In this episode, Brock speaks with Joe Parker. Joe is a former Army officer worked as the head of capital markets at USAA, a product manager at Amazon and now is the COO at positive some of venture stage investment fund. In this conversation, we talk about how you can lead from the front by willing to get dirty and how that drives retention and greater buy in from your employees. We talk about the business of the military and the unique challenges it faces when it comes to developing the people who run it, and why many high achievers choose to exit. We also discuss the shortcuts to finding what you're good at, whether you're the right person to change the world, and finding the jobs that align with those key features of who you are.
Episode Resources:
Positive Sum: https://www.positivesumvc.com/
Show Notes:
00:00 Episode Introduction
02:36 Joe's introduction and how the Army was and wasn't what he thought it would be
09:40 What does suffering in the dirt mean as a leader
15:10 Why timing and tenure are weighted heavier in the military
20:27 How to take Amazon's ability to find and promote great talent back to the Army
24:51 Who are the shareholders of the military and how does that drive outcomes
36:02 Measuring success both in, out, and exiting the service
41:10 Joe's desire to surround himself and work with entrepreneurial people
44:13 Identifying what we're good at in life
51:28 Getting into Venture Capital, specifically working at Positive Sum
57:32 Unpredictability in work and the world and finding obsessiveness
01:07:39 Joe's long-term goals
--
The Scuttlebutt Podcast - The podcast for service members and veterans building a life outside the military.
The Scuttlebutt Podcast features discussions on lifestyle, careers, business, and resources for service members. Show host, Brock Briggs, talks with a special guest from the community committed to helping military members build a successful life, inside and outside the service.
Follow along:
• Episode & transcript: https://www.scuttlebuttpodcast.co/71-leading-through-wild-confidence-and-low-self-esteem-with-joe-parker/
• Brock: https://www.brockbriggs.com/