YC
Jocko Willink and Mike Sarraille - Helping Veterans Transition into the Private Sector
@ Y Combinator
07/20/18
Takeaways
JW
Jocko Willink
07/20/18
@ Y Combinator
I spent twenty years in the military, and after retiring, I began teaching civilians about the leadership lessons I learned in the military, which culminated in my book 'Extreme Ownership.'
MS
Mike Sarraille
07/20/18
@ Y Combinator
I transitioned out of the military while still active, which was a challenging decision, but in retrospect, it led to creating a valuable organization for veterans.
YC
Y Combinator Cast
07/20/18
@ Y Combinator
The military does a great job of training individuals for their roles, but it fails to prepare them for transitioning into civilian jobs, often outsourcing this process to the Department of Labor.
MS
Mike Sarraille
07/20/18
@ Y Combinator
Our initiative, Overwatch, is a talent acquisition firm that focuses on matching special operations veterans with employers, ensuring we only place high performers in companies.
MS
Mike Sarraille
07/20/18
@ Y Combinator
We emphasize that no one will own your transition for you; veterans must take responsibility for their own career paths and be willing to work hard to succeed.
JW
Jocko Willink
07/20/18
@ Y Combinator
The military is the preeminent leadership training platform in the world, providing extensive resources and time to develop leaders who can handle high-stress environments.
JW
Jocko Willink
07/20/18
@ Y Combinator
We need to dispel the myths about veterans; they are not just robots but individuals with diverse skills and emotional intelligence, capable of contributing significantly in civilian roles.
MS
Mike Sarraille
07/20/18
@ Y Combinator
Hiring veterans requires understanding their leadership skills and discipline, which can often outweigh their technical skills, allowing for leniency in their qualifications.
JW
Jocko Willink
07/20/18
@ Y Combinator
The dichotomy of leadership involves balancing being too hands-on and too hands-off; effective leaders must find the right distance to maintain authority while being approachable.
MS
Mike Sarraille
07/20/18
@ Y Combinator
It's crucial for leaders to modulate their interactions based on the personalities of their team members, recognizing that different individuals require different levels of support.
MS
Mike Sarraille
07/20/18
@ Y Combinator
We are not perfect; we are flawed like every other human. We will fail, but we will learn from it so that we never make that mistake again.
MS
Mike Sarraille
07/20/18
@ Y Combinator
One of the best military units I ever worked for was Task Unit Bruiser, where I saw a level of humility that I never saw again in the military.
MS
Mike Sarraille
07/20/18
@ Y Combinator
In the military, there are many people who are far superior in skill sets than I ever had, and I'm excited to connect those talented individuals with companies that want to hire them.
MS
Mike Sarraille
07/20/18
@ Y Combinator
Decentralized command allows frontline people to make decisions based on their knowledge and experience, which is crucial for effective teamwork.
MS
Mike Sarraille
07/20/18
@ Y Combinator
The biggest hindrance to decentralized command is ego; leaders must be willing to listen to their subordinates and empower them to take ownership of their plans.
MS
Mike Sarraille
07/20/18
@ Y Combinator
If you create a culture where even the new guy's opinion matters, you set up a culture for success.
MS
Mike Sarraille
07/20/18
@ Y Combinator
The culture of a company is shaped by both macro and micro interactions; leaders must be consistent in their behavior at all levels to create a cohesive culture.
MS
Mike Sarraille
07/20/18
@ Y Combinator
The Muster is a two-day leadership event designed to help people become better leaders, and it has been successful in various locations, including San Diego and New York.
MS
Mike Sarraille
07/20/18
@ Y Combinator
Every problem that companies face is a leadership problem; if you can identify that, you can take control and lead effectively.
MS
Mike Sarraille
07/20/18
@ Y Combinator
At the Muster, we engage with the audience, providing leadership training and fostering a community of individuals who want to improve and succeed together.