Joe is joined by Andy Gallie, a former military member, sharing his extraordinary story of battling gambling addiction and its impact on his life. Andy opens up about his early struggles with gambling, leading to theft and fraud, and the detrimental effects it had on his relationships, including his marriages. He discusses the challenges he faced during his transition from the military to civilian life, highlighting the difficulties of finding employment and coping with the loss of camaraderie. Andy also reflects on his self-destructive behaviours, including excessive drinking and gambling, and the toll it took on his mental health and relationships.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Struggles with Gambling Addiction: Andy shares a candid account of their struggles with gambling addiction from a young age, highlighting the impact it had on their life and relationships.

• Challenges of Transitioning from the Military: The difficulties faced during the transition from military life to civilian life are discussed, including loss of camaraderie, financial challenges, and a sense of failure.

• Impact on Relationships: Andy reflects on how their addictive behaviours, including gambling and drinking, affected their marriages and relationships, leading to emotional and financial strain.

• Coping with Failure: Andy discusses their tendency to catastrophise failure and the impact it had on their self-esteem and decision-making, leading to further challenges in personal and professional life.

• Awareness of Support Services: The importance of raising awareness about available support services for individuals struggling with addiction, mental health issues, and transitioning from the military is emphasised throughout the conversation.

BEST MOMENTS

"I think the piece that it gave me. So, you know, that's within the family and sort of, you know, it crammed all the arguments, but it also, for me, I've always found that my head is so, so busy."

"Money to me was only ever a tool to be able to get my buzz. It was only ever the substance almost that I'm then putting into a machine rather than into my body."

"I think the reality was quite often I would be drinking to drown my sorrows or I'd be drinking to celebrate a win."

VALUABLE RESOURCES

https://www.linkedin.com/in/itsjoeoconnor/

https://www.facebook.com/The1Transformer

https://www.instagram.com/the1transformer/

HOST BIO

Joe O'Connor is a resilient business entrepreneur and Financial Adviser dedicated to supporting business owners and veterans in their transition to civilian life. Despite facing life-threatening challenges at a young age, Joe defied the odds and embarked on a remarkable journey. From excelling as a Combat Engineer and Physical Training Instructor in the Royal Engineers to starting his own business as a Financial Adviser, Joe has displayed unwavering determination.

After rejoining the Army as a reservist in the Bomb Disposal Unit, Joe reached the rank of Sergeant before transferring to the SAS, where he endured a severe injury and was medically discharged. Undeterred, he resumed his role as an IFA and founded a charity that aids injured veterans and their families.

Joe's charity is currently finalizing plans for a training center and 23 Lodges, aiming to provide vital support for veterans transitioning to civilian life while addressing stress, anxiety, and PTSD. Today, Joe's mission is to unite business owners and veterans, helping them unleash their full potential for success.

This episode features an interview with Mark Grant Jones, a former military chaplain, as he shares his journey from the military to civilian life. Mark discusses his upbringing in a military family, his transition to becoming a Baptist minister, and his experiences serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. The episode offers valuable insights into the transition from military to civilian life and the transferable skills gained from military service.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Importance of Challenges: Mark highlights the importance of facing challenges early in life to develop coping mechanisms and resilience.

• Spirituality and Resilience: Mark emphasizes the role of spirituality in finding strength and resilience, especially in challenging situations like military operations.

• Community and Support: Mark discusses the significance of community and support in navigating life transitions, especially when leaving the military and entering civilian life.

• Intentionality and Discipline: Mark stresses the importance of being intentional, disciplined, and focused on a higher purpose to achieve success and maintain balance in life.

BEST MOMENTS

"I think it's really important. I think in terms of looking at the next step for my life, I think connecting with people, finding out what the world's like outside the military, what the challenges and opportunities are, well, that's through connecting with people, isn't it?"

"From a selfish point of view, smiling uses less muscles and it's better for you anyway. So you see, because we just smile, don't we? Because it's great. It's so fabulous to smile."

"And interestingly enough, when people are asking to connect with me on LinkedIn, I look at the CV or the profile, and if I see the ex-military, I find it slightly amusing now, because I'm looking to see whether I can guess who they serve with, because what they're describing are all the civilian skills that they learned."

VALUABLE RESOURCES

https://www.linkedin.com/in/itsjoeoconnor/

https://www.facebook.com/The1Transformer

https://www.instagram.com/the1transformer/

HOST BIO

Joe O'Connor is a resilient business entrepreneur and Financial Adviser dedicated to supporting business owners and veterans in their transition to civilian life. Despite facing life-threatening challenges at a young age, Joe defied the odds and embarked on a remarkable journey. From excelling as a Combat Engineer and Physical Training Instructor in the Royal Engineers to starting his own business as a Financial Adviser, Joe has displayed unwavering determination.

After rejoining the Army as a reservist in the Bomb Disposal Unit, Joe reached the rank of Sergeant before transferring to the SAS, where he endured a severe injury and was medically discharged. Undeterred, he resumed his role as an IFA and founded a charity that aids injured veterans and their families.

Joe's charity is currently finalizing plans for a training center and 23 Lodges, aiming to provide vital support for veterans transitioning to civilian life while addressing stress, anxiety, and PTSD. Today, Joe's mission is to unite business owners and veterans, helping them unleash their full potential for success.

This episode features an engaging interview with Gina Atkinson, a former military professional with a diverse and adventurous background. Gina shares her experiences before, during, and after her military career, highlighting her journey from the army cadets to specialised roles in communications and close protection. She discusses the challenges of transitioning to civilian life, including working in a car park before finding success in the private security sector. Gina also opens up about a personal failure during a challenging endurance event and the importance of learning from setbacks. Gina's insights on loneliness, mental health, and building social networks post-military offer valuable perspectives for listeners navigating similar transitions.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Building a strong social and business network before and after leaving the military is crucial for a successful transition to civilian life.

• Failure should be viewed as a learning opportunity, and it's only considered a true failure if one gives up without learning from it.

• Loneliness can be felt even in bustling urban areas, highlighting the importance of meaningful interactions and connections.

• Mitigating risks and maintaining layers of security are essential in close protection work to ensure the safety of the client.

• Embracing challenges and pushing through setbacks, such as injuries during physical challenges, can lead to personal growth and eventual success.

BEST MOMENTS

"I was doing it to highlight mental health issues and loneliness, and anyone who knows me knows I'm quite a social animal."

"I did continue the miles in a sling in my local town. So I did the miles because people had sponsored me."

"I think the only thing with that is probably the outer, you know, you've got layers of security, haven't you?"

VALUABLE RESOURCES

https://www.linkedin.com/in/itsjoeoconnor/

https://www.facebook.com/The1Transformer

https://www.instagram.com/the1transformer/

HOST BIO

Joe O'Connor is a resilient business entrepreneur and Financial Adviser dedicated to supporting business owners and veterans in their transition to civilian life. Despite facing life-threatening challenges at a young age, Joe defied the odds and embarked on a remarkable journey. From excelling as a Combat Engineer and Physical Training Instructor in the Royal Engineers to starting his own business as a Financial Adviser, Joe has displayed unwavering determination.

After rejoining the Army as a reservist in the Bomb Disposal Unit, Joe reached the rank of Sergeant before transferring to the SAS, where he endured a severe injury and was medically discharged. Undeterred, he resumed his role as an IFA and founded a charity that aids injured veterans and their families.

Joe's charity is currently finalizing plans for a training center and 23 Lodges, aiming to provide vital support for veterans transitioning to civilian life while addressing stress, anxiety, and PTSD. Today, Joe's mission is to unite business owners and veterans, helping them unleash their full potential for success.