How Identity Has Influenced an Independent Strategy and Leadership Consultant's Career

That's another good question, because the Marine Corps has given me specific and unique skills that sort of separate me from others. The military is a highly disciplined machine, and they teach you leadership, bringing the best out of you.

That's the goal, and they do that in various ways through boot camp and leadership course training. They really push your limits on what you can achieve. I specifically joined the Marine Corps, and thank you to all the veterans out there for your service.

The Marine Corps pushes you a little bit further. Through boot camp and my experiences in combat, I was able to achieve things I never thought I would. I experienced things that, when I listen to myself repeat these stories, I don't even recognize. I never thought I'd be in those situations, and I never would have wanted to be.

But because I've gone through them, it showed me what I was capable of and pushed my boundaries. This brings confidence. Then, we talked about networking. That is a brotherhood unlike any other. If I encounter two strangers and one of them is a Marine, he's instantly my brother.

There's a connection there. I know what you've been through, and I know your morals and your code. Once a Marine, always a Marine. So, I'm a Marine first, and I keep to that code: honor, courage, and commitment.

I put that into everything I do, whether it be in my career, my family, or my friends. That is my moral fiber, and it was given to me through the Corps. There's one thing I want to read here real quick from the Marine Corps site that gives you the mindset.

"We have an incoming willingness to fight and an unflattering focus on victory, focusing on bearing, courage, decisiveness, dependability, endurance, enthusiasm, initiative, integrity, judgment, justice, knowledge, loyalty, tact, and unselfishness." These are things that are to my core and have helped me succeed in the position I'm in today.