Peter Swierczek joins Joe in this episode to talk about his journey from serving in the RAF to battling cancer and transitioning to civilian life. Despite facing challenges, Peter's resilience and positive mindset have allowed him to achieve and find happiness. 

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Resilience and positivity: Peter's ability to overcome challenges, including battling cancer and navigating career transitions, highlights the importance of resilience and maintaining a positive outlook.

• Transferable skills: The discussion emphasises the value of skills gained in the military, such as teamwork, adaptability, and problem-solving, in civilian roles and how they can be effectively applied in various job settings.

• Importance of networking: Peter's success in securing a new role at FDM Group through networking underscores the significance of the building and maintaining professional connections in career advancement.

• Dealing with toxic work environments: Peter's experience with a challenging program manager at the Scottish government highlights the impact of toxic behaviour in the workplace and the importance of recognising when a situation is no longer conducive to personal well-being.

• Embracing opportunities: Going from military service to project management roles demonstrates the value of seizing new opportunities, adapting to change, and making the most of unexpected career shifts.

BEST MOMENTS

"I think basic training that we went through was seven weeks and then I went to St Athan for a month through the driver training and then came back and did seven weeks trade training as an RAF policeman." 

"I genuinely think they're invaluable. You can't put a price on them." 

"I was successful. I got picked up. I was employed there. I was driving their scrum teams and their software development projects and digital transformation project, as well as the data migration that was going on there." 

"I remember when I was sitting in that discussion with him. Joe, there was a, I don't know if you remember, there was a whole thing, you know, things you just say and not do when you leave the service, you know, there's the jokes." 

"The difference between public sector and private sector that I found predominantly is private sector will not tolerate toxic behavior." 

VALUABLE RESOURCES

https://www.linkedin.com/in/itsjoeoconnor/

https://www.facebook.com/The1Transformer

https://www.instagram.com/the1transformer/

HOST BIO

Joe O'Connor is a resilient business entrepreneur and Financial Adviser dedicated to supporting business owners and veterans in their transition to civilian life. Despite facing life-threatening challenges at a young age, Joe defied the odds and embarked on a remarkable journey. From excelling as a Combat Engineer and Physical Training Instructor in the Royal Engineers to starting his own business as a Financial Adviser, Joe has displayed unwavering determination.

After rejoining the Army as a reservist in the Bomb Disposal Unit, Joe reached the rank of Sergeant before transferring to the SAS, where he endured a severe injury and was medically discharged. Undeterred, he resumed his role as an IFA and founded a charity that aids injured veterans and their families.

Joe's charity is currently finalizing plans for a training center and 23 Lodges, aiming to provide vital support for veterans transitioning to civilian life while addressing stress, anxiety, and PTSD. Today, Joe's mission is to unite business owners and veterans, helping them unleash their full potential for success.