In this week’s episode of Life After the Military, Lee and Howie interview Sergeant Major (Retired) Michael Quinn. An absolute MUST listen for transitioning veterans and their family members.
Michael is a 2X LinkedIn Top Voice who created HireMilitary, the Digital Networking Professional Program and Tenova, LLC to aid and bring value to transitioning military veterans and their families at no cost to the veterans they help.
HireMilitary is a veteran staffing company that provides the direct placement of veterans and military spouses and heavily leverages the DoD SkillBridge Program. The Digital Networking Professional Program trains and certifies individuals to leverage LinkedIn in support of personal or corporate branding, growing a network, engaging with content and leveraging their free tools. Tenova LLC is a service-disabled veteran owned small business that brings the unique quals of HireMilitary and the Digital Networking Professional Program, couples them with training, communications, and change management, to support government and commercial clients of all sizes.
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/quinnmi/
HireMilitary: https://www.hiremilitary.us/
Tenova LLC: https://www.tenovallc.com/
0:00 Lee opens the podcast
00:26 Lee introduces Michael
02:15 Michael talks how his military service shaped him
08:15 Michael describes how he prepared for and executed his transition from the military and the value of networking
11:10 Michael reflects on the three turning points in his transition that changed things significantly
12:15 Michael talks about the value of creating a profile on LinkedIn and connecting with others for advice, guidance, and mentoring
17:18 Michael describes the challenge of being comfortable with the uncomfortable and how he dealt with the discomfort of transition
20:15 Michael reinforces the importance and value of conducting informational interviews and connecting with people who are doing what you want to do
24:00 Michael talks candidly about what employers want to know about a veteran’s capabilities and experience and how it will drive business success
28:03 Michael implores transitioning veterans to figure out what they want to do and seek out mentors to help them
29:47 Michael describes how he created the vision for Tenova LLC and HireMilitary
44:00 Michael talks about entrepreneurship, the value of building trusted relationships, and the requirement for making tough business decisions
48:49 Michael provides invaluable advice about using LinkedIn to connect with others to grow and expand your professional network
54:14 Michael shares his perspective on the value of informational interviews, the need to ask questions, and the strength of building relationships
1:04:34 Lee gives Michael his book title
1:06:00 Michael talks about how he strengthens his mental fitness, candidly talks about his challenges with his transition to the private sector, and the need to stay connected
1:16:09 Lee closes out the episode
