Leader Transition Institute

As we gather with loved ones and reflect on the year, Thanksgiving is a powerful reminder of the blessings we enjoy and the opportunities we’ve been given to make a difference. At the Leader Transition Institute, we’re especially thankful for you—our community of leaders, supporters, and advocates who inspire and energize our mission every day. This year, we’ll have the honor of leading ten cohorts of service members, veterans, and military spouses as they participated in Changing Focus: Moving From We to Me. The cohorts' success are a testament to the incredible teamwork and collaboration that make them possible. We are thankful for the dedicated people - Matt Sivacek, Brunilda (Brunnie) Garcia, MBA, MSS, and Jose Velazquez Jr., along with our Board - who work alongside Annie S. Brock. Our team shares a common goal: to ensure that every service member, veteran and military spouse, regardless of their era, feels valued and supported as they make dramatic changes in their lives. To our military community and those navigating life’s transitions: your resilience and dedication remind us of the strength that comes from embracing change. You trust us with one of your most valuable resources...your time. We are honored by your trust and respect the hard work you take on as you move into the civilian sector, the next phase of your lives. To our nonprofit partners: your commitment to serving others embodies the spirit of Thanksgiving. And to all who support our work: thank you for believing in the power of transformation. Today, we pause to celebrate the connections that sustain us and the shared vision that drives us forward. From all of us at LTI, we wish you a Thanksgiving filled with joy, reflection, and an abundance of gratitude. What are you most grateful for this season? Let’s keep the spirit of Thanksgiving alive by sharing in the comments below. ?? #Thanksgiving #Gratitude #Leadership #LifeTransitions #zigszagsandpivots

The easiest path to forgiving big things is by routinely forgiving small things. It takes practice. Practicing the art of forgiveness in everyday life makes it easier to draw on those experiences when you need to forgive bigger offenses. People who have an easier time forgiving others have a few things in common:? -They see life as fallible, and everyone takes missteps. -They see people as generally good rather than bad. -They understand that their perceptions play into whether or not they feel offended. -They don’t sweat the small stuff. -They don’t expect perfection. -They are not highly sensitive people. People who find it easy to forgive have a corner on the happiness market because they use their underlying morals and values to move throughout their day, thinking about the bigger picture and reasons that annoying things happen. They can offer forgiveness inwardly and outwardly and move on. Here are some ways to offer forgiveness and adopt an emotionally more mature mindset each day:? Forgive poor service. When you are treated poorly by waitstaff or a store clerk, consider what might be driving their negativity. Having a heart for facts that you may never know can make it easier to forgive poor behavior and model kindness and grace in the face of a bad experience. Instead of assuming the clerk is a disconnected jerk, imagine they are working overtime and have been berated by many customers. Forgive rude gestures. If someone cuts you off in traffic, takes your parking space, or gives you a smug look - forgive them. Try not to take things personally or believe that they are getting away with something. The sooner you can let it go, the sooner you can replace the adrenaline rush of anger with a better-suited emotion for your day. Being able to cast your care and forgive the rudeness frees you up for a better mood. Forgive mistakes. Mistakes happen as a fact of life. You make them, too. Berating someone for a blunder only rubs their nose in it and puts them on the defensive. To the best of your ability, forgive mistakes quickly and appreciate any gestures made to put things right. Allowing grace and a chance to do the right thing should always wipe away the sting of a mistake. Learning to let go of the righteous anger or sadness that comes from being offended does you a world of good. Forgiving and forgetting the little irritations is perfect practice for moving on from big hurts and disappointments. #zigszagsandpivots #thegrowthzoneplus #leadertransitioninstitute

Relationships matter in leadership. Great leaders don’t just manage—they relate. Developing meaningful relationships with those you lead is the cornerstone of trust, collaboration, and success. Join us for an insightful pre-recorded discussion between Cheri Mason and Annie S. Brock as they explore why leaders must prioritize building authentic connections with their teams. This conversation will dive into: ? The impact of relationships on team performance ? How leaders can foster trust and engagement ? Practical tips for relating to people at all levels ?? November 26th, 12:00 PM ET Don’t miss this opportunity to learn how strong relationships can transform your leadership style. Let’s redefine what it means to lead. #military #veterans #militaryspouses #leadership #leadershipdevelopment #zigszagsandpivots

Patience is one of the greatest tools we can use to balance our emotional health. But do we use it? During this time of the year when we're all moving a hundred miles an hour at work, getting things ready for Thanksgiving, thinking about whatever holidays you might celebrate in December, it can be completely overwhelming. But if you learn to add a little "Patience" to your activities, wow, it changes everything. On this week's "The Growth Zone," Annie S. Brock and Jose Velazquez Jr. share some ideas on how you can add patience to your everyday activities to make your holidays go just a little easier. Join us this Thursday the 21st at noon. It doesn't matter where you are, if you can reach LinkedIn, you can listen in on any platform. We'd love for you to join us as we share ideas and hopefully get some ideas from you as well. #zigszagsandpivots #thegrowthzone #leadertransitioninstitute #lti

