The best hiring decision I’ve ever made:
Recruiting ex-Special Operations veterans for executive leadership roles.
(Think: Navy SEAL, Green Beret, Army Ranger, Marine Raiders, Delta Force)
I’ve done it 3 times (so far)
In August 2022, we hired a 20-year Army Ranger as the Chief Operating Officer for our 30+ store Midas franchise. He was up to speed within three months and took over my role.
In July 2024, we hired a 20-year Marine to run our back office. Now, we get accurate financials within 5 or 6 days after the month ends. The office has never been better.
In September 2024, I hired a 28-year Green Beret as my Chief of Staff. He helps multiply my time by coordinating between my businesses, investments & partners.
Each one of these guys went straight from the military to our company.
Top 1% In The World
Special Operation Forces veterans are in the top 1% in the world.
These guys got Bin Laden, rescued hostages from Somali pirates, & countless other badass missions. What makes them unique isn’t the missions; it’s how they think, plan, lead & execute.
Think – These guys know how to problem solve at the highest levels.
They find the most efficient path from A to B while considering the secondary effects.
Plan – They thoroughly plan out every mission to achieve their goal.
They brainstorm every contingency that could go wrong & plan a response for each.
Lead – These guys are world-class leaders.
They have a high level of emotional intelligence & are way more disciplined than me and you. They can read people, connect with them, and find common ground.
Execute – They live by the slogan “brilliance in the basics.”
The most decorated soldiers return from missions and retrain the basics with the newest team members. They never take for granted the importance of any skill regardless of how many times they’ve trained it.
The Unfortunate Truth
Many business owners only look to hire someone with industry experience for a leadership role — that’s conventional wisdom, right?
The truth is that every service business is in the people business, not in the auto, paint, or pizza business. We can teach someone the technical aspects of a business but can’t teach someone how to build & lead a team.
Special Operations veterans have all of the “unteachable” skills that business owners need. You just have to be willing to give them a shot.
Challenge Me
Many owners unintentionally (or intentionally) intimidate their employees. Their team is afraid to speak up or challenge any idea.
This is not the case with our SOF leadership team. They will challenge my ideas. They respectfully tell me I’m wrong.
It’s great.
I don’t care about being right. I just want to win.
I want to surround myself with people who also want to win and aren’t afraid to speak their minds. This allows the best ideas to survive.
How to Hire A Special Operator
There are a few non-profits that specialize in helping Special Operators transition to leadership roles.
Two of my three hires were through the Special Operator Transition Foundation (SOTF). I’m now on the board of advisors to help them connect with entrepreneurs.
There’s also 51 Vets and the Honor Foundation.
Cheers!
Brian
