Scott Schimmel (00:03)
Was that your dog just growling or was that your phone?
Vector Accelerator (00:07)
That's my phone hitting the table.
Scott Schimmel (00:10)
You sure that's not snoring?
Vector Accelerator (00:12)
He's snoring, yes. Is it picking up?
Scott Schimmel (00:14)
Yeah, I never really hear him.
Vector Accelerator (00:19)
So Rudy, hold on folks.
Scott Schimmel (00:25)
Rudy's going to town, dude.
Vector Accelerator (00:27)
Dude, he saw his logs all day. That boy.
Scott Schimmel (00:29)
⁓
You should get them little, ⁓ those little nasal strips. Like, ⁓ up, breathe, breathe right.
Vector Accelerator (00:34)
To
open up dog nasal strips. ⁓ Let me look that up. That's probably a good business idea.
Scott Schimmel (00:40)
There's an itch. I bet people
would pay. I'd pay anything for my dog. Yeah, bulldog tingsle strips.
Vector Accelerator (00:45)
Bulldog nasus strips.
That's
awesome. They're the dogs bollocks.
Scott Schimmel (00:51)
Welcome back to another episode of the Vector Accelerator podcast and I'm here with Joe and Joe is one of the people I try to be like. Joe, you are thoughtful, you're kind, you're smart. You make me a better person. I think everyone around you is better. You always show up to meetings, I wouldn't say prepared, but prepared to be engaged. And ⁓ sometimes I don't. Yeah.
Vector Accelerator (01:08)
Yeah.
Good recovery.
Scott Schimmel (01:20)
And what we're going to talk about in this episode is comparison. I compare myself to you and you have been a model, a mirror that makes me better. I look at you and I think, ⁓ the things I see in you, I want to resemble more of. And I think that's what everybody needs and especially important in transition to find the people that you want to resemble yourself like. So that first question, because we're going to talk about the negative side of comparison too. First question for you is who
And don't say me, let's not make this a love fest. This weird little love fest. Let's not do it. Who did you want to be like? you were transitioning. Who was someone that you met along the way that thought, yeah, I see. I like that. I want to be like that.
Vector Accelerator (02:04)
So that's not fair that you don't let me talk about you, Scott, but I'll sneak it in at the end. So I love that question. And Ken Blanchard is what I would say, one of my heroes and I never met him, but I read his books and watched some of his video content. And he just one appeared to be this gentle soul who is really about people and saw the value of people within business, within
Scott Schimmel (02:06)
Too bad I went first.
Vector Accelerator (02:34)
industries within organizations. And I loved that. And I didn't know if it was real though. Like I just didn't know, is that just like pie in the sky kind of stuff? But it felt really good to hear the content, read the content. And then I got to hear him speak in person. And this was all happening during my transition. So I was in the military where it's very, those that want to know leadership in the military, it's
Scott Schimmel (02:37)
Mm-hmm.
Mm.
Vector Accelerator (03:02)
It's transformational leadership. where you take your individuals and you push them really hard because you want them to succeed. so get comfortable being uncomfortable. You put them in training scenarios. A lot of the training before deployments, before war is very, ⁓ very challenging, let's just say, so that when you get to the environment, it's, it's, it's no big deal. That's transformational leadership. Ken was all about servant leadership. And I'm like, man, that's so neat. It's so weird. I don't know if I understand it. And I got
But then I got to hear him speak and I'm like, my gosh, this guy's like legit. He actually does it in his company. Started showing other test cases. I want to learn from this guy and I got to do that. So he's the first one that always comes to mind. ⁓ and then the second one is Greg Boyle, father, Greg Boyle up at homeboy industries. He wrote it. He wrote a book that you recommended and I had to go test it. And I went and saw it and shook the individuals that he serves.
Scott Schimmel (03:43)
Mm-hmm.
Vector Accelerator (03:58)
in that community. And I was like, wow, the impact this man has. I want to be these people. want to, I'll never be them. But can I emulate some of the characteristics traits? Can I borrow this and that from them? Because that is cool. Yeah. Yeah.
