#58: Adam Carr — How Warriors Find Peace with Vulnerability and Community

March 02, 2021 by Cal Walters in Intentional Living, Leadership

Today's episode is very special.  According to the Department of Veteran's Affair, 20 veterans a day commit suicide.  Mental health doesn't just affect veterans.  It is an epidemic, and my guest today, Adam Carr, has dedicated his life to helping returning warriors find a better path.  Adam is the Executive Director of Save a Warrior.  Save A Warrior is an original, Warrior-led, well-grounded and timeless journey for active duty military, returning veterans and first responders who feel desperately alone.

This episode is brought to you by HigherEchelon, Inc. HigherEchelon is a leadership development & organizational performance consulting firm providing human capital and technology services to optimize performance. HigherEchelon can help prepare your organization to meet the rapidly changing, complex and often ambiguous requirements of today’s world by developing Resilient and Adaptive leaders, modernizing and enhancing processes, and implementing transformational technology solutions. Visit HigherEchelon.com to connect with the amazing team at Higher Echelon and learn more about how they can help you and your team.

Save A Warrior is an original, Warrior-led, well-grounded and timeless journey for active duty military, returning veterans and first responders who feel desperately alone. Give them a week and you will change the way you see - and live - your life.

They provide counseling services in the fields of mental health and wellness, suicide prevention and post-traumatic stress to veterans, military personnel, police, firefighters and other first responders. Their program is an alternative, warrior-led, holistic service that equips veterans, military personnel, police, firefighters and other first responders with a community of support and effective techniques to overcome the symptoms associated with post-traumatic stress and suicidal ideations.

Today, I’m honored to bring you my interview with the Executive Director of Save a Warrior, Adam Carr. Adam (Cohort 035) has over 12 years of service in the U.S. Army. As a Special Forces Green Beret, Adam hunted Al Qaeda operatives, developed intelligence networks, conducted diplomatic relations, and briefed Ambassadors and Generals on Geopolitical environments. In 2006, Adam earned his B.A. in Security and Intelligence from The Ohio State University. He spent the next eight years deploying to Asia, including Operation Enduring Freedom - The Philippines and Operation Enduring Freedom - Afghanistan. Adam's passion comes from a deep-rooted desire to serve others and save lives.

Adam has been profoundly affected over the loss of his teammates, mentors, and close friends to suicide. He currently speaks to students, corporations, and a wide variety of audiences all over the country. He has over 20 years of leadership and managerial experience and is a Business Coach for MBA Students at The Ohio State University. Adam is a graduate of the Ignite Program at Stanford Graduate School of Business. Adam earned his MBA at The Ohio State University's Fisher College of Business and was selected as the Most Outstanding Student of his 2019 MBA Cohort. Adam is also the Co-Founder of the Western Zen, an organization providing leadership services to the private sector. Adam lives in Dublin, OH with his wife Tarah and their three children, Noah, Jonah, and Norah.

On this episode, we dive into Adam’s story of struggle after transitioning out of the military and how he came to discover Save a Warrior. We talk about the transformative approach Adam and his team take to change the lives of warriors and first responders through their retreats and pull out some of the practical tools that all of us can use to become more resilient and healthy leaders. We also discuss the power of vulnerability and community.

Since 1979, 263,000 veteran suicides have occurred, which totals more than the lives lost in World War I, the Korean War and the Vietnam War combined. In add...

FROM SAW FOUNDER RONALD "JAKE" CLARK

In April of 2012, when my father was still alive, I shared with him an idea for solving the epidemic of Veteran suicide, an idea to connect with those who had lost all hope; an idea he admitted was novel and inspiring; an idea whose time had come. After listening to all of his fatherly concerns, after overcoming his objections as to why I shouldn't commit my life to this cause, the Vietnam era Marine said to me,

"YOU KNOW, IF YOU *JUST SAVE ONE**… IT WILL ALL BE WORTH IT*"

His words were music to my ears. Save A Warrior™ was born. Although the challenge is daunting, my dad was right. They are worth it.

EVERY. SINGLE. ONE.

Since that conversation of "just saving one," hundreds now share how Save A Warrior™ saved their life. Just Save One™ is ideal for gifting something truly meaningful to someone who has already given so much for others: their LIFE! You can give them back their life !!!

Through Just Save One™, you can provide a scholarship for ONE Warrior's life-changing experience. Your tax deductible contribution includes an opportunity to connect with the life you touch, to learn firsthand the difference you made for them and their family. Only your generosity will provide the difference; perhaps a lifesaving difference.

