Many veterans struggle to find their place in a world different from the one in active service. However, many skills learned on the military base are valuable and transferable to civilian life. For sales, your military background may even serve you better than someone with a more traditional career trajectory.
Today we are joined by Navy Veteran, Alex Archawski, whose impressive business acumen led to him founding two companies—Greater Philadelphia Veterans Network and Veteran Shark Tank—including being the President of Sales Evolution.
We begin with Alex’s work and home life before learning about the three titles he currently holds and what each role entails. Then, we uncover important sales facts that every business leader needs to know, why there’s a common disconnect between sales and revenue in the industry, skills that easily transfer from military to business, and the importance of teaching the youth about leadership from a young age.
To end, Alex describes how he can maintain consistent levels of high performance, why his life is centered on helping others, and he lays down a (very doable) challenge for all veterans who want to improve their lives.
Key Points From This Episode:
• The ins and outs of the Veteran Shark Tank and the Greater Philadelphia Veterans Network.
• Why a disconnect between sales and revenue is a common industry occurrence.
• Transferable skills that one should lean on when transitioning from the Military to sales.
• Sales tips and tricks to keep in your locker.
Quotes:
“[The Greater Philadelphia Veterans Network] is really about empowering the community to work collectively together in different ways.” — Alex Archawski
“Everybody likes to make more money; I would 100% agree with you. But philosophically, I run into people that are not willing to make the effort.” — Alex Archawski
“Your signature moment [in sales] is influencing somebody to change the way they do things for the better of their business. That’s powerful.” — Alex Archawski
“That’s my motto, ‘So others may live.’ When people say, ‘What do you do for a living?’ I’m always like, ‘I’m a glorified facilitator.’” — Alex Archawski
Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
What is Leadership Blueprints?
Leadership Blueprints is the podcast where leaders in the built environment learn to disrupt the status quo, improve their project teams, and steward public and private investments more effectively. Your host is BJ Kraemer. As the President and CEO of MCFA, BJ has navigated the complexities of the architecture, engineering, construction, and development industry. With a blend of interviews with national industry leaders and solo episodes filled with stories, tips, and lessons, Leadership Blueprints is your weekly source of inspiration and practical advice. By tuning in, you will learn how to challenge conventional processes, enhance team performance, and manage projects more effectively, paving the way for innovation and success in the built environment. Join BJ each week for a deep dive into the strategies and mindsets that drive real change and lead to real results.