Wednesday, 22 January 2025 Issue#015

It seems that 2025 is shaping up to be a year of change. Already we have seen a change in administrations, snow in Florida, and TikTok go dark and then come back. Here at Honor & Purpose we are changing things up a bit as well. Since launch there have been premium options available. After further review and feedback we decided to eliminate the premium tier and open up many of those resources to everyone. That’s right, members will have access to the newsletter, archives, digital resources, and the community for free! There will be just one version of the newsletter going forward and you can check out the other things we offer over at the Honor & Purpose website and social sites (links at bottom).

Maybe that few hours without TikTok was enough to break your scrolling habit and spend more time here 🙂

This week is packed with a variety of topics, but after some reflection on my own transition I wanted to share the top 5 things that took the most getting used to after 28 years in the military.

My Top 5 Biggest Adjustments

Importance of Deliberate Networking

• I spent too much time having unfocused conversations that didn't yield results. Many corporate job postings at larger companies get 1000's of applicants, a network is crucial to getting pulled out of that stack!

What FSA’s and HSA’s Are

• They are ways to put money aside for health costs. A FSA is a Flexible Spending Account and a HSA is a Health Savings Account. The FSA doesn't role over at the end of the year, the HSA does and is more like a traditional savings account. Know what these and other benefits are before you start getting offers.

No Need to Give Your Boss Status Updates when on Vacation

• After years of providing my travel plans and locations to my supervisor it became a habit. In civilian environment, time off is yours and there is usually not a need to inform your boss where you are when using it.

Swiftness of Headcount Reductions (Layoffs)

• Probably my biggest adjustment. People can lose their jobs even if they are performing well. Always understood this but seeing it happen at my own company was sobering. Keep an emergency fund, have an active network, and an updated resume...consider that your "go bag" for corporate work.

Salary Variance

• The salaries of your coworkers are no longer public knowledge. In the day to day this doesn't really matter but you should know what the industry average is for your role and skillset. This will help you as you start to progress and negotiate future offers.

Transitioning? What do you think your biggest adjustments will be? Share Them Here​

Is Freelancing an Option Post Military?

No matter how long you have served, the transition out of the military will give you some sense of “freedom”. Freelancing sounds like an ideal way to really change pace and live on your terms but sometimes seems like a pipe dream.

Wait, can it really an option post military? Depending on your skillset, it can be an attractive option for sure. Many former military members have an advantage in this space since they could have access to health care benefits that other freelancers don’t get. If your retired, you’ll also have some other income coming in that can help offset the ebb and flow of freelance earnings.

If you are like me, you might have thought of freelance work as a side hustle or something you can do once you “retire, retire” to keep you busy and earn a little extra spending money. Freelancing can certainly be that, but it should also be noted that it can also be your primary income source and long term career.

First off, we should define what a freelancer is in this context. For this purpose we define freelancers as people who earn money for each job they do, usually working on short-term projects as an independent contractor. They’re not employed by one company, so they can take on work from different clients at the same time unless they’ve agreed to focus on just one project until it’s finished.

Another thing that makes freelancing attractive (aside from working from just about anywhere in the world) is that opportunities are expected to keep growing. The volume and type of freelance work continues to grow in the U.S. as do earnings. The average U.S. freelance earns $47.71/hr and works 43 hours per week. That translates to $106,679.56 a year before taxes. If that number surprised you, your not alone. In fact some skillsets, looking at you coders, can earn over $160k per year doing freelance work.

Leaving the military opens up a lot of choices for you and freelancing can be one of them. Sure, it would take some planning and time to get established, but once you get rolling it could just make your peers envious of your path.

Source: Electro IQ​

Upcoming Job Fairs

​Heroes Connect: Military to Manufacturing Virtual Engagement – Jan. 22, 2025, 3:00 – 4:00 p.m. ET​

​How to Build Your Cyber Resume for Top Cyber Jobs in 2025 – Jan. 23, 2025, 9:00 – 10:00 a.m. ET​

​G.I. Jobs Virtual Job Fair – Jan. 23, 2025, 12:00 – 4:00 p.m. ET​

​Hiring Our Heroes: Virtual Career Summit – Jan. 29, 2025, 1:00 – 4:00 p.m. ET​

Honoring a Veteran

Last week we saw the passing of an “American Treasure”, U.S. Army Veteran Bob Uecker. I grew up with Bob calling the Milwaukee Brewer games on the radio, for me he defined summer as a kid. I have many fond memories of listening to those games while fishing and camping with my Dad. We still laugh at some of his best moments, like when he tried to figure out metric conversions in Toronto to see how far it was down the lines. It was comedy gold, and about 2 innings went by before he gave up and went back to calling the game. Many know Bob from his T.V. shows, commercials and appearance in the movie series Major League, where he essentially played himself.

What many don’t know is that Bob enlisted in the Army in 1954 and continued to hone his baseball skills at Fort Leonard Wood and Fort Belvoir. He understood the importance of service even though it could have interfered with his passion. When his enlistment was up, he signed a contract with the Milwaukee Braves…how’s that for a transition. He spent a few years in the minors before breaking into the big leagues ultimately winning a World Series with the St. Louis Cardinals in 1964 as their backup catcher.

What strikes me about “Mr. Baseball” is his resilience, humility, and strong work ethic. Values that veterans can certainly understand and respect. He was a prime example of working hard, taking the opportunities in front of him and making them count. He pivoted into many “careers” going from player-to-scout-to-broadcaster-to actor. He made us laugh and I don’t think there is a baseball fan around that didn’t want to see him succeed.

While he often made light of his career as a player, if you really listened he mostly did it to elevate those around him. His humility is in stark contrast to the the endless self promotion & boasting you hear from most professional athletes today. It serves as a reminder that there is more to life than your career, that it often takes a team to accomplish goals, to not take yourself too seriously, and that we should all just be good humans. To me that is the mark of a genuine leader and mentor.

He will be missed and I doubt we will see someone like him ever again in our lifetime. So today we honor his service to our country and hopefully take a few of his lessons to heart as we move on with our own lives.

Rest in Peace Bob!