Why Transitioning Veterans Make Great Startup COOs
hint: A Message to Garcia
Elbert Hubbard’s short story, entitled A Message to Garcia, is cited during many a military training program. The story takes place during the Spanish-American War and recounts the leadership of a young officer named Lieutenant Rowan. President William McKinley sends Rowan on a mission deep into the Cuban jungle to “carry a message to [General] Garcia,” the leader of the insurgent forces. After receiving these instructions, Rowan immediately acts without hesitation and gets the job done.
The leadership lesson here is to imbue a bias to action and inspire people to figure out solutions on their own without micromanagement. This leadership lesson is inadequate, however, without the other side of the training, which is that leaders “should” be clear in communication of the mission’s purpose and value.
Military members who gain both sides of the leadership equation transition to the private sector with a special power to navigate ambiguity while remaining mission and purpose driven. They are accustomed to what Clausewitz called the fog of war - environments where there is certainly going to be change and surprise. As Steve Blank has said, “No idea survives first interaction with a customer.” The startup environment, like war, is filled with twists and turns. You need a steady hand, and someone used to keeping things running even when the bullets are flying. Veterans can do this.
Unfortunately, when veterans transition, they are often mentored toward larger enterprises - corporations with veteran hiring programs, and middle level program manager roles that are, at first, a bit of a step down in leadership. This doesn’t need to be the career trajectory of a highly driven and capable veteran.