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® START ME OVER IS A REGISTERED TRADEMARK
hello!Discover how you can redefine your life and be better able to fit back into your family, your community, and your own skin.
startmeover.com
Discover how you can redefine your life and be better able to fit back into your family, your community, and your own skin.
startmeover.com
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® START ME OVER IS A REGISTERED TRADEMARK
EVERY DAY, THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE HAVE TO CHANGE THEIRCAREER, THEIR HOME, OR THEIR LIFE.
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THEY HAVE TO START OVER.
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THEY HAVE TO START OVER.
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With great change, comes great opportunity.
® START ME OVER IS A REGISTERED TRADEMARK
THIS VERSION IS FOR SERVICEMEN AND WOMEN TRANSITIONINGBACK INTO CIVILIAN LIFE.Please look for the standard version of Start Me Over® if you are non-military. Thanks.
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why are we here?
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START ME OVER® LOOKS AT REINTEGRATION FROM THE UNIQUE PERSPECTIVE OF VETERANS MOVING FROM ONE COMMUNITY TO ANOTHER. LIKE ALL COMMUNITIES, BOTH THE MILITARY AND CIVILIAN COMMUNITIES ARE FUELED BY BELIEF SYSTEMS.
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ONCE YOU CAN IDENTIFY THE ELEMENTS OF A BELIEF SYSTEM (CREATION STORY, CREED, ICONS, RITUALS, LEXICON, NONBELIEVERS, LEADER), YOU CAN DECONSTRUCT ANY COMMUNITY AND DETERMINE HOW TO INTEGRATE INTO THAT COMMUNITY WITH GREATER SPEED, PURPOSE AND MEANING.
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START ME OVER® HELPS PEOPLE LEARN THE STRUCTURE AND ELEMENTS OF COMMUNITY, AND HOW TO USE THESE ELEMENTS AS TOOLS TO HELP NAVIGATE CHANGE.
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THE ULTIMATE OBJECTIVE IS A DEEPER, MORE HOLISTIC UNDERSTANDING OF HOW TO CREATE PERSONAL TRANSFORMATION FROM THE INSIDE OUT. SO RETURNING, RETIRED, EVEN DISABLED VETERANS HAVE A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF HOW TO CREATE MEANING, COMMUNITY, AND BELONGING IN THEIR LIFE.
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START ME OVER® IDENTIFIES THE CONSTRUCT THAT CREATES BELIEF SYSTEMS, AND USES THAT CONSTRUCTTO HELP PEOPLE MAKE MEANINGFUL TRANSITIONS IN THEIR LIVES. TO HELP THEM BELIEVE IN THEMSELVES.
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START ME OVER® IS FOR SERVICEMEN AND WOMEN, THEIR SPOUSES, FAMILY, CAREGIVERS, EMPLOYERS AND OTHERS.
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START ME OVER® HAS BEEN CREATED BY VETS.FOR VETS.
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® START ME OVER IS A REGISTERED TRADEMARK
the overview
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SERVICEMEN & WOMEN ARE IN TRANSITION:
VERTICAL HIERARCHIES
DEFINED STRUCTURE
STRONG MORAL CODE
MILITARY LIFE
MILITARY MOS
FOLLOW ORDERS
FLAT WORLD
FREEDOM OF CHOICE
MORAL OPTIONS
LIFESTYLE CHOICES
WORK LIFE
SELF-MOTIVATED
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FROM: TO:
® START ME OVER IS A REGISTERED TRADEMARK
IT’S ABOUT MEANING.
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IT’S ABOUT BELONGING.
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IT’S ABOUT BECOMING PART OF A COMMUNITY.
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WE CREATE BELONGING BY FIRST CREATING BELIEF.
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WE WANT TO BELIEVE IN EACH OTHER, WE WANT TO BELIEVE IN THINGS, AND WE WANT TO BELIEVE IN OURSELVES.
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creating belief
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THE CORE TO BELIEF IS A SYSTEM OF SEVEN (7) THINGS THAT ARE ACTUALLY THE “BELIEF SYSTEM”.
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THIS
IS T
HE
PR
IMAL
CO
DE:
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Think of how military units have a creation myth of how they began. From “the shores of Tripoli” to John Paul Jones, each of the Armed Forces--and many of the units within them--have legendary stories of how they began, and the engagementsfought. This is not about nostalgia. Rather, for every recruit it is about becoming part of a continuing legacy.