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#57: Scotty Smiley — Hope Unseen

February 15, 2021 by Cal Walters in Intentional Living, Leadership

The definition of hope is "to expect with confidence," but what do you do when you've lost confidence in everything? When you've watched your dreams go up in smoke? When you feel isolated from those you love and you start to question the God you've built your life around?

The definition of hope is “to expect with confidence,” but what do you do when you’ve lost confidence in everything? When you’ve watched your dreams go up in smoke? When you feel isolated from those you love and you start to question the God you’ve built your life around?

How do you find confidence when all the things you had confidence in lay shattered all around you?

Blindness became Major Scotty Smiley’s journey of supreme testing. As he lay helpless in the hospital, he resented the theft of his dreams—becoming a CEO, a Delta Force operator, or a four-star general. With his wife Tiffany’s love and the support of his family and friends, Scotty’s response became God’s transforming moment.

Scotty Smiley is from from Pasco, a small city in Washington State. After high school he attended the United States Military Academy in West Point, New York. After four great years, he graduated and moved to Fort Benning, Georgia and attended Infantry Officer Basic Course and Ranger School. Soon after he moved to Fort Lewis, Washington where he led a 45 man Platoon.

In 2005 while leading his Platoon in Mosul, Iraq, Scotty found himself in front of a suicide car bomb. After the man blew himself up, shrapnel blew through Scotty’s eyes leaving him blinded and temporarily paralyzed, he woke up in Walter Reed Army Medical Center a week later. Though questioning his faith, Scotty made a decision to forgive and rebuild his life and continue to serve in the Army, becoming the first blind active-duty officer in military history.

The Army Times named Scotty “Soldier of the Year” in 2007 and in 2008 he won an ESPY as the world’s Best Outdoor Athlete. After receiving a Master of Business Administration from Duke University, Scotty taught the core course in leadership at West Point and then commanded the Warrior Transition Unit at West Point’s Keller Army Medical Center. Scotty is a recipient of the Army’s prestigious MacArthur Leadership Award and holds an honorary PhD from Mount Saint Mary College in Newburgh, NY. In 2010, Scotty received a Father of the Year award in New York and in 2011 received the Christopher Award for all he has given and continues to give.

Since then, Scotty attended the Maneuver Captain Career Course in Fort Benning, Georgia, and then moved to Spokane, Washington where he held a position with the Gonzaga University ROTC Department, teaching and mentoring America’s future leaders.

After many years of service, Scotty retired from the military in 2015. Over his military career Major (Retired) Smiley received a Bronze Star and Purple Heart; Combat Infantry Badge, Ranger Tab, Airborne Wings and Combat Diver Qualification Badge.

He currently works with the capital markets department at Drexel Hamilton out of New York as an investment banker for corporations and banks around the world.

With a passion for using his story to build hope in this world, Scotty authored Hope Unseen in 2010 and now travels all over the country speaking and sharing his message of perseverance, courage and hope.

He is an avid adventurer and has completed the Coeur d’Alene Iron Man, climbed Mt Rainer, gone skydiving, surfing and is always looking for his next chance to try something new.

Scotty is married to his high school sweetheart, Tiffany and the couple lives in Spokane and are the proud parents of Grady Douglas, Graham Elliott, and Baylor Scott.

Tiffany and Scotty are an amazing team, committed to making the world better. Through More Than Me, Tiffany does incredible work with woman all over the world. You can also learn more about Tiffany and her work at TiffanySmiley.com

On this episode, we barely scratch the surface into Scotty’s amazing story of resilience, perseverance, and courage. I highly recommend the book Scotty wrote with Doug Crandall. Below is the link to the book:

Hope Unseen: The Story of the U.S. Army's First Blind Active-Duty Officer

By Smiley, Cap. Scotty

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#56: Trudy Bourgeois — Overcome Self-Doubt and Create Inclusive Teams

February 02, 2021 by Cal Walters in Intentional Living, Leadership

Trudy Bourgeois is one of America's leading experts on transformational leadership and a highly regarded leader in the field of leadership and diversity and inclusion. An expert at developing managers and leaders on how to unleash the greatest potential of every employee, Bourgeois is a highly sought-out resource. She is the founder and CEO of the Center for Workforce Excellence and has been leading the organization for nearly two decades.

Dollars and Sense Magazine honored Bourgeois as one of the "Best and Brightest Women Leaders”. In her various roles as author, speaker, teacher and researcher, Bourgeois continues to utilize her superb management and interpersonal skills. Known as the “truth teller”, Bourgeois has a rare ability to tackle very difficult subjects such as race and bias without triggering negative emotions. She operates from a principle that “everyone has something to learn” on the journey to accepting each other across differences and building workplaces that are truly inclusive.

