In this podcast episode, US Army veteran Eric Bakey shares his journey from serving in Iraq to leaving the military after six years. Discover how Eric’s artistic talents helped him find his dream career once he gained clarity on his goals and aspirations.
Summary
In this podcast episode, we hear from Eric Bakey, who enlisted in the US Army as an engineer right after high school and later served in Ramadi, Iraq. Eric discusses his deployment experience and how it fueled his ambition to join the special forces, though he ultimately did not succeed in that pursuit. At 24, he left the military after six years of service, feeling uncertain about his future.
Struggling to find direction, Eric turned to alcohol as a way to force himself to make a decision about his life. He recounts the transformative moment when a Master Sergeant called him and urged him to sign up for a program called Helmets to Hardhats, which put him on a new career trajectory. After working in the elevator industry, Eric discovered his artistic talents and ventured into online marketing before finally landing his dream job at Boeing as a visual practitioner.
After the interview, Gene shares a valuable business tip on sales communications.
Caricature by Eric Bakey
Episode Highlights
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01:55– 07:53 Eric’s US Army career.
07:54 – 22:10 Transitioning and the Helmets to Hardhats program.
22:11 – 26:33 Eric’s artistic abilities leads to his dream career.
26:34 – 28:46 Lessons learned and finding balance.
28:47- 32:00 Gene’s Biz Tip – Sales Communications