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Civilian communities also have creation stories. All belief systems begin with a fundamental human question, “Where are you from?” Our ancestors came from Ireland, Germany, Italy, Nigeria, Shanghai. New York was founded by the Dutch. Two guys in a garage started building personal computers. Origins hold terrific seminal and emotional value. It’s not nostalgia, it’s legacy. Where you’re from is the foundation of your narrative.
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All military units have a set of core principles, a reason for being. Something to believe in. Call it the warrior ethos: Come back with this shield, or on it. Caedite eos, novit enim Dominus qui sunt eius. Freedom or death. Semper fi. These notions hold units together, make them feel superior to the enemy. Help them survive. All belief systems have a similar set of core principles.
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Civilian communities also have core principles. A mission statement that declares that all men are equal. A belief in life after death. A belief that the state is supreme. A belief in the Red Sox. A belief that you can be your best self. Determining what you believe in after exiting the military system, will become one of your most important challenges.
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Military life is filled with icons. Our brain instantaneously identifies shapes, sounds, smells, colors, and tells us whether we should approach or avoid. These iconic signals can mean life or death. All belief systems create totems that are quick concentrations of meaning that encapsulate who you are.
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The civilian world also contains patterns of meaning that signal who you are, and whether people should approach or avoid you. Your clothing, the car you drive, the house you live in, how you smell. These icons can involve any of the five senses: sight, touch, sound, scent and taste, and are the identifiers of which community you belong to.
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Rituals are the repeated interactions that take place between you and your world. Clearly the military is filled with ritual, starting from the first day you stood in formation. Unlike civilians, you have been trained to follow procedure, protocols, and succeed under stressful conditions. Ritual is habits (good & bad). Carry these good habits back with you into the world.
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Rituals are the repeated interactions that take place between you and your world. Rituals can be either positive or negative (birthday party vs. going to the dentist), but the vitality of a community comes from the positive ritual engagements between yourself and the others in your world. Ritual is behavior. Ritual is process. In order to succeed in the civilian community, you must learn to master their rituals, their procedures for getting things done.
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All belief systems create special vocabularies that define those who are a part of their community. And those who are not. These lexicons have precious meaning. If you don’t “know the words”, you don’t belong in the group. Military life is filled with words that are foreign to those on the outside. In its simplest form, Navy personnel have a completely different vocabulary from those in the Army or Air Force.
“MREs”, “FUBAR”, “Never quit”, “Army Strong.”, “toepoppers”,
“SOP”, “TTP”, “Article 15”, “squared away”
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All communities have special vocabularies that define those who are a part of their community, and those who do not. As a newcomer in the civilian community, you cannot expect others to understand military words, terms, or phrases. Instead, you will have to translate, interpret, and (re)learn the words necessary to live, work, and play in your new civilian communities.
“iced grande skinny caramel frappucinno”
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In military life, it was (sometimes) easy to identify nonbelievers. They were called the enemy. All communities commonly define a counter group or “other” so as to help define themselves. Nonbelievers help us understand what we never want to be.
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Communities commonly define the counter group so as to help define themselves (Democrats/Republicans, Mac/PC, doves/hawks, PlayStation/Xbox360, Baidu/Google, processed food/organic food). Nonbelievers help us understand what we never want to become. Whatever that other group is, “We don’t want to be like them”. Nonbelievers have a completely different creed, icons, rituals, and lexicon that helps identify them.
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All belief systems have a person who set out against all odds and the world at large to recreate the world from their own point of view.The leader is you. It is their responsibility to ensure that all seven pieces of primal code are in place to create a belief system that attracts others who share those beliefs and becomes a thriving, vibrant community.
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THIS CONSTRUCT IS WHY WE BELIEVE IN PRODUCTS, IN PEOPLE, IN ORGANIZATIONS, AND IN OURSELVES.
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FOR CIVILIANS, THESE ARE INTERSECTIONS THAT COMPRISE DAILY LIFE IN HUMAN SOCIETY.
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FOR VETERANS, THEY CAN BE CONFUSING STUMBLING BLOCKS THAT PREVENT THE SENSE OF TRULY BELONGING.
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HERE ARE EXAMPLESOF BRAND COMMUNITYBELIEF SYSTEMS.
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United States of America
Creation story: Discovered by Christopher Columbus. Settled by Pilgrims. Declared independence in 1776
Creed: Freedom for all. Independence. (Capitalism)
Icons: American flag, White House, Statue of Liberty, Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, the President
Rituals: voting, 4th of July, Thanksgiving, MLK Day, parades
Sacred words: “We the people”, “freedom”, “liberty”, “equality”
Nonbelievers: Fascists, communists, Al Quaida
Leader(s): Barack Obama, George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, et al.
