Off-topic for a compensation blog, but importantly on-topic today. Awhile back, I came across a new book that carries an important message worth highlighting this day of all days.
The book is Start-Up Nation: The Story of Israel's Economic Miracle by Dan Senor and Saul Singer. The book focuses on answering the big question: How is it that Israel - a country of 7.1 million surrounded by enemies - produces more start-up companies than large peaceful nations like Japan, China, India and the U.K.?
A large piece of the answer, and one of the key themes of the book, is military veterans.
The authors write:
Missed in the oceans of ink written about the Jewish state is a staggering fact: Israel is the world's quintessential start-up nation. Israel leads the world in technology start-ups per capita. More remarkable is that these start-ups have attracted more venture capital investments per capita - 2.5 times the US, 30 times Europe, 80 times India, and 350 times China.
Even more surprising is that one of the main sources of all this innovation is the Israeli military, and not in the way that one might think. Commercialization of military technologies is part of the story, but the greater impact is through Israeli culture and its connection to the military.
The military is where many Israelis learn to lead and manage people, improvise, become mission oriented, work in teams, and contribute to their country. They tend to come out of their years of service (three for men, two for women) more mature and directed than their peers in other countries. They learn "the value of five minutes," as one general told us. They even learn something more uniquely Israeli - to speak up regardless of ranks and hierarchy if they think things can be done better. ...
What Americans need to realize, though, is it's not just Israelis who can be focused, brash, and driven. While almost every Israeli has served in the military, many Americans have never met a Marine. America has an important part of what makes Israel so dynamic and innovative, but doesn't know how to tap into it: military veterans.
The authors go on to reflect on some of the reasons why we may be missing the boat here ... and a key source of top talent.
Yet the capacity of U.S. corporate recruiters and executives to make sense of combat experience and its value in the business world is limited. Many simply do not know how to read a military résumé. Al Chase, an executive recruiter who specializes in placing veterans, employers have trouble understand the leadership experience that veterans have, such as high-stakes decision making and management of large numbers of people and equipment in a war zone. The reaction often is, "That's very interesting, but have you ever had a real job?"
Junior commanders in America's new wars -- in Afghanistan and Iraq, especially -- find themselves playing the role of small-town mayor, economic-reconstruction czar, diplomat, tribal negotiator, manager of millions of dollars' worth of assets, and security chief, depending on the day.
And, finally, a call for us to take advantage of our veteran talent.
The US has incredible wellsprings of innovation, but they need to be tapped. Israel has a lot to learn from the US about building big companies. But there is a reason why so many of these companies have come to Israel looking for the innovations they need to compete in today's global economy. As America tries to reboot, Israel is the place to look for how to build a comprehensive culture of innovation that can restore and sustain economic growth. And American business leaders should be looking, as their Israeli counterparts do, to their countrymen who served as soldiers and marines to provide the critical drive they need to lead and innovate.
An important message worth heeding to all of us in the talent management business.
Special thanks today to all veterans for their service.
A fascinating post, although I'm not sure how happy I'd be working for a former general. But there's no denying the valuable experience of vets. I actually know a couple of vets in the industry, including one in a marketing management position, so at least someone gets it.
Posted by: working girl | November 11, 2009 at 11:42 PM
WG:
As someone with immediate and extended family members who have or are serving in the military, I really appreciated the message. Good to hear that some already get it. Thanks for the comment!
Posted by: Ann Bares | November 12, 2009 at 06:21 AM
Despite all the popular cultural stereotypes, I never met a general who was not an extremely intelligent and supremely able person. They are equivalent (if not superior) to university deans in their management competency levels and often carry identical academic credentials albeit with more international sensitivity and other CV trinkets earned with their blood rather than merely their brains. The competition for the rarified rank of "general" or "admiral" is ruthless and more political than most elected posts.
As one who merely served as an enlisted man overseas, I echo the universal sentiment of veterans that, "I wouldn't take a million for the experience, but I wouldn't do it over again for $1,000 either." It THE most expensive learning opportunity. No one can fully understand the strengths and weaknesses of bureaucracies as well as military veterans.
Posted by: E James (Jim) Brennan | November 13, 2009 at 09:53 AM