An Amazing Journey

Not every day do you get a chance to help someone or to raise them up, but you should try.

Some of the most rewarding experiences come out of helping others, volunteering your time, and giving to a greater cause.

My life has been full of interesting turns and twists since joining the Navy right out of high school. After serving four honorable years there I decided to join the Marines and spent another seven honorable years leading and mentoring many troops. During those eleven years of growing, maturing, and becoming a leader I was able to travel the world and meet lots of great people.

Starting a life after the military took me to a state I had never been to before (Florida) and working in a different career field, information technology (IT). I enjoy working on technology, websites, leading, teaching, and inspiring people. I get to do all that in the land of sunshine and beaches.

But even in all that time, I don't think I really understood what it was to be a servant leader. Sometimes the most important lessons come out of loss, struggling, and uncertainty. That is where my life really started to change and I learned not to take things for granted.

I spent 6 years after getting out of the military finding my place, working my way up the ladder, and loving what I do. I ended up working at a place that I enjoyed. I was able to lead and inspire a small team of diverse individuals.

In one day that all changed. I realized transition never ends. Getting out of the military is never the last transition you will make.

The company I was working for had decided to outsource and go to the cloud to save money. It left a whole lot of people out in the wind. I struggled for some time to find a job in an industry that was saturated.

Then a Marine Veteran, Cheddy W. Matthews (https://www.dhirubhai.net/in/cheddymatthews/) told me about a free workshop for military Veterans that could help them network and find a job. So I went.

The Project Transition USA workshop was the start of something great for me. It is a workshop designed by Nancy Laine (https://www.dhirubhai.net/in/nancylaine/) to teach transitioning U.S. military, veterans, and their families how to use LinkedIn to create a powerful profile, to network like an expert, and to find a great new career. When I first attended I was already an established LinkedIn user but I had no idea of what it was capable of accomplishing. After applying what I had learned, making the right connections, and joining the right groups, what the workshop promised came through for me. I landed a job with a small business and became the CIO. (https://solvability.com/)

Working at a company that supports Veterans is great. It allowed me the flexibility to start giving back and show the appreciation I felt for what I had learned at the LinkedIn workshop.

I started volunteering at Project Transition USA for a cause I believe in and one that I have seen work successfully and impact my own life. I kept coming back every month to help those that ran into issues during the class. I kept networking and helping transitioning Veterans make connections in the community.

I started helping maintain the Project Transition USA website and became an advisory board member. I love helping Veterans, those transitioning or already out. It is something I am passionate about and I always want to help more!

At the day job, I was able to start a podcast called Veteran Connections (https://veteranconnections.us/) to help Veterans learn how to become entrepreneurs. That led to the creation of a Veterans Connection Day which was held annually in 2016 and 2017 to bring together transitioning Veterans with the business community and make those life-changing connections in person.

The real honor was when Nancy Laine asked me to teach the Project Transition USA workshop with her. Being a part of helping active duty transitioning Veterans getting ready for one of the biggest changes in their lives is amazing. I love teaching and inspiring them every month which I have done for the last couple years.

As this year comes to an end with Christmas just two weeks away I reflect back and it has been a remarkable experience that just keeps getting better and fills my heart with happiness.

Project Transition USA just celebrated its fifth year of teaching monthly LinkedIn Workshops for transitioning military service members and families on MacDill AFB in Tampa, FL. Additionally, there is a Project Transition USA LinkedIn group to continue helping Veterans network and make the right connections after the class is over. https://www.dhirubhai.net/groups/4842096

In 2018 we plan to help Veterans even more! We are developing a program that will allow us to offer further personalized assistance to MacDill AFB workshop attendees and I am excited to be a part of it. The more we can do to ensure the success of our transitioning Veterans the better! It is an honor to serve this worthy cause.

If you are interested in financially supporting this program please connect with Nancy Laine. https://www.dhirubhai.net/in/nancylaine/

As I mentioned transition never ends! That small company I worked for downsized and my position was cut. But yet I smile.

So again I get to apply what I have learned about LinkedIn, networking, and job searching from the Project Transition USA workshop. If you are looking for a great leader for your company reach out and talk to me.

Here is a link to an article to learn more about what I can offer a company:

https://www.dhirubhai.net/pulse/you-looking-great-talent-also-has-podcasting-expirience-pete-blum/

 About Project Transition USA: https://www.projecttransitionusa.com/

Project Transition USA is the only 501(c)(3) nonprofit that specializes in teaching transitioning U.S. military, veterans, and their families how to fully utilize LinkedIn. We are best known for teaching inspiring & entertaining LinkedIn Job Search Workshops for troops, providing personal introductions to VIPs, and managing our "Project Transition USA" group which is frequented by military-friendly hiring managers and business celebrities from all walks of life. We invite you to show your support for our troops by joining our group today!