As a member of the Leadership Lakeland Alumni Association, I was fortunate to attend a luncheon at which the guest speaker was Eric Greitens, Rhodes Scholar, Navy Seal, Iraq War veteran,, author of The Heart and The Fist, and founder of the organization “The Mission Continues.” This organization helps returning wounded warriors to find a new path, and a new direction in their lives. Mr. Greitens cited examples of vets who cannot function in the jobs they had before deployment who have beenhelped by this organization to find a new vocation.
He began his talk with the observation that while we may think we know how our life will play out, we are often thrown a curve ball and have to readjust our lives accordingly. His message resonated with me as I have often faced mid-course corrections both personally and professionally. Hasn’t everyone?
It is a fundamental in business. Isn’t flexibility a mantra for every successful entrepreneur, or for that matter, ? How often does a product have to be changed to suit the needs of its target? How often do we see products or services that were designed for one purpose find others?
When Facebook first was conceived, it was for the purposes of a single college campus. And with the stunning valuation of the Facebook IPO today, one knows that a product just for students at one college would have fetched a fraction of its multi-billion dollar price without the vision – and flexibility – of its founder.
I am grateful for people like Eric Greitens who ensure that the mission continues for those who return from war. It is always good to be reminded that life and business are constantly changing and that to be successful you have to adjust.
A portion of the proceeds from Mr. Greiten’s book describing The Heart and The Fist go to “The Mission Continues.” It is a good read and a wonderful cause.
-Karen
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In this Learning, Reading, Going section of our site the Third Wing team shares our informal thoughts, experiences, travels and ideas. We hope to stimulate conversation and reflection, inspire you when we’ve been inspired, and share an occasional laugh or bit of fun. Enjoy.
