“My Transition” #15: Blake Byerley — US Navy to FitOps
From Navy Fire Controlman to fitness entrepreneur, Blake has chased challenges in life, rather than taking the easy road.
Looking back, I would say the hardest piece of the transition was the general feeling of loss of purpose and community. In the military, you knew what you were doing that day (or at least had a plan of the day) and most of the time you’re accomplishing something with a group of like-minded teammates.
Lodi, CA— Blake entered the Navy and served on 2 deployments aboard the USS Russell. Raised in a comfortable lifestyle, he desired to challenge himself and see the world. The skills he gained gave him the confidence to step into sales and entrepreneurship.
DJS: Why did you join the military?
BB:
I joined the military to disrupt my lifestyle at the age of 18. I come from a great family in Nashville, Tennessee and was basically handed everything in life up until that point. My thought process was that I needed to become an adult and what better way of doing so while also getting to serve my country.
DJS: What were the most important skills or lessons that you learned?
BB:
The military laid my foundation — no doubt. What I learned can best be summarized in the note below (I actually wrote this for my 2-year old son):
Think before you speak. Listen before you act. Own your words and actions. Never make the same mistake twice. Keep humility at the tip of your spear. Surround yourself with people smarter than you. Never be the smartest one in the room and if you are — keep it a secret. Engrave the values you are raised on within your foundation and sew them in your relationships. Never forget what a relationship is and what it means to you. Love yourself. Respect your Country. Put God first. Protect your family.
Allow yourself to break the first time you forget anything above and never allow the slightest bend in doing it again.
Be a nobody. You are owed nothing. Prove them all wrong, accomplish everything.
Think before you speak. Listen before you act. Own your words and actions…
DJS: Did you know what you were going to do when you left the Navy?
BB:
Yes — I was employed by my family’s company upon discharge.
DJS: Did you face any struggles?
BB:
I had 4 surgeries in the six months leading up to hanging up the uniform. Those 6 months were rough to say the least but the months following (post-discharge at this point) was probably the most underwhelming professional performance period in my career.
DJS: Tell me about your initial job search process?
BB:
I didn’t experience the job search process in my transition.
DJS: Please tell me about your background in sales. Did you find sales to be a good fit?
BB:
My background in sales is primarily a result of how I relate to people and products. I’ve sold anything from online training to home security systems — even dirt (Real Estate)! Most of the products and/or services I’ve sold have been brand new to the market or I created a new method for obtaining revenue in an existing model. I found sales to be a good fit not only because of the opportunities it created with clients, but for the personal growth I experienced in leading organizations to goals.
I found sales to be a good fit not only because of the opportunities it created with clients, but for the personal growth…
DJS: How did you land your current job at FitOps Foundation?
BB:
I was offered the position after spending approximately 2 months doing pro bono consulting primarily focused on creating processes that can be duplicated and, in turn, scaleable with projections. Though I do have a background in sales, I’ve spent the last few years starting companies for myself and consulting for startups in a variety of sectors — In turn, I was a great fit for FitOps just as much as FitOps was a great fit for me.
DJS: Did you use any veteran networking strategy to land your current position? If so, how did you make those connections?
BB:
I didn’t leverage any kind of strategy in landing my current position however I was connected to the Foundation via my a buddy whom I had served with. Matt graduated with the 2nd FitOps class back in March and had introduced me to the FitOps team during his application process.
DJS: What was your initial training like when joining the team?
BB:
A lot of listening! My onboarding plan was geared towards syncing on the status of all current operations and also understanding the corporate responsibility landscape as our parent company, Corr-Jensen, currently funds the expenses for each and every one of our Veterans.
DJS: Tell me about what you do as a Deputy Director?
BB:
As Deputy Director, I’m essentially the right hand of our Executive Director — Matt Gerber. It is my responsibility to not only play a role in the development of the Foundation, but also to know the current status of each and every aspect of our operations — down to the most intrusive layer.
DJS: What skills from the military translated into your job and made you successful in your current role?
BB:
Leadership and adaptability, or ‘adaptive leadership’. One of the greatest leaders I knew in the military once told me that the best answer you can give to anyone asking ‘what makes a good leader’ is efficiency in adapting to and providing for what that unique team needs, with credibility.
DJS: Are there other veterans in your workplace? If so, how is that dynamic?
BB:
We currently have a staff of 4 and a volunteer workforce of what feels like 400. What’s so unique about our Foundation is that its primary focus is a program for Veterans only, however only about half of the Staff and volunteers are Veterans themselves. This goes to show that you don’t necessarily have to be a Vet to do something great in the community. I’m grateful for each and every second our team puts into this Operation and our constant craving for excellence creates one hell of a dynamic work environment.
…you don’t necessarily have to be a Vet to do something great in the community.
DJS: If you knew one thing before the transition process that would have made your experience easier, what would that be?
BB:
There’s no such thing as ‘hand me outs’ as a Veteran. You are owed nothing!
DJS: What was the hardest piece of transition?
BB:
Looking back, I would say the hardest piece of the transition was the general feeling of loss of purpose and community. In the military, you knew what you were doing that day (or at least had a plan of the day) and most of the time you’re accomplishing something with a group of like-minded teammates. Once you get out, things happen and suddenly it’s okay to sleep in, the neighbors can spit on their sidewalk, a shirt tucked in with no belt is socially acceptable, etc.
DJS: What one piece of advice do you have for anyone reading this?
BB:
Consider your transition into civilian life your last deployment — you have to prepare for it and take it seriously. Taking off the boots is only the beginning, there’s still plenty of work to do.
Consider your transition into civilian life your last deployment.
Bio
Blake Byerley served 5 years in the US Navy as a Fire Controlman, 2nd Class Petty Officer (FC2). He deployed twice with the USS Russell to 5th and 7th Fleets. Since discharge, he has launched a career in the startup and development of companies within the sports, entertainment, fitness, security, and real estate sectors.
Currently, Blake serves as Deputy Director of FitOps Foundation — a scholarship program designed to certify Veterans as personal trainers.
As a Central Valley resident of California, Blake enjoys spending time with his two year old son, Leo, solving complex problems with creative solutions, the outdoors, and anything sports related.
Are you interested in sharing your story of transition? Or are you a military transition specialist who would like to share some tips? Send me an email at MilitaryTransitionStories@gmail.com
The goal of this series is to bridge the military-civilian divide in three ways: 1) Highlight the incredible skills and value that military veterans of all generations and backgrounds bring into the workplace. 2) Help transitioning veterans understand their true value and therefore aim as high as possible in their employment and educational goals. 3) Discuss the common struggles, pitfalls and indicators of success in veteran transition, in order to provide better transition assistance from both military and civilian sides.
