lessons from my recovery and transition back into civilian life that have taught me how to succeed in business.
1. It takes a team. The Army is all about service leadership. But what does that actually mean? To put it simply, even though you may be in a position of “authority”, your responsibility is to those you have been entrusted with leading. From this perspective, you quickly realize that individual accomplishments pale in comparison to team achievements.
2. Be present. Live in the moment. As cliché as it sounds, I now realize how much stress and frustration were a result of not being mindful of this. Having clarity of purpose, or in other words, being fully engaged is essential to even routine, daily activities, because committing your attention to the task at hand will lead to enhanced results.
3. Assess the situation. Before making any major decision, have a clear understanding of the current situation and potential outcomes. Conduct your due diligence, ask the right questions, and understand the complexities of the situation. This process can take minutes, days, or even months; and though we’re often driven to “quickly fix” the problem, exercising discipline/patience on the front end will result in a superior outcome down the road.
4. Take (calculated) chances. Perhaps my own personal viewpoint, but life is more fun if (and when) you do. I’m fortunate to be here today and my experiences to-date have only reinforced my belief that one of the most egregious disservices one can give themselves is living with the “what if…” or “I wish …”. Whatever the outcome, have the courage to pursue something and learn from the experience.
Taking One Step Back to Take Two Forward.
As I take a step back to reflect on the progress we’ve made to date, I’m excited for what the future holds for Reveille Group and look forward to facing the challenges (and curveballs) that may lie ahead for us. I look forward to bringing everything full circle as I begin another life transition - from Sentinels of Freedom Scholarship recipient to one day serving as a contributor and continued supporter.
In closing – eternal thanks always to the men I served with overseas and love to my family.
I continue to be excited about my “new” family, Reveille Group, and where this next inning will take us.
Wishing all the best of fortune,
Wayne