Veteran Led

To join, or not to join, to re-enlist, or not to reenlist…Throughout our lives we encounter many situations, both personal and professional, that place us at crossroads, unsure of which path to pursue. In this episode of Veteran Led , John Berry explains the pivotal role of mindset, conquering fear, and aligning with our personal beliefs and values in guiding us through these challenging moments,...

In this episode of "Veteran Led," host and former Lieutenant Colonel John Berry delivers an inspiring speech at the Lincoln, NE Veterans Parade. Berry challenges the stereotypes about veterans and underscores their potential as skilled leaders and entrepreneurs. Drawing from his transition from military service to CEO of a successful law firm, he illustrates how the discipline and teamwork fostere...

You can't always get what you want, but it's often said that you get what you need. Whether it be your role in the forces, or a business deal about to be secured, being let down by an expectation can feel devastating. In this episode of Veteran Led , John Berry gives us an inside look on his early days in the military, and how he was left disappointed by holding certain hopes and expectations abou...

In each platoon, there are countless opportunities for personal growth and development. Whether they be technical skills or leadership abilities, all soldiers are encouraged to step out of their comfort zone and push themselves to their higher potential. In this episode of Veteran Led , John Berry emphasizes the role that ranks and positions play in the military and professional world, and how rec...

In the military forces, planning and executing at all levels relies on measurable results and clear expectations. In this episode of Veteran Led , John Berry highlights the significance of tasks, conditions, and standards as an objective framework for effective communication, responsibility assignment, and organizational efficiency. Whether it's a military unit or any team seeking to stay organize...

Don’t let ego be the enemy of your personal growth. On this episode of Veteran Led, John Berry expresses the value that lies in feedback, and how to stop feelings from getting in the way of achieving goals. Drawing from his military experience, John describes how this lesson proved to be one of the most challenging leadership goals for him to learn. But not all feedback is equal! John will break d...

Compensation; it’s the value of value. On this episode of Veteran Led, John Berry emphasizes the importance of establishing an organizational compensation structure for your business. Compensation is much more complex in the civilian world than the simplified approach taken in the military – it’s a business tool. John will explain how the right compensation structure can attract top talent and wor...

Counting with cadence is crucial to keeping uniformity and synchronization in songs and marches within the military. On this episode of Veteran Led, John Berry explains how incorporating these rhythmic flows into a business’s culture can keep teams aligned, prevent bottlenecks, and build organizational habits. Joh will explain how implementing regular meetings, measuring progress towards goals, an...

On this episode of Veteran Led , John sits down with retired Colonel and Nebraska State Senator Tom Brewer to discuss the lessons in leadership he learned throughout his career. Tom recounts The Bone Yard, a battle in which he was shot six times yet managed to overcome incredible adversity. Listen now to hear how Tom's experiences in the military have shaped him into the successful leader he is to...

In the professional world, potential is limitless. On this episode of Veteran Led, John Berry discusses the opportunity to advance, and how true qualifications of a leader can only be determined after they are promoted to a position of responsibility. John will showcase his own entrepreneurial journey from his role in the military to taking over his family business, sharing the challenges and succ...

Time is a finite resource, but we do have the power to choose how we use it. In this episode of Veteran Led , John Berry will explain the military concept of "hip-pocket training" where individuals utilize any available resources and opportunities for learning and skill development. John will apply this concept to the workplace setting and share how encouraging employees to make the most of their...

Winning isn’t about luck; it’s the result of careful planning and preparation. Just as a military unit relies heavily on its leaders for effective planning, cohesion, and teamwork, businesses must make sure to assemble a team with leadership potential. In this episode of Veteran Led , John Berry will discuss the importance of recruiting the right individuals who bring valuable experience, leadersh...

We cannot execute the complex until we master the simple. In this episode of Veteran Led , John Berry breaks down the military’s crawl, walk, run methodology, and explains how building a strong foundation can equip businesses with the necessary resources to overcome more significant obstacles. John will discuss the ways that strong communication is an essential foundation, and share stories that h...

