The Lions Pride

Bob Louthan (VMI '82) is founder & CEO of the VeteranCrowd Network. Here he describes the bold belief that drives this effort: the common experience veterans share causes them to behave DIFFERENTLY in groups from most other people, Bob says any gathering of veterans is like the exact opposite of a middle-school dance: strangers congregate in the middle of the room and STAY there--probably insulting each other--until the beer runs out. Learn more about the VeteranCrowd Network at https://veterancrowdnetwork.com/ Are you a current or former military officer? For a summary of this Meetup or to learn more about RINGKNOCKER, visit the After-Action Report at https://ringknocker.net/after-action-report-rvm-50-with-bill-watkins/

RINGKNOCKER Dad Robert Williscroft (NESEP 1969 BC) always had an idea that there was no reason why he couldn't go places few had gone and see things few had seen. His career in uniform spanned the globe, touching every latitude, plumbing the deep, and featuring experiences he later detailed--with little embellishment--in his novels (see https://amzn.to/3wmyS2C). In this clip, CEO Whisperer (and RINGKNOCKER Sponsor) Bill Watkins (USMA '77) offers an example of how that kind of bold belief can translate directly into a meaningful business and a dedicated tribe of customers clamoring to support it. Learn more about Bill and The Lions Pride 10x Accelerator at https://thelionspride.com. Are you a current or former military officer? For a summary of this Meetup or to learn more about RINGKNOCKER, visit the After-Action Report at https://ringknocker.net/after-action-report-rvm-50-with-bill-watkins/

What is a Bold Belief in business? (Note the capital letters!) CEO Whisperer Bill Watkins (USMA '77) makes a distinction between marbles-in-my-mouth corporate-speak ("QUALITY!") and the kind of statement you make through a megaphone from the castle wall. A Bold Belief is like a dog whistle: everybody can hear it inside the castle walls, but your customers are OUTSIDE the walls, waiting for direction. Sound it loud and clear, and they will come running! Learn more about Bill Watkins and The Lions Pride 10x accelerator at https://thelionspride.com. Are you a current or former military officer? For a summary of this Meetup or to learn more about RINGKNOCKER, visit the After-Action Report at https://ringknocker.net/after-action-report-rvm-50-with-bill-watkins/

Getting a startup off the ground is about clarity. KEEPING it off the ground is about OXYGEN: without paying customers, even the most visionary startup will soon crash. CEO Whisperer (and RINGKNOCKER Sponsor) Bill Watkins (USMA '77) works through a gold mine of tools and resources that will help a new venture achieve escape velocity. To learn more about Bill Watkins and The Lions Pride 10x accelerator, visit https://thelionspride.com Are you a current or former military officer? For a summary of this Meetup or to learn more about RINGKNOCKER, visit the After-Action Report at https://ringknocker.net/after-action-report-rvm-50-with-bill-watkins/

Transition is a challenge, and veterans leaving the service face one of the biggest transitions of all. What's next? How do you organize for success in the future? CEO Whisperer Bill Watkins (USMA '77) has mentored veteran CEOs and founders of dozens of startups, and he says it begins with self-awareness. Once BUPERS is no longer designing your life, it's up to you, and it helps to know what you have to work with! Here Bill shares an exhaustive list of resources that help transitioners discover their own unique combination of strengths, capabilities, and desires. On the other side of a transition is... ANYTHING. Use these tools to find a target worth aiming for. Are you a current or former military officer? For a summary of this Meetup or to learn more about RINGKNOCKER, visit the After-Action Report at https://ringknocker.net/after-action-report-rvm-50-with-bill-watkins/

Bill Watkins (USMA '77) is the CEO WHISPERER. Bill's business is the mentorship of business leaders. Bill mentors dozens of firms large and small from his ranch in Wyoming... most of them led by former military officers, and most of those service academy alumni. So Bill has a unique perspective, uniquely relevant to this community. He already knows many of us individually... but he also knows us intimately as a category, and is highly practiced both in keeping us out of hot water and in fishing us out when we fall in. If you are contemplating something audacious in your life—like starting a business, leaving active duty, or finding opportunities for service and growth in the midst of a global disaster—do yourself a favor and watch Bill's remarks. Then go learn more at https://thelionspride.com Are you a current or former United States Military officer? Join a RINGKNOCKER Virtual Meetup! Learn more at https://www.ringknocker.net/meetups.

Doug Nordman (USNA '82) has a model of financial independence that is accessible to literally everyone, and he's been teaching it to active-duty and transitioning veterans for decades. Here Doug packs a master class on FI into a short presentation and a rich exchange of Q&A. If you're on the more interesting side of 30, you'll recognize some of your own decisions in this dialogue! To learn more about military personal finance and financial independence, start here: https://the-military-guide.com/start-here Use this link to download the two-page handout mentioned in Doug’s talk: https://the-military-guide.com/tools-for-your-military-career-and-financial-independence Are you a current or former United States Military officer? Join a RINGKNOCKER Virtual Meetup! Learn more at https://www.ringknocker.net/meetups.

Bill Watkins (USMA '77) runs The Lions Pride, a 10x accelerator for veteran founder-CEOs. Here he digs into the nuts and bolts of leadership coaching, beginning with perhaps the most critical decision of all: whom do I want to coach? Learn more about The Lions Pride at https://www.thelionspride.com. Are you a current or former United States Military officer? Join a RINGKNOCKER Virtual Meetup! Learn more at https://www.ringknocker.net/meetups.

Dennis Volpe (USNA '96) and David Rudko (USNA '92) offer a presentation on the related topics of Emotional Intelligence (EQ) and the DISC model of human behavior. They are joined in the conversation by RINGKNOCKER founder Jason Williscroft (USNA '95) and Bill Watkins (USMA '77), CEO Whisperer and founder of 10x accelerator The Lions Pride. This is a profound discussion about assessments and metrics that can offer critical insights to those who lead organizations, or participate in them. Well worth the time to watch from end to end. Take notes! Dennis Volpe (USNA '96) is a Principal Leadership Development Consultant and Executive Performance Coach with Leadership Research Institute (LRI). Dennis is a certified Executive Coach through Columbia University and a Gallup-certified Strengths coach who specializes in Leadership and Organizational Development, Career Performance and Transition Coaching, Emotional Intelligence and Resilience, and Personal Leadership for Emerging Leaders and proven Mid-Level Executives. His successes occur by challenging and empowering leaders to embrace their current reality, define their desired end state, and equipping them with the tools, resources, and perspective necessary to be successful in new and challenging environments. If you or your team are looking to improve individual or team performance within your organization, give Dennis and the LRI team a call. More info at http://www.lri.com Bill Watkins leads The Lions Pride, a 10x accelerator focused on veteran founder-CEOs. Learn more at https://www.thelionspride.com. Are you a current or former United States Military officer? Join a RINGKNOCKER Virtual Meetup! Learn more at https://www.ringknocker.net/meetups.

Bill Watkins (USMA '77) mentors several cohorts of founder-CEOs. Right now they are applying Google's OKR system to set Objectives & Key Results for this year's third quarter. Bill Watkins leads The Lions Pride, a 10x accelerator focused on veteran founder-CEOs. Learn more at https://www.thelionspride.com. Are you a current or former United States Military officer? Join a RINGKNOCKER Virtual Meetup! Learn more at https://www.ringknocker.net/meetups.