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Marine Corps
Creation story: Formed November 10, 1775, when the Continental Congress passed a resolution that “two Battalions of Marines be raised” to serve as landing forces for the fledgling American fleet
Creed: “Semper Fidelis” (Always Faithful)
Icons: The Eagle, Globe and Anchor Marine Corps seal, the United States Marine Drum and Bugle Corps, the Marine Corps Hymn, the enlistment oath, the uniforms, the Marine officer’s sword, the Silent Drill Platoon, flag raising on Mount Siribachi, medals
Rituals: induction, boot camp, hazing, The Crucible, et al.
Sacred words: “Semper fi”, “A Marine never dies”, “The Crucible”, “Warrior’s Breakfast”, terms of strategy and war
Nonbelievers: enemy forces
Leader(s): Commander In Chief
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Coke
Creation story: a pharmacist in Atlanta who created a secret soft drink formula
Creed: Coke is it. The real thing.
Icons: bottle shape, color red, Coke ribbon, taste
Rituals: anticipation, opening can or bottle, slugging it down
Sacred words: “Coke”, Coke’s secret formula, joy
Nonbelievers: Pepsi, 7UP, water, coffee, milk, fruit juices, energy drinks
Leader: investors
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Civil Rights Movement
Creation story: Rosa Parks sat at the front of the bus in Montgomery, Alabama
Creed: all men are created equal
Icons: picket signs, songs, photos of snarling police dogs, Rosa Parks
Rituals: speeches, marches, nonviolent demonstrations, registering to vote
Sacred words: “I have a Dream”, “We shall overcome”
Nonbelievers: racists, people who thought that change was not possible
Leader(s): Rev. Martin Luther King & others
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Romantic love
Creation story: “How did you guys meet?”
Creed: I love you.
Icons: rings, flowers, chocolates, cards
Rituals: dating, going steady, engagement, marriage, Valentine’s Day
Sacred words: “I love you”, “honey”, etc.
Nonbelievers: single people, old boyfriends, old girlfriends, ex-spouses
Leaders: both of you
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BELONGINGBELIEF=BRAND=
©2013
MASLOW’S HIERARCHY
BELONGING ISAT THE CENTER OF
OF HUMAN NEEDS.©2013
WE ALL WANT TO
BE A PART OF SOMETHING BIGGER THAN OURSELVES.
©2013
get started
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I am
This is my Creation Story
This is my Creed
These are my Icons
These are my Rituals
This is my Special Lexicon
These are my Nonbelievers
These are my Leaders
EXERCISE: USE THE PRIMAL CODE CREATE YOUR OWN PERSONAL BRAND.
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CREATION STORY: Where were you born? Did you go to high school? College? Are you married? Have children? In a roomful of strangers, just knowing this one piece of code can endear you to people above all others.
CREED: What do you believe in? What things do you value? What things do you celebrate? What would you be willing to die for? What are your goals, vision, aspirations? What would you work nights, weekends, forever trying to achieve?
ICONS: Personal icons include your hair, your clothes, your smell. They also include where you live, the car you drive. To bling, or not to bling. Notice how stars and celebrities reboot themselves with new looks.
RITUAL: Rituals are our belief system in motion. They are the repeated actions we take every day, and they can be positive or negative. Sitting on the couch versus working out. Eating well or eating poorly. Superficially, rituals can be having our route to work every day. How do we act toward others?
SACRED WORDS: This is the language you use to describe yourself. How you articulate who you are, what you believe in. Your personal vocabulary.
NONBELIEVERS: What do you never want to become? Who do you never want to be like? The Creed underlines what you are for--now what are you against?
LEADER: In a democratic society, you have the freedom to lead your own life. Others might include mentors, and/or people you admire or who have influenced you.
EXERCISE: CREATE YOUR OWN PERSONAL BRAND NARRATIVE USING PRIMAL CODE.
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Creation Story: ________________________________
Creed: ______________________________________
Icons: ______________________________________
Rituals: _____________________________________
Sacred words: ________________________________
Nonbelievers: _________________________________
Leader: _____________________________________
EXERCISE: CREATE YOUR OWN PERSONAL BRAND NARRATIVE USING PRIMAL CODE.
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THE PRIMAL CODE CREATES A STRATEGIC BRAND NARRATIVE THAT BUILDS BELIEF.
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start over
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THIS IS WHERE YOU START. THIS IS YOUR NEW BEGINNING.
