Lessons In Military Leadership for Entrepreneurs: An Army Wife’s Perspective

ByMichelle Garrett

Sometimes your lessons in entrepreneurship come from the most unsuspecting sources.

I was first drawn to his quiet command. A man of very little words, a smile that started in his eyes and slow to reach his lips. When he spoke, it was concise and to the point. He was a watcher. I noticed him watching me (but he’ll swear that I was watching him first) and gave a slight smile and “Hello” (as all polite Southern girls do, right?) and continued enjoying myself with friends at the Texas barbecue I was co-hosting.

Ft. Hood, Texas – 2002. The year my world completely shifted.

Four years later I became that quiet watcher’s happily ever after and throughout his years of service I have continued to watch and learn from one of the strongest, bravest men I know. Even though his years of active duty service are over, there are some characteristics and habits someone that’s served their country never lets go. Characteristics, habits and life lessons we can all learn and grow from and apply to our personal and professional lives.

Lessons In Military Leadership for Entrepreneurs An Army Wife's Perspective

As I focus on shifting my entrepreneurial journey, the opportunity to read 8 Lessons In Military Leadership for Entrepreneurs truly piqued my interest. Written by Robert Kiyosaki, author of Rich Dad, Poor Dad, 8 Lessons in Military Leadership for Entrepreneurs is his newest book and draws from his years at the Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point and his service in the United Sates Marine Corps. With compelling stories and examples and a engaging way of comparing and contrasting two very different cultures and value systems, Robert shares the challenges he faced in transitioning to civilian life where chain of command and team-over-self—once so black and white—were muddy and distorted. “Permission to speak freely, sir?” Count on it. This is Robert Kiyosaki—and he does just that, in the forthright and no-nonsense style that readers have come to expect and appreciate.

From Robert’s perspective, military training shapes lives and supports entrepreneurship. The training, discipline, and leadership skills taught in the military can be leveraged for huge success in the civilian world of business.

 Highlights of 8 Lessons in Leadership include sections on

  • Mission and Team
  • Discipline
  • Respect
  • Authority
  • Speed
  • the Power of Connectivity
  • Leaders as Teachers
  • Sales and Leadership

Internal Versus External Leadership: Embracing The Culture

I’ve struggled with delegating and building a team to assist with Divas With A Purpose. One of the primary areas of concerns is that not everyone “gets it”. My business is not just a business to me. It is a part of my legacy – it is something my family is vested in. My children speak about the roles they will hold when they are older. With that being said, I am very hands on and dedicated. Of course, I do not expect others to put in the hours I do, but that expectation of being vested to our core values and mission is there.

In the military, a culture of leadership begins when a new recruit enters boot camp, or a future officer enters officer candidate school or a service academy. The military culture is infused into each person, morning and night, whether an enlisted man or woman or an officer candidate. ~
excerpt from 8 Lessons In Military Leadership for Entrepreneurs

While morning and night infusion within your company, your vision, your passion is not possible for new hires, as an entrepreneur that employs others I have learned to look within the circle of the Divas With A Purpose community for assistance. I had to remind myself of the initial vision of Divas With A Purpose – to create a community of women that used their skills and talents to encourage, empower and equip others personally and professionally. To build that community, I had to look within that community.

My husband and I have had numerous conversations over the years as I have spent the majority of my career in the private sector. It boggles his mind the circles and hoops I have to go through when it comes to progressive discipline or the lack of accountability for knowing the history and culture of the company that one works for. Because of him, I found myself being more in tune to the “whys” and “becauses” of the values of the company I worked for. By being a part of their team, I had an accountability for learning about my players and upper leadership. I strived to instill that same mentality in others that were a part of my immediate team and could see a difference in their work ethic and follow-through.

Insight and A Giveaway

8 Lessons In Military Leadership for Entrepreneurs is a book that entrepreneurs and those striving to be entrepreneurs can read and relate to – whether or not they have military ties. It is full of easy to read sections, insights, charts, graphs and ACTION steps. This book would best serve someone that is willing and able to read, reflect and respond to the lessons shared.

I read this with my husband and I could see him shaking his head in agreement and having some “ah-ha” moments. It was interesting to discuss and debate the different lessons and how they applied to our specific entrepreneurial endeavors. As I read through it, it gave me some very valuable insight into much of what he had been saying through the years.

Thanks to Rich Dad I am able to giveaway one paperback copy of 8 Lessons In Military Leadership for Entrepreneurs to a Divas With A Purpose reader. You can, also, click here to get additional details on the book.

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