Trusting your team -- it may sound obvious, but it is essential to effective collaboration. In this episode of Veteran Led, John Berry shares stories from his experience interacting with NCO’s on the military base, and how they taught him the significance of trust within your unit. He’ll explain how this sense of trust is crucial when working alongside subordinate leaders and supervisors in work s...

Inspection leads to correction. Just as equipment, facilities, vehicles, or personnel require inspection in the forces, business can also benefit from these quality assurance practices. In this episode of Veteran Led , John Berry discusses how inspection can ensure accuracy and credibility throughout a company. John will delve into the various ways in which regular inspection can help identify and...

Momentum, like a runaway machine gun, demands quick decisions and the courage to keep going. In this episode of Veteran Led , John Berry dives into the complexities of "riding the lightning" or "breaking the belt" in business and in leadership. John highlights the need for leaders to adapt to asymmetric growth and make strategic decisions about which parts of their business to prioritize while mai...

Resourcefulness goes hand-in-hand with the military. In this episode of Veteran Led , John Berry brings into focus the fieldcraft that enabled soldiers to overcome challenges with limited resources. Leaders plan for restrictions and limitations and complete the mission to standard regardless of those obstacles. John explains how he used unconventional tactics in the civilian business world to surv...

Priority equals discipline plus focus . In this episode of Veteran Led , John Berry explains how strategic decision-making during his time at the patrol base taught him to prioritize tasks based on long-term goals and objectives. John will provide listeners with examples of real-life business that achieved major success by implementing a prioritized work system. By aligning actions with an overarc...

Every great result requires great risk. As a leader, you mitigate those risks through planning and training. In this episode of Veteran Led , John Berry explains the goal of risk management in business operations, like military training, is not to abandon all risky behavior, rather, it is to mitigate risk to an acceptable level. We all must learn by doing. The leader's role is to keep the cost of...

Most plans do not survive first contact with the enemy. But good leaders put plans into action long before they face a critical situation. In this episode of Veteran Led, John Berry explores the military's hurry up and wait mentality, where urgency meets focus and discipline. Through stories from military missions to experiences in his corporate career, John explains how urgency, patience, and pre...

Urgency doesn’t just mean speed; it means speed with strategy. In this episode of Veteran Led, John Berry discusses how the lessons of tactical urgency instilled during his time in the military elevated his performance in the workplace. John explains how incorporating an active sense of urgency can enhance teamwork, decision-making, efficiency, and adaptability to change, ultimately leading to suc...

Day 1 in the military, the drill sergeant assigns you a buddy. The buddy system teaches safety, accountability, and strength in numbers; "no soldier left behind" starts with the buddy system. In this episode of Veteran Led, John Berry sheds light on the buddy system's value and how essential it is to organizational success. From recruitment to personal growth, John shares how establishing the budd...

Situational awareness training starts the day you get off the bus at basic training. In this episode of Veteran Led, John Berry will share anecdotes from his military experience that helped him develop this critical skill and how it can be applied to civilian business. John explores how maintaining situational awareness in his organization's data and performance metrics, finances, culture, and lea...

Welcome to episode one of Veteran Led. In this episode, host John Berry talks about being a new, inexperienced 2nd Lieutenant, and how his noncommissioned officers trained and mentored him. John discusses the challenges he faced when transitioning into the civilian business world. It wasn't until his commander reminded him of the military's crawl, walk, run methodology that he realized how to adap...

Welcome to the Veteran Led Podcast Host John S Berry, CEO of Berry Law, served as an active-duty infantry officer in the U.S. Army, finishing his military career with two deployments and retiring as a Battalion Commander in the Nebraska National Guard. An award-winning veterans’ advocate, John’s mission is to inspire and to help veterans to continue to lead their businesses and their communities....