Three tips to effectively offer forgiveness. Forgiveness may not be second nature. With practice, it's possible. If you’re ready to let go and move on from blame to freedom, some tips will make the journey easier. Being able to share the impact that the situation has had on you and ask questions that bring closure and clarity is very healing. Share the impact. A key component for forgiveness is sharing the impact that the situation has had on you. Holding onto your innermost feelings without sharing them isn’t healing. Sharing the truth about how the situation impacts you is critical to letting go and being able to move on. You have the right to share how you feel, but do your best to use language that isn’t cruel or shaming. Being able to state your feelings maturely will go miles towards restoration and offering grace in a difficult time. Sometimes, hearing the impact that actions have had while withholding blame and judgment can allow someone to change from the inside out. Ask questions. After you share your thoughts and forgiveness is on the table, ask any questions that come to mind. Sometimes, being able to clarify can add to the healing. Many misunderstandings are resolved when details are shared. Sometimes, relationships can grow more profound and more connected after conversations explore deeper into what happened, and forgiveness comes.? Find compassion. Compassion is the common ground that allows forgiveness to grow in difficult soil. One of the easiest ways to find compassion is to think of a time when you needed forgiveness as well. Recalling times when we messed up or blundered can make offering forgiveness easier. Depending on how deep the cut is, leaning on our own humanness can make offering forgiveness easier. If forgiving and forgetting are new to you, then you’ll benefit from these practical tips to effectively offer forgiveness - but what happens when you can’t get the resolutions suggested in these tips? Perhaps someone has died, and you can’t share the impact or ask questions. Maybe the relationship isn’t healthy enough or safe enough for you to have a conversation. You can still go through the motions. Try meeting with a counselor or trusted friend and role-play the situation. Offering forgiveness may be new for you, but it is possible - even in the worst of situations. These helpful tips will make it easier to start the process and get the closure you deserve. #zigszagsandpivots #thegrowthzoneplus #leadertransitioninstitute

Registration for the December "Changing Focus; Moving from We to Me" cohort closes TODAY. This military transition course is like no other. If you're a transitioning service member, a military spouse, or a veteran of any era or discharge type, we are here to walk beside you in your transition. There's so much more to transition than just getting a job. We give you the tools and expert guidance to figure out who you are outside the uniform, discover what you truly want to do, and tactics on finding happiness. Along the way, we share proven financial strategies for you, play with Legos (you heard that right), and provide a strong foundation on which to stand on as you take that very next step into your new life. It starts with a couple of hours the evening of a Thursday, a full day Friday and Saturday, and a half day on Sunday. A very small time investment that’ll pay off for weeks, months, and years. AND it's free. Registration for the cohort closes Today. The class runs December 5th through 8th. You have to be able to take a quick call with LTI CEO Annie S. Brock tomorrow at 3pm Eastern. It's just a quick confirmation call. You can definitely squeeze it in. You'll get the information when you register. Don't wait. Link to register is in the comments below. #zigszagsandpivots #leadertransitioninstitute #lti #veterans #milspouses

Military Spouses are the glue that holds military families together. They're more than that. They are the centerpiece of our military communities. That's why on this week's The Growth Zone, Annie S. Brock and Jose Velazquez Jr. speak Anna Larson who is the founder of "MilSpouse Transition," an innovative program supporting, educating, and bringing community to military spouses as they transition back to the civilian sector with their service member spouses. Anna will share the work she's doing leading military spouses to successful transitions into the next chapter of their lives. Join us, Thursday the 14th at 12pm eastern. #zigszagsandpivots #thegrowthzone #leadertransitioninstitute

Hey come join Jose Velazquez Jr. And Matt Sivacek as they speak with Anna Larson today at noon. Anna is a great supporter of the military community in particular military spouses. Come learn more about what she is doing in our military community. #zigszagsandpivots #militaryspouses

Is forgiving and forgetting really possible??Theoretically? Sure. In practice? This is what we think. Absolutely—with time, patience, and grace. A forgiving nature may not be a natural state of being, but it can become part of your relationship toolkit. Before we look at how to forgive, let’s look at why people don’t forgive: It feels unfair. It feels unjust to forgive someone who seemingly might be getting away with doing a very bad thing. It doesn’t match up with the idea of justice to not hold someone accountable and require restitution for their offense. It feels like your pain isn’t valid or important enough and that the offender is going to go without truly understanding the impact their actions have on you and others. It feels good. The only reason someone holds onto negative feelings is that they are getting something out of it. Holding a grudge and being hostile feels good. It feels good to know someone owes you for their transgression. It feels good to be the center of other people’s sympathies and caring inquiries. Though it’s not socially fashionable to admit it, sometimes there is a weird celebrity to being a victim. So, is forgiving and forgetting really possible? If you are ready to let go of the weight that comes from staying stuck in unfairness and victimhood, it is entirely possible to forgive.? It is possible to forgive and forget when these things come into play: You can see more than one angle to the situation. In rare cases, the families of murder victims have found it in their hearts to offer forgiveness to people who have taken their loved ones. Looking past the offense and examining the circumstances in totality, they are able to humanize the offender and find it in their hearts to forgive and, in some cases, build a relationship that transcends the situation. You can see the bigger picture. From knowing it is in your best interest physically and emotionally to knowing that it’s ultimately best for others, forgiveness can come when you see the bigger picture. This holds true in divorce. Pain can be set aside for the benefit of children or extended family; forgiveness is key to co-parenting and harmony. Your wisdom overrides your emotions. Emotions should not rule the roost. When wisdom dictates, forgiveness will happen. Wisdom sees the benefits despite the perceived loss. When wisdom nudges emotions to consider moving on, forgiveness is possible. Forgiveness is always possible when the situation's acuity dies down and the bigger picture comes into play. Give yourself time, patience, and grace, and you can find forgiveness. #zigszagsandpivots #thegrowthzoneplus #leadertransitioninstitute

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