Navigating Career Transitions: From Military to Construction to Insurance

Send us a Message!

Career transitions can feel like starting over, especially when you've invested years building your expertise and identity. In this deeply personal episode, Scott opens up about his journey from 14 years in construction to a new career in insurance—a shift that felt remarkably similar to leaving military service.

For many veterans, construction offers familiar comfort: structure, discipline, physical challenges, and a daily mission. Scott shares how he progressed through various roles from project engineer to operations manager, learning what true leadership means along the way. But the grind eventually took its toll. The constant pressure, long hours, and struggle to maintain work-life balance led to difficult questions about sustainability and purpose.

This isn't a story about "not being able to hack it," but about recognizing when your heart is no longer fully committed to the mission. Scott candidly discusses how he leveraged his military and construction background to build a new career in property and casualty insurance, where he continues serving the construction community, just differently. "Instead of building structures, I'm building security and peace of mind," he explains.

The episode offers powerful insights for anyone facing a career crossroads: your identity is bigger than your job title; growth requires leaving your comfort zone; community support is essential; and patience with yourself matters. Most importantly, Scott emphasizes that your mission doesn't end when your uniform or career changes—it simply evolves.

Whether you're a veteran considering a career shift, someone questioning your path in construction, or facing any significant life transition, this episode provides honest perspective and practical advice from someone who's been there. Connect with Scott on LinkedIn to continue the conversation about navigating life's challenging transitions.

This episode is brought to you buy Aerial Resupply Coffee. Aerial Resupply delivers bold flavor with every sip. Their beans are expertly roasted for peak freshness and a smooth, invigorating taste. Elevate your coffee game by using code CONSTRUCTIONVET10 at checkout to receive 10% off every order. Stay caffeinated with Aerial Resupply Coffee.

If you're a military veteran in the construction industry, or you're in the construction industry and support our military vets, and you'd like to be a guest on the podcast you can find me at [e-mail] , or send me a message on LinkedIn. You can find me there at Scott Friend. Let's share the stories and motivate others!

Aerial Resupply Coffee
Support and premium coffee for Americans, Veterans, and First Responders.

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

Support the show

• TCV Email: [e-mail]
• TCV YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@constructionvet/featured
• TCV Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/constructionvetpodcast/