Veteran? Don’t “Transition”—Transform. Lisa Ducharme Explains Why

Cut The Tie Podcast with Thomas Helfrich

Lisa Ducharme, retired Air Force veteran and Executive Director of the Massachusetts Veterans Chamber of Commerce, joins Thomas for a powerful conversation on veteran identity, entrepreneurship, and learning how to stop apologizing for your past. Lisa shares how she helps other veterans embrace their experience, stop trying to fit in, and start building with purpose.

About Lisa Ducharme:

Lisa is a retired U.S. Air Force veteran with over 20 years of service. As the Executive Director of the Massachusetts Veterans Chamber of Commerce, she supports veteran, military, and military spouse entrepreneurs from the idea stage to exit. Lisa is also a speaker, author, and advocate for shifting how we transition and support veterans in the civilian world.

In this episode, Thomas and Lisa discuss:

• Cutting the Tie to Civilian Expectations
  Lisa shares how she realized she didn’t need to “fit in” as a civilian—she needed to own her identity as a veteran and build from there.
• The Transition Trap
  She explains why the traditional military transition process sets veterans up to become civilians rather than teaching them how to embrace being veterans.
• The Moment It Clicked
  After clashing with another veteran about their identity, Lisa had an epiphany: many veterans are trying to become something they’re not instead of growing into who they are.
• How Veteran Values Shape Business
  Discipline, clarity, and purpose—Lisa talks about how her military mindset now drives how she supports others through education, leadership, and directness.

Key Takeaways:

• You Don’t Have to Fit In
  Your power comes from owning who you are, not masking it to be accepted.
• Veterans Need a New Playbook
  We shouldn't train service members to become civilians—we should teach them how to live powerfully as veterans.
• Reflection Creates Freedom
  Lisa’s advice: take time to reflect, let go of bitterness, and cherish every moment.