Why Listen:
I've known France a little bit for a while now. The glimpses that I've had into his professional background and his personal nature have made me excited to have this interview. It's been a long time coming.

We go through a lot in this interview. And you'll see from France's background in this interview, he had military service with the Army. He worked as a lawyer, most notably as Associate Counsel to President George W. Bush. And then he's had an unbelievable entrepreneurial journey, including founding companies that have generated over $600 million in combined sales with over 1200 employees. He's succeeded in so many different facets. And it's easy to see why in this conversation, because he's very thoughtful and deliberate about how he approaches his life, most notably through a commitment to service.

There's a lot we talk about. But here's a couple that stand out to me. I loved his idea of what he calls T-shaped careers. And he's borrowed that from someone else I forget the person originally coined that, but it's the thought of using the intersection of both breadth and depth as you approach your career. He talks about ignoring sunk costs. And I think that's such great advice personally and professionally. He talks about what he calls these hold my beer moments where he sees that there's a great opportunity that he has to pursue, and that's led to some of the best advances in his own life and career. We talk about the difference between following a set path and openness to serendipity. And we also talk about what he learned by commissioning twice in the US Army army and being honorably discharged twice in the US Army, once at 21, once at 35, and the differences in that. And then lastly, we talked about execution and innovation organizations, and how these are two different skill sets, and how you can be alternating as a leader throughout your career of judging whether it's better to be executing, or innovating in any given moment. As always at beyond the uniform.org you'll find show notes with links to everything we discussed, as well as over 443 other episodes just like this one. So with that, let's dive in to my conversation with France.

Why Listen:

Jeff works in the insurance industry, which is not an industry I knew a lot about before the interview, but I can see why he chose to spend 30 years in this career path after his time in the Army. In this interview, we talk about selling companies, understanding how companies are valued, how to drive value, how to increase the value of a company, how to defer benefits in selling a company versus finding a company that pays you a good salary from the start. We talk about approaching your career in 15-year increments, three different chapters in one's career, and what matters at those points. We also talk about identity, which comes up a lot in this podcast when it comes to identity as a Veteran.

About Jeff:

Jeff Arnold is an authority in the insurance industry. With over 30 years of experience managing deals ranging from six figures to 100 million-plus, he currently serves as the president of Rightsure, where he has distilled the zeal for the discipline he learned in the Army into profitable joint ventures. He's passionate about entrepreneurship, mergers, and acquisitions, and has also written multiple best-selling books.

Why Listen:

There are no words to introduce this interview. Aaron was left blind after an injury in Afghanistan. He overcame that and went on to do incredible things. Instead of allowing himself to become a victim, Aaron sees his injury as an example of divine direction. Shortly after that, he contracted bacterial meningitis and became fully deaf in both ears. He has since then gotten implants so he can hear. But Aaron overcame that as well. Living the "Challenge Accepted!" mindset and not letting any obstacles deter him from his goals, he now runs a company with his wife, McKayla, called Extra Ordinary Delights. If you're looking for a story of determination, overcoming obstacles, and always taking action, you are in the right spot.

About Aaron:

Aaron Hale is the CEO and Founder of Extra Ordinary Delights. On December 8, 2011, Army Staff Sergeant Aaron Hale was severely injured in Afghanistan when an improvised explosive device (IED) detonated. Hale, of the 760th EOD (Explosive Ordnance Disposal), served a tour in Iraq and two tours in Afghanistan. The December explosion left Aaron completely blind. Aaron pressed on and became very involved with organizations who help wounded and disabled veterans get out and be active. Through these organizations, Aaron was able to climb mountains, white water kayak, and run 5 marathons throughout 2015 including Boston Marathon. In August 2015, Aaron contracted bacterial meningitis. This devastating illness left Aaron completely deaf in both ears. Since the illness, Aaron has regained his love for cooking and began creating in the kitchen again. With his wife, McKayla, at his side, the two combine their love for cooking and business experience to bring Extra Ordinary Delights to your door.