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ONCE YOU ARE ABLE TO TELL SOMEONE WHERE YOU’RE FROM, WHAT YOU’RE ABOUT, SIGNAL WHAT IDENTIFIES YOU, HOW YOU WORK (OR THE WAY YOU APPROACH THINGS), THE WORDS THAT DESCRIBE YOU, WHAT YOU’RE NOT AND NEVER WANT TO BECOME, AND WHAT GUIDES YOU, YOU HAVE DEVELOPED A BRAND NARRATIVE. WHILE THIS MAY SEEM SIMPLISTIC, OFTEN THAT NARRATIVE ALONE WILL SET YOU APART FROM OTHERS AND GIVE YOU AN ADVANTAGE.
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ONCE YOU ARE ABLE TO TELL SOMEONE WHERE YOU’RE FROM, WHAT YOU’RE ABOUT, SIGNAL WHAT IDENTIFIES YOU, HOW YOU WORK (OR THE WAY YOU APPROACH THINGS), THE WORDS THAT DESCRIBE YOU, WHAT YOU’RE NOT AND NEVER WANT TO BECOME, AND WHAT GUIDES YOU, YOU HAVE DEVELOPED A BRAND NARRATIVE. WHILE THIS MAY SEEM SIMPLISTIC, OFTEN THIS NARRATIVE ALONE WILL SET YOU APART FROM OTHERS AND GIVE YOU AN ADVANTAGE IN JOB-SEEKING AND OTHER OPPORTUNITIES.
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two things
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CONSIDERATION #1. MANY OF US ONE DAY DISCOVER THAT WE HAVE BEEN WALKING IN SOMEONE ELSE’S STORY. EVEN IF WE HAVE A TERRIFIC JOB AT A TERRIFIC COMPANY, WE ARE FULFILLING SOMEONE ELSE’S DREAM. IF WE WORK AT APPLE, WE ARE FULFILLING STEVE JOBS’ DREAM. IF WE WORK FOR JOHN DEERE, WE ARE FULFILLING JOHN DEERE’S DREAM. SOME OF US WAKE UP (TOO LATE?) AND DISCOVER THAT WE HAD A DREAM OF OUR OWN. IT’S NEVER TOO LATE TO HAVE A DREAM, OR TO START WALKING IN YOUR OWN STORY.
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Ray Kroc started McDonald’s when he was 52. European composer Antonin Dvorak created the music he is most famous for, after age 50. Ulysses S. Grant was a drunk and failure and over 40 years old before he gained national acclaim with the Civil War surrender of Vicksburg. Benjamin Franklin was over 70 when he became ambassador to France and signed the Declaration of Independence. You’re never too young or too old to start over. In fact, gamification thinking tells us to take note of the fact that in many games we “die” and then get to start all over again. Real life, declares game thinking, also gets new lives. Yours starts now.
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CONSIDERATION #2. WE ARE BORN WHAT THE ROMANS CALLED A TABULA RASA, A BLANK SLATE. WE ARE TOLD THAT WE ARE A BOY OR GIRL, A SON, DAUGHTER, SISTER, BROTHER, PART OF A FAMILY, A CITY, WE ARE TOLD THE COLOR OF OUR SKIN, WE ARE TOLD WHAT WE ARE GOOD (OR BAD) AT: SPORTS, READING, WRITING, MATH, BUSINESS, SALES. WE KNOW WHAT MAKES US A SUCCESS. WE KNOW THE RIGHT WAY TO DO THINGS. WE WRAP OURSELVES WITH THESE STORIES AND THEY COMFORT US. BUT IN ORDER TO RE-CREATE OUR SELVES, WE MUST QUESTION AND POSSIBLY DESTROY THE STORIES THAT GIVE US COMFORT. WE MUST CREATE NEW STORIES. WE HAVE TO START OVER.
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forward
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Define your assets and why people embrace you and hold you dear.
Determine what things may have to be redefined in the civilian world. (For example, military icons and rituals have minimal value in the civilian world.)
Redefine your aspirations and the vision of your personal future and engagement(s) in the civilian world.
Understand that your life will be embraced by many communities, each having its own lexicon, rituals, and nonbelievers. You will (possibly) be a father/mother, sports fan, mentor, employee, civic leader, etc. Each of these roles has its own communities of parents, neighbors, sports fans, civic groups, book clubs, and others.
Most of all, keep moving forward into the world. Everyone needs you.
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need help?
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The principles described in Start Me Over® are taken from the book Primal Branding: Creating Zealots For Your Brand, Your Company And Your Future, by Patrick Hanlon and published by Simon & Schuster/Free Press. The book is in seven languages and availablein print and digital forms on Amazon.com.
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[email protected] [email protected]
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