What Is Work For? Rethinking Your Relationship With Work After the Military

When service members transition to civilian life, one of the first questions they’re asked is, “What are you going to do next?” It sounds simple—choose a job, pick a location, maybe go back to school. But as Scott Schimmel and Joe Lara explore a recent episode of the Vector Accelerator Podcast, this question skips something critical.

Before you decide what to do, you have to understand why you work in the first place.

During a powerful series of sessions with over 500 SkillBridge veterans in partnership with AllegiantVets, Scott and Joe asked an unconventional question: What did you learn about work growing up? The answers revealed just how much our beliefs about work are shaped by upbringing, culture, and military experience—and how rarely we stop to question those beliefs before choosing a new path.

“You’ll likely miss out on making informed choices if you just fixate on the what—what industry, what title, what salary,” Scott says. “You need to zoom out and understand your beliefs about work first.”

The Scripts We Inherit

Joe reflected on how his own beliefs about work were formed by his upbringing. Raised in a working-class family, he absorbed a strong ethic from watching his parents hustle—his dad working multiple jobs, his mom keeping the house running.

“It was a constant cycle of busyness,” Joe shared. “I didn’t fully understand it as a kid, but I just knew I would eventually have to work just as hard. That mindset carried straight into my military career.”

Scott added his own story, recalling a summer job in a sunglass repair factory where he challenged himself to break production records—not because anyone asked him to, but because it felt good to work hard.

“I realized I just felt better when I gave my best. But I had to make that choice for myself. Otherwise, you end up absorbing the beliefs of the people around you—your parents, your unit, or even pop culture.”

Five Perspectives on Work

During their group sessions, Scott and Joe presented five common perspectives on what work means. Veterans were asked to vote on which resonated most with them. The results were revealing—and relevant for anyone in transition.

Here’s how the five statements ranked, from lowest to highest:

1. Work is something I get to do—a chance to express my unique identity.

2. Work is my chance to make a difference in the world.

3. Work is something I just have to do—a necessary evil.

4. Work enables me to live the rest of my life.

5. Work is how I provide for the people I care about.

That last one—providing for loved ones—was the clear winner, and not surprising to Joe.

“That makes sense. I made a big decision to leave nonprofit work because I needed to put my kids through college. It wasn’t about chasing money, it was about responsibility. And there’s nothing wrong with that.”

Still, Joe and Scott challenge veterans to expand their definition of work beyond just survival or obligation.

“The mission we’re on is helping veterans realize they can pursue more than one of these at a time,” Joe says. “You can provide, yes—but you can also find purpose, make a difference, and maybe even enjoy it.”

Actionable Steps: Redefine What Work Means to You

If you’re in transition, here are four steps you can take to start shaping a healthier, more intentional relationship with work:

1. Unpack Your Inherited Beliefs

Write down what you learned about work from your family growing up. Were you taught that hard work is everything? That rest is lazy? That success means status? Identifying these early messages helps you decide which ones to keep—and which to let go.

2. Choose Your Own Perspective

Of the five work philosophies listed above, which one do you want to define your next chapter? Why? Which ones are you currently living by, even if unintentionally?

3. Map Your Motivations

Ask yourself: What is the view I want, and what rent am I willing to pay for it? As Scott puts it, this is about getting clear on the trade-offs you’re willing to make—whether that’s a bigger paycheck, more autonomy, or closer impact.

4. Use the Reflection Tool

Want help digging deeper into this exercise? Reach out to the Vector Accelerator team to get a free worksheet that walks you through this step-by-step.

📩 Email [email protected]  and ask for the Work Perspective Tool mentioned in the episode.

Before you make your next big career move, make sure you’re not just chasing a paycheck—or repeating someone else’s story. Pause. Reflect. Then choose with clarity and conviction.

That’s what the Vector Accelerator is all about.