Everyone Is in Sales

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Episode Description

“If you can get better at knowing people, understanding people, taking care of people, you’ll be a better salesperson.”

This week, we welcome Jason Smith, former U.S. Air Force Captain, sales expert, keynote speaker, business coach, trainer, and military veteran community leader.

Jason joins FourBlock founder Mike Abrams to discuss his own transition struggles, address the negative stereotypes associated with sales careers, and share expert insights & actionable advice for veterans looking to start a successful career in sales or become a better salesperson.

Jason is a graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy, serving on active duty for four years and reaching the rank of Captain. Jason left active duty unexpectedly due to medical reasons and transitioned into a role as a manufacturing process engineer at General Electric.

Jason’s Enterprise Sales career began with Red Hat Software as a new business development rep in his hometown of Atlanta, Georgia. Since then, he has driven sales and developed business development plans for IBM and Fiserv, where the strategies he designed and executed consistently yielded revenue attainment in excess of 300% of target while creating multiple loyal reference clients for his companies.

He founded CIGRIE, LLC in 2016 as an alternative to traditional strategic consulting for small businesses in Atlanta. In 2018 CIGRIE was selected as an affiliate of ASLAN Training & Development, to deliver their 23-year training curriculum to major Enterprises globally for companies like, SolarWinds, KVH, FLIR, and American Airlines.

Jason serves as a City Leader for Bunker Labs, a national non-profit supporting veteran entrepreneurs. For the past three years, he has also served as a Career Readiness Instructor for the Atlanta cohort of FourBlock, providing career transition training and support for veterans.

About Us

Welcome to the FourBlock Podcast, a show that examines veteran career transition and the military-civilian divide in the workplace. General Charles Krulak coined the term “Three Block War” to describe the nature of 21st-century military service defined by peace-keeping, humanitarian aid, and full combat. But what happens next? Veterans are often unprepared to return home and begin new careers. We call this the Fourth Block.

FourBlock is a national non-profit that has supported thousands of transitioning service members across the nation in beginning new and meaningful careers.

Mike Abrams (@fourblock) is an Afghanistan veteran, FourBlock founder, and author of two military transition books. He’ll be representing the military transition perspective. Lindsey Pollak (@lindsaypollak) is a career and workplace expert and New York Times bestselling author of three career advice books. Lindsey will be representing the civilian perspective of this issue.

Veterans, explore new industries and make the right connections. Find a career that fits your calling. Join us at fourblock.org. Sponsor our program or host a class to equip more of our veterans at fourblock.org/donate.