Blayne Smith – Ingenuity and creativity are characteristic that Veterans can share with their local communities.
As the Executive Director for the non-profit startup, Team Red, White and Blue (RWB), Blayne Smith feels a deep sense of purpose and believes he is making the world a better place. His goal is to bring veterans out of their houses and into communities where their skills and talents can be recognized and utilized. Veterans are uniquely gifted with the extensive experience of being part of a team, working through abstract situations and solving problems through creativity to enhance the lives of people within their communities. Free workouts and Leadership Athletic Camps are essential parts of the initiative, which brings people together through physical activity.
[2:18] Team Red, White and Blue was founded as a way for veterans to connect with people in their local communities.
[6:09] What makes this program authentic is that everybody gains and everybody gives.
[12:50] We use technology as tools to keep us connected but the real relationships are forged at our Leadership Athletic Camps.
[15:29] What are the most underutilized characteristics veterans possess?
[19:01] High-performers want to be led and to have their efforts reinforced by positive feedback.
[26:02] Team RWB encourages people to get out of their house and connect with their communities, but veterans are responsible for sharing what they have to offer.
[29:18] Many companies haven’t fully embraced the power of building strong teams who trust each other.
[31:53] How to get involved in Team Red, White and Blue.
Connect with Blayne here:
- “People look at the military and because they wear a uniform they think the people are very uniform, but that’s not true.”
- “One should never assume that a high-performer knows that their work is really good. Feedback will reinforce their behavior.”
- “A company should strive to build a team with the same level of trust and responsibility a veteran embodies.”
Biography
Blayne is a West Point graduate and former Special Forces officer with combat tours in both Iraq and Afghanistan. Upon leaving the military, he worked at Quest Diagnostics while earning his MBA at the University of Florida. Blayne is the Executive Director for Team Red, White & Blue where he works closely with the board members, staff, and volunteer leaders to develop and implement programs that serve veterans across the country. He provides strategic and operational guidance to the organization while building and managing key partnerships. Blayne currently resides in Tampa with his two boys and leads the Team RWB Tampa chapter.
These are books that are mentioned in Blayne’s podcast.
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