John McGlothlin is a former US military paratrooper & author of the book "How to Deal With Damn Near Anything: The Paratrooper's Guide To Life". He is also an Adjunct Professor at the University of Maryland where he focuses on building ethical & legal decision-making skills in MBA candidates.
In this episode we talked about the 5 most important character traits taught in the military & John explains how they apply to every day life. We also hear a fascinating range of stories about life serving in Afghanistan & Iraq, considering both the American viewpoint & the viewpoint of the locals. John is an Arabic linguist so it gives him a very unique insight into the local point of view.
John's links:
Ollie's links:
Timestamps:
01:01 The important lessons the military teach you
05:51 Why did you join the military?
08:28 Whats it like in Afghanistan?
13:01 Being an Arabic linguist
17:35 The power of positive framing
21:45 What the military teaches about self awareness
22:30 The problems with being too nice to your friends
25:10 How do you become more self aware?
28:40 Whats it like serving in Iraq?
34:16 Having a well rounded skill set
38:38 The military secret to using your initiative
42:56 A surprise encounter in Baghdad
45:39 Why would anyone join the Taliban?
51:36 Dealing with conflict in the workplace
01:01:34 THE MOST USEFUL CHARACTER TRAIT LEARNT IN THE MILITARY