Scott Schimmel (04:03)
Yeah.
Yeah.
And that's a good thing about having people like that. You, I think, see things that maybe you don't have yet or have glimpses of, and it helps you see more clearly. And that is how our brains work. know, the mirror neurons, they help us create new pathways to actually develop habits that are started by a vision for things. So that is fantastic. The other side of it, however,
is the noise that can come by looking at other people, seeing what they have or are pursuing, and it does something to you. It does something to me. I think it starts probably in middle school, greater insecurity, that I'm not okay, or I'm not keeping up, or I won't be accepted. And I think it gets heightened again in moments of stress, you know, of course, like transitioning out of the military, especially when you're feeling uneasy, uncertain.
Vector Accelerator (04:39)
Hmm.
Mm-hmm.
Scott Schimmel (05:07)
It's so simple to look at other people and then use that as a mirror of what you're not and haven't accomplished yet or don't have the capacity for yet. Did that come up for you in your transition?
Vector Accelerator (05:19)
I think it's always been a part of just being a human, We kind of, happens throughout and throughout my career, imagine being a nerd cryptologist, trying to jump into the Navy SEAL teams to assist these guys in combat. They're talking about, I mean, talk about a comparison and I'm like, how the heck am I going to be able to rise to that challenge?
Scott Schimmel (05:38)
huh.
Vector Accelerator (05:42)
⁓ so there was always, that's always there, but then it's great to have those scenarios. So when you get in transition, you can reflect and look back. But I would say in transition, it came in a different form. It wasn't so much about, the necessarily the job that did come up a couple of times, but I started looking at that possessions and tangible things of earning potential. I, that was the first thing that hit. And I was like, okay, I did.
Scott Schimmel (06:04)
Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm.
Vector Accelerator (06:10)
20 plus years in the military. I'm at a pretty decent pay grade. Military pays decent. ⁓ When you look at the comparison, I'm like, my gosh, I'm gonna be starting over again. I'm gonna be taking potentially a pay cut. So that hits the ego. And then at the time, I'm not kidding. I remember talking to my mentor, Greg Immomoto, and I felt embarrassed after I said this. I'm like, Greg, I'm still renting a house right now, bro.
Scott Schimmel (06:22)
Yeah.
⁓ Yeah.
Mm-hmm.
Vector Accelerator (06:39)
Like I should be owning a house. And that was in my first meeting. And he kind of looked at me like, disappointed, like we're going to talk about that. Like, cause he kind of saw beyond that, right? He saw the beyond the financial, but for some reason, man, the comparison of like, man, you know, I want to, in my mind, always imagine owning a home for my family. And I should be at this level. I should be here at my age. I should have these things accomplished and achieved. ⁓ so yeah, it's always.
Scott Schimmel (06:44)
Ha ha ha.
Yeah.
Yeah. Yeah.
Vector Accelerator (07:07)
kind of been there. then eventually though, I learned to kind of turn off that switch. Yeah.
Scott Schimmel (07:14)
Well, it's a part of everybody's life, as you said, it's part of life. It's also certainly a part of transition. And I think what we're trying to help folks do through Vector Accelerator is recognize it's a part of the process to pay attention to those voices. Because what we find is when people don't sit down with their mentor like you did and verbalize it, it becomes like a real active voice, a more active voice and a decision maker. And the chances go up that you'll make
Vector Accelerator (07:39)
Mm-hmm.
Scott Schimmel (07:44)
choices that violate your values, your vision for your life, kind of person you want to be. For the sake of fitting in. I've heard that there are three core pursuits that when people are insecure about their lot in life will pursue. One is bonding, like the relationship bonding. Like I don't feel okay unless I have those people accept me, whoever those people are to you. Another one is certainty.
Vector Accelerator (07:49)
You'll compromise. You'll do all kinds of things. Yeah.
