Retired Lieutenant Colonel Rico Vaca epitomizes what it means to transition out of a military career in an intentional way.
Summary
In 2022, Rico celebrates ten years of business success with his consultancy practice which serves defense executives and aerospace organizations. In this episode, he shares the lessons learned in his post-military life, offering vital insights for veterans.
Episode Highlights
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00:00 Meet Rico Vaca, retired F16 fighter pilot.
01:29 A move to Congress; military service at a corporate level, and a different perspective on what it means to transition.
6:27 Being vulnerable helped to build a network
11:18 Figuring out your value proposition, discovering your unique worth in a corporate world.
12:58 The move into entrepreneurship, launching a defense sales consultancy.
13:58 Seeking business success and passive income. Opening a restaurant and the impact of a global pandemic.
17:34 Challenges and opportunities of post-military life.
19:21 The one mistake that can affect your business success.
23:49 A critical piece of advice for an Academy Cadet, average versus exceptional. 23:03 Gene’s Business Tip: Write a professional article. Articulating the depth and substance of your expertise is a key skill all veterans can learn, and a worthwhile investment in your future success.
Your Move
Show Resources: Achieving federal sales success is a huge opportunity for veterans. Learn vital strategies to secure federal funding worth millions of dollars. Order Pitching The Big Top today.
Connect with Gene on linkedin.com/in/genemoran for more useful tips and proven strategies to maximize your post-military career success.
Connect with Rico on linkedin.com/in/santiagovaca
Coming Up In Episode 4: Listen to Navy veteran and retired Rear Admiral Sinclair ‘’Sinc’’ Harris as he shares the experiences of his long military career and his sometimes difficult transition into business success.