Trudy has authored four leadership books, HER CORNER OFFICE: A Guide to Help Women Find a Place and a Voice in Corporate America and Her Corner Office (2nd Edition) and THE HYBRID LEADER: Blending the Best of Male and Female Leadership Styles, and has just released her latest book entitled, EQUALITY: Courageous Conversations About Women, Men, and Race To Spark a Diversity and Inclusion Breakthrough available now. She has also written numerous articles and white papers, and she contributes regularly to educational materials for corporations, associations and trade groups. She is a frequent Huffington Post blogger.

Trudy serves on a CEO Roundtable Board in Europe in the Consumer Package Goods industry as an advisor to drive gender equality over the next decade in conjunction with the nonprofit group- LEAD. Trudy is also on the board of advisors of two nonprofit organizations - Women of Color in Pharma and Conscious Capitalism. These organizations are focused on closing the gender and representation gaps. She also serves on the Advisory Board for Conscious Capitalism. Trudy has served as an advisor to the creation of multiple studies produced by CTI including the “Being Black in Corporate America: An Intersectional Exploration” research study.

She is the consultant of record to design the 2020 Executive Leadership Council’s Game Changer Conference and advancing Black leaders initiative. In 2016 The Network of Executive Women honored Bourgeois for her tireless efforts in advancing women’s leadership in the consumer goods, retail and service industries. She will be married to her husband (Mike) for 40 years this year and is the mother of Adam and MaryEllen. The family embraced Ryan Brence, featured on Episode 20, as their son in law in 2017. MaryEllen and Ryan blessed the family on March 8 with the birth of Grace Elizabeth Brence. Trudy resides in Prosper Texas.

During this conversation, we discuss what life was like for her as an elementary school student in Alabama during school integration, how she overcomes self-doubt, the importance of affirmations, how she started the Center for Workforce Excellence, coaching, leadership, how to create a diverse and inclusive team, and much more.

Her Corner Office: A Guide to Help Women Find a Place and a Voice in Corporate America, 2nd Edition

By Bourgeois, Trudy

The Hybrid Leader: Blending the Best of the Male & Female Leadership Styles

By Bourgeois, Trudy

Equality: Courageous Conversations About Women, Men, and Race to Spark a Diversity and Inclusion Breakthrough

By Bourgeois, Trudy

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#55: Gen (Ret.) David Petraeus — Get Results and Win as a Team

January 17, 2021 by Cal Walters in Leadership, Intentional Living

General (Ret.) David H. Petraeus served over 37 years in the U.S. military, culminating his career with six consecutive commands, five of which were in combat, including command of the Surge in Iraq, command of U.S.

General (US Army, Ret.) David H. Petraeus is a Partner and Chairman of the KKR Global Institute, which he established in May 2013. He is also a member of the boards of directors of Optiv and FirstStream, a venture investor in more than 15 startups, and engaged in a variety of academic endeavors. Prior to joining KKR, General Petraeus served over 37 years in the U.S. military, culminating his career with six consecutive commands, five of which were in combat, including command of the Surge in Iraq, command of U.S. Central Command, and command of coalition forces in Afghanistan.

Following retirement from the military and after Senate confirmation by a vote of 94-0, he served as Director of the CIA during a period of significant achievements in the global war on terror, the establishment of important Agency digital initiatives, and significant investments in the Agency’s most important asset, its human capital.

General Petraeus graduated with distinction from the U.S. Military Academy, and he is the only person in Army history to be the top graduate of both the demanding U.S. Army Ranger School and the U.S. Army’s Command and General Staff College. He also earned a Ph.D. from Princeton University’s School of Public and International Affairs.

General Petraeus taught international relations and economics at the U.S. Military Academy in the mid-1980s, he was a Visiting Professor of Public Policy at the Honors College of the City University of New York from 2013 through 2016, and he was for 6 years a Judge Widney Professor at the University of Southern California and a Senior Fellow at Harvard University’s Belfer Center. He is currently a Visiting Fellow at Yale University’s Jackson Institute, Co-Chairman of the Global Advisory Council of the Woodrow Wilson Center for International Scholars, Senior Vice President of the Royal United Services Institute, and a Member of the Trilateral Commission, as well as a member of the boards of the Atlantic Council, the Institute for the Study of War, and over a dozen veterans service organizations.