Scott Schimmel (08:12)
So feeling safe and certain and I'm okay. And so whatever the, let's say the, the path is, or the income level is, I'll just take it no matter what. And that's compromise. And the third one would be kind of this idea of agency or autonomy. I don't want anyone to tell me what to do no matter what. I won't. So those three psychological needs are a part of the conversation. And it's important to recognize what maybe your proclivity, your temptation is, and then allow that to shape what you do.
Vector Accelerator (08:20)
you
Hmm.
Scott Schimmel (08:41)
in such a way that it's not the key decision maker. We want you to be fully functioning as an executive, executive functioning, where you're using your values, your vision, what drives you, the patterns of your motivation to be the part that makes you make the decision.
Vector Accelerator (08:56)
Yeah. I remember 2015 first meeting you for the first time in a classroom at UCSD business school. And I remember you started just telling stories and I'm like, who the heck is this guy? But his stories, like you just captured my attention. I'm like, that's neat. And then I started recognizing the patterns of storytelling to capture the audience, to get to the point, to get to the punchline, but it was a story.
Scott Schimmel (09:12)
You
Yeah.
Vector Accelerator (09:25)
man, I wanted to learn that I want to do that. And what was neat is, as you can see, now I'm able to flatter you a little bit. This is where I learned I learned from you, I learned I learned a lot from you. In fact, how I show up for others is very much patterned in your way. ⁓ So it's a Scott Shimo method, trademark. And I would say that that was really impactful for me. And and
Scott Schimmel (09:32)
I saw.
Yeah.
Vector Accelerator (09:55)
The lesson that I also learned along the way to help me kind of not be envious to not compare. And I think we've said this in the past, but I'll say it again is don't compare your chapter one to somebody else's chapter 10. And when you're, when you're really good at something and you're looking at that person, I'm like, man, I want to do that. How many times did you have to like, maybe lose your thought in the middle of storytelling in front of an audience or
Scott Schimmel (10:06)
Mm. That's good.
Vector Accelerator (10:24)
maybe get thrown off by somebody just heckling you or in your case, students just kind of distracting, ⁓ right? Right. But to get to the point where now you're in front of this room of adults telling stories and doing it from this perspective, I know you say you were nervous. I didn't sense it. And, ⁓
Scott Schimmel (10:27)
uh-huh yeah i was the worst storyteller the worst
Mm-hmm.
Mm-hmm.
Vector Accelerator (10:48)
It's just, it's, it's awesome. like learning how to go through those reps and respecting and honoring somebody who does it well and borrowing things, right. And trying it on and then realizing, okay, let me work at this, be disciplined in it. So that's, that's the guidance man for veterans that are looking at somebody out there doing something that are maybe they, saw somebody transition super well, man, the chances of like doing it perfectly. It's really hard, but
Scott Schimmel (10:55)
Yeah.
Vector Accelerator (11:15)
those people that do it really well that look like they're doing it perfectly, they did a lot of things to get there. It didn't just fall in their lap. Most of the success stories, there's a lot of hard work that that veteran did. ⁓ Yeah, that's what we're trying to help you do is go through those reps, go through those paces.
Scott Schimmel (11:19)
Mm-hmm.
Right. Yep.
Yeah.
And we find a lot of value in just asking questions about your role models. Who do you want to be like in what area? What category? What kind of, if you're a family person, what kind of mom, what kind of dad, who's the kind of mom or dad you want to be like? Why? Sometimes we can have anti-role models. Who do you not want to be like? And again, those are all voices in the story as you're trying to figure out what's next. ⁓ if you haven't started Vector Accelerator and you're a transitioning veteran,
Vector Accelerator (11:50)
yeah.
Scott Schimmel (12:00)
Guess what? It's free. Just get started. All it costs is your time and humility, willingness to pick up a pen and have honest conversations. And if you're someone who cares about veterans, is hiring them or serves them in another organization, best way to figure out what Vector Accelerator is, is to come give us a call and give it a try yourself so you can figure out where this might plug in. We want to partner with you. We're not trying to replace any veteran program. We're trying to partner with all of them. And if you're one of them, that means you're a part of all. So give us a call.
Shoot us an email and we can't wait to help veterans tell great stories with their lives.
