Many people have asked me how I made what seems like a dramatic career change from soldier to scholar appear smooth. The two fields are vastly different at first glance. However, my story highlights that skills in one field can yield success in another—the simple answer: Life-Long Learning.
By 2027, technological change will impact two-fifths of workers’ core skills. Half of all workers’ core skills must be updated every five years to stay relevant (The World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs Report 2023). This technological paradigm shift is “creating an increasing need to embrace a culture of lifelong learning” (Jobs Report 2023).
I recently shared a piece of my story on LinkedIn, where I talked about my life beyond the shores of Mauritius. By 18, I was eager to explore. At 20, I had already visited Africa, China, and our neighbouring islands, Seychelles and Reunion. But my biggest adventure was yet to come.
The picture below was taken 23 years ago. On my 24th birthday, I found myself working as a dishwasher at Buckingham Palace—not bad for a new immigrant! The day I met our late Queen changed my life forever. It was a brief encounter, but it left a lasting impact.
Inspired by my experience, I enlisted in the British Army a month later. I became a Royal Fusilier, swore an oath to Her Majesty, and committed to defend the United Kingdom as a Commonwealth soldier since 9/11. Here you go, a 20-year journey in one paragraph, but underneath it is a whole journey of Learning about people, cultures and belonging, and it starts with these three fundamental questions:
Are you still learning where you are right now?
Are you getting bored?
Are you more excited by the growth potential in a new opportunity than you are worried about the risk of taking the leap?
These questions are the main reasons I am here today. Although I had a decent job working for the Mauritius government with an office and wore a tie and shirt, I would not have learned and published four books and developed an academic programme on career progression. At 18, I read my first book on self-development by Dale Carnegie; by 20, I had friends in China and Africa and was breeding St Bernards’s dog from Belgium. At this young age, I learnt a valuable lesson about work: you have to love what you do, and it’s a soul-crushing feeling when you have to live to work rather than work to live. By 23, I had enough of my stable government job, which most people my age today would crave to do, and I was ready for another challenge.
Switching jobs can be a way to boost your salary, but constantly hopping from one position to another, as many career coaches suggest, might harm your long-term career prospects. While frequent job changes can lead to higher pay with each move, they can also backfire. Employers often view candidates with several short stints on their résumés as “job hoppers,” making them seem like a flight risk. As a result, hiring managers may prefer candidates with longer tenure at previous jobs. So, how do you know when it’s the right time to change jobs?
This is where lifelong learning comes in. When you take on new knowledge and learning, you will soon discover a new realm of information, which will, in turn, boost your thoughts. These thoughts will then turn into feelings, and as one of my all-time gurus, Zig Ziglar, would say, feelings will turn into actions. These actions made me travel to China, Africa, and then the UK. What we are coming to know as “Industry 4.0” is here. Our competitive landscape in today’s job market and the disruption of the ever-changing digital age have ensured that continuous learning and development are crucial to maintaining and updating our skills. As mid-career professionals, we need to maintain our “career currency” after serving in the military and obtain the best value for our service. In his foreword of my 1st book ‘Leavers to Leaders’, General Sir Richard Barrons said this:
‘Perhaps the greatest tragedy around military service is not the friends who never returned from battle or the life-changing mental and physical injuries some of us must bear; it is the thousands and thousands of veterans who find themselves apparently trapped in jobs that employ a fraction of their character, skill and experience, miserable through working for muppets for pennies, when with a little help they could be setting the world alight with their energy, entrepreneurial spirit, and leadership’.
A recent study about the future of work indicates that today’s workforce can expect to hold up to 17 different roles across five distinct careers throughout their working lives. In this dynamic landscape, success hinges on adaptability and continuous learning. Whether you’re aiming for a promotion, transitioning to a new industry, or pursuing a complete career overhaul, embracing ongoing personal and professional development is crucial. Many individuals who adopt a lifelong learning mindset discover exciting opportunities that might otherwise remain out of reach. Then, we need to build habits that help expand our thinking. One of the most important is to spend time talking with people—lots of people—from different backgrounds, life experiences, and perspectives. As I always say, “The more exposure you have, the more experience you will get and the less your brain will make narrow, limiting judgments.”
The human brain likes certainty and safety, so most of us aren’t comfortable with change. Pursuing new experiences, roles, or environments is necessary to grow. How is that possible in the army? I had three distinct careers in my seven years in the British Army, from Fusilier to Movement Controller to Linguist. Was it easy? Was I a good learner? Well, only my trainers & mentors can answer those questions, but I sure did an excellent job in all three roles. Today, I plan events and do what I do best- developing others to ensure they have better opportunities and career mobility based on their skills and abilities.
Of course, I have had some failures, and as a leader, you must learn from your own failures.
In the context of career progression, investing in learning and development becomes a foundation, as it actively shapes competencies, boosts confidence, and propels you toward your career aspirations. My journey underscores the value of having a diverse skill set and the importance of continuing to learn and adapt in any career.
I encourage you to explore opportunities beyond your current career field and broaden your horizons. Even if these opportunities appear different on the surface, they may align well with your skills and passions, leading to new and fulfilling future career paths, and the Military certainly has lots of those.
In response to the growing demand for lifelong learning, Leavers to Leaders Academy has developed three comprehensive career progression programmes designed to support military professionals, veterans, and emerging leaders navigating career progression to seek greater fulfilment in their careers:
Mastery in Leavers to Leaders (12 months): A programme designed at the MSc / MBA level for those seeking a complete career transformation with long-term, in-depth coaching and mentoring.
Accelerator in Leavers to Leaders (7 months): An intensive mid-career coaching programme at Post Graduate level aimed at military professionals requiring significant guidance and career strategy development.
Foundation in Leavers to Leaders (21 days): A continuous professional development accredited programme (CPD) for those looking to map their career and enhance their career progression and transition skills.
“My goal is to provide my clients not just with career success but with a pathway to redefine success on their own terms, ensuring their professional journeys are fulfilling and aligned with what truly matters to them.”
Your career goals are unique to you, so it’s crucial to create a personal and strategic career plan that aligns with those goals. Make lifelong learning a part of your daily routine to help you stay on track and achieve your ambitions.
SAMUEL T. REDDY is an authority in career transition and leadership for Foreign and Commonwealth citizens and is the author of three career transition books. He is the CEO of the LTL Academy, a military-style accredited training and development organisation working in partnership with several universities and business schools across the UK, Asia, and Africa. Born in Mauritius, he served with the Royal Fusilier, Royal Logistics, as a Movement Controller and left as an Army Linguist to join the regular reserve. You can join his Weekly Wednesday Webinar by registering at www.L2LChallenge.com