Over the past 15 years, General Petraeus was named one of America’s 25 Best Leaders by U.S. News and World Report, a runner-up for Time magazine’s Person of the Year, the Daily Telegraph man of the year, a Time 100 selectee, Princeton University’s Madison Medalist, and one of Foreign Policy magazine’s top 100 public intellectuals in three different years. General Petraeus has earned numerous honors, awards, and decorations, including four Defense Distinguished Service Medals, the Bronze Star Medal for Valor, two NATO Meritorious Service Medals, the Combat Action Badge, the Ranger Tab, and Master Parachutist and Air Assault Badges. He has also been decorated by 13 foreign countries and is believed to be the only person who, while in uniform, threw out the first pitch of a World Series game and did the coin toss for a Super Bowl.

On this episode, General Petraeus was very kind to let me explore what life was like for him growing up and how his parents shaped him. We also discuss how he met his wife, what it’s like to be a grandparent, his time at West Point, Ranger School, his impressions of President Bush, President Obama, and President-elect Biden, the role of mentors in his life, and much more.

In this interview, General Petraeus discusses the importance of “getting the big ideas right,” one of the four tasks of strategic leadership. For more of General Petraeus’s views on strategic leadership, visit the Belfer Center at Harvard Kennedy School.

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#54: Dr. Joe Ross — The Four D's of Goal Setting

January 04, 2021 by Cal Walters in Intentional Living

Today, I'm super pumped to bring you an interview on goal setting I did with the first person to ever introduce me to the concept of high performance at West Point, Dr. Joe Ross (Retired, US Army). Joe has a Ph.D.

Today, I’m super pumped to bring you an interview I did with the first person to ever introduce me to the concept of high performance at West Point, Dr. Joe Ross (Retired, US Army). Joe has a Ph.D. in Industrial and Organizational Psychology from Walden University and a Masters of Education in Psychology and Athletic Counseling from Springfield College.

Dr. Ross is also a 1995 West Point graduate, where he was a three-year letter winner and co-captain of the 1994 Army Football team. As an Infantry Officer, Joe led 144 soldiers from the 101st Airborne Division and deployed to Kosovo in 2001. The Secretary of the Army commended Joe’s unit for capturing two insurgents on the Central Intelligence Agency’s (CIA) top ten most wanted list and bringing the Serbian and Albanian leadership together to start a dialogue of reconciliation. Joe also managed all logistics for over 1,000 personnel, directed human resources for over 4,000 personnel, and helped write the Soldier’s Creed.

In 2009, Joe joined the Army Football coaching staff as the Special Teams and Fullback Coach, where he helped lead Army Football to the 2010 Armed Forces Bowl victory. At West Point, Joe also served as the Director of the Military Enhancement Program and was asked to collaborate on a Presidential committee to review and design procedures for wounded warriors in transition.

Joe is now the President and Co-Founder of HigherEchelon, Inc., an Organizational Performance consulting firm with offerings in leadership, technology, and engineering to both public and private sector clients. Joe has consulted with Fortune 100 companies, college and professional sports teams, top tier Universities, the Department of Veterans Affairs, and the Department of Defense. Joe led the creation of Higher Echelon’s flagship program, The Resilient and Adaptable Leader ©.

Dr. Ross and HigherEchelon’s success leading government and commercial programs has been recognized numerous times by industry. In 2019, HigherEchelon was named Contractor of the Year at the Madison County Small Business Awards and won the Program of the Year award at the D.C. GovCon award ceremony for their work piloting the VA Women’s Health Program, which was recently expanded by Congress.

Since 2012, Joe has also been the lead consultant for Army Game Studio in developing GoArmy Edge, a free software application adapted to help football athletes learn their team’s playbooks, make proper reads and play calls, and mentally practice their assignments in a virtual environment before taking the field. GoArmy Edge takes virtual coaching, simulation and training to a new level through unprecedented detail and customization, helping improve football team performance through more effective and safer player practice capabilities.

Additionally, Dr. Ross leads numerous government programs including the General and Flag Officer Transition courses for the Army and Navy, and a cognitive training pilot for the TSA.

On this interview, we discuss Joe’s influences growing up, his tips for high performance, having a mental edge, his keys to leadership, leading through change, transition advice he gives to military generals and flag officers, and many other exciting topics.

You can follow, or connect with, Joe on LinkedIn here.

Find out more about HigherEchelon at their website or on LinkedIn.

If you’d like to begin the work of goal setting as outlined by Dr. Ross on this episode, click on the button below to access the goal setting tool by HigherEchelon.

Goal Setting Tool

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FROM SAW FOUNDER RONALD "JAKE" CLARK

"YOU KNOW, IF YOU JUST SAVE ONE… IT WILL ALL BE WORTH IT"

EVERY. SINGLE. ONE.

Listen to some of our most popular episodes here!

"YOU KNOW, IF YOU *JUST SAVE ONE**… IT WILL ALL BE WORTH IT*"