Ladies & Gents, thanks for making the trip. We’re all pretty stoked for your visit. Thank you all for choosing the full “Veterlandia Experience,” it’s an investment of your money, time–and sweat–that you won’t regret.
Check-in is just a mile or so up the road. Grab your rucks and try to keep up. It will be worth your while. I’ll get you oriented along the way and I am wearing a mic broadcasting to speakers in the safety vehicle so, if you happen to drop behind the formation, you can hop in and still listen. For those that requested mobility assistance in advance, you’ll be riding alongside the main group in ATVs. Ready? Let’s Go!
Once again, “Welcome to Veterlandia!” Your choice to join us on this experience means a lot to us and says a lot about you. Transportation for the duration of your time on the island is exactly what we’re doing right now… you might hear our citizens refer to it as humping, route stepping, or taking the boot leather express. Regardless of what you call it, we’ve found it’s a great way to start to understand what it’s like to live here. Every site we’re going to visit over the next 48 hours is within 4 miles of base camp so none of our hikes will take more than an hour one way… and the only other time you’ll have to carry your full ruck is returning to the docks after EndEx.
We’ve been working hard to promote the “Veterlandia Experience” but most companies either haven’t discovered our secret mojo or, the ones that have, want to wait until our folks leave the island and come to them trying to translate–often clumsily at first– what they did and learned here into business speak. The latter companies are awesome for bringing us into their fold but many have a difficult time fully grasping what work–and life–on Veterlandia is really all about and, more importantly, how an investment and commitment to understanding our learning styles, adaptation timelines, and experience equivalencies can net some rockstar partners in disrupting succession and growth paradigms. Sadly, this lack of understanding and misalignment of expectations are the primary drivers of our churn and underemployment.
As an entrepreneur myself, I like to influence my business destiny a bit more which is why we invest heavily in hiring and continuing to develop our own alumni… and also why we created this experience. The fact that you made the investment to come here is an indicator that you believe in doing the same. You really want to learn more about this tremendous population of talent and make the most of what you can do for each other. You could have waited for our folks to find you, you could have signed up for a webinar, or taken a virtual tour. Maybe you’ve done all of the above before, but you’re here now and you’re going to experience and understand so much more.
We’re about half-way to our check-in spot, so let’s take a 2-minute stop to adjust your gear, get a quick stretch, and drink some water. Staying hydrated on the island is essential, when you’re hydrated you can do about anything and when you’re not you can go down for the count in short order. Everybody ready? Okay, let’s go!
No company worth the paper their logo is printed on would consider doing business in a new country without first studying the culture, visiting potential business partners, and maybe even having a few select employees dabble in learning the language. For that matter, no college sports program trying to build a winning team would scrap its high school scouting and recruiting program in favor of an all walk-on and tryout system. Frankly, no credible recruiting program would ever rely solely on active candidates coming to them. To be the best, you have to find the best, and get the best to believe in–and choose–you. Companies get this when it comes to developing a college recruiting program, and why wouldn’t they? College recruiting is the top source of self-refreshing talent. Yet despite being the second biggest source and with alumni sporting experience as proven leaders, we get a sliver of the attention.
Sure, many of us will eventually learn to speak corporatese and figure out how to translate our Veterlandia experiences into words that co-workers and managers will understand and value. But you guys are different… you actually want to learn our language, to appreciate our culture, to understand the difference between a Lance Corporal and a Lieutenant Colonel, and to be able to read a rack of ribbons. You already know that our experiences during our time here are as varied as our upbringings and that there’s a ton more to our effectiveness than giving and taking orders. You’re here to go deeper, discover more, and connect more authentically.
You’re here to learn how to scout Veterlandia talent and build the team of originals and disruptors who will take you to the next level. You’ll need to teach them your business, but so did we… and they learned quickly. You’ll need to trust them, but so did we… and wait until you see all the amazing ways it paid off. You’ll need to make them want to choose your organization, but so did we… and they’re damn proud to be a part us just like they will be with you… assuming you challenge them, reward them, and give them work they can believe in. It sounds like a lot, but we’re here to teach and assist you.
Alright, check-in is just around the corner… and up the hill a bit. I suggest strapping your pack on tight and leaning into the hill. You’ll be at the top before you know it….
Congratulations! You made it.
Now, please make your way to one of our check in desks, find your room to drop your ruck, and take a quick breather. We’ll reconvene in the chow hall, just beyond the check-in area, for lunch in 20 minutes. Please be prompt, our people are anxious to meet you.
