In this episode of the podcast "Veterans to Success," Joe welcomes Adrian, a former military police officer and successful financial advisor. Adrian shares his journey from aspiring farmer to joining the army, where he served in the military police and the Close Protection Team. After leaving the military, Adrian faced challenges in his career but eventually found success as a financial advisor. He discusses his experiences, including being shot, stabbed, and bombed, and the importance of having a strong social and business network. Adrian's positive attitude, hard work, and dedication to helping others have been key factors in his success.

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

• Adrian's career path took unexpected turns, from initially wanting to be a farmer to joining the military police and eventually becoming a financial advisor.

• Adrian's time in the military police involved close protection duties, including dealing with the threat of the IRA and facing dangerous situations such as being shot, stabbed, and bombed.

• Adrian's transition into the financial industry was challenging, but he found success by working hard, building a good team, and maintaining a positive attitude.

• Adrian's commitment to ethical practices led him to challenge and report instances of misconduct within the industry, even when it meant facing backlash.

• Adrian emphasizes the importance of networking and building strong social and business connections, as they can provide support, solutions, and opportunities for growth.

BEST MOMENTS:
"I've been shot, stabbed and bombed."

"I said, well, what happens next? And they said, we don't want you." 

"I said, well, I don't want to be a manager. So we set a little team of people who wants to be like me was really weird." 

"I said, well, do you have a jerry can? So I had from my lawnmower. I said, well, can you help one of my client's sons?" 

"It just made me laugh. And going the extra mile, because you know what? You've stepped right into something that I wanted to cover." 

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

https://www.facebook.com/The1Transformer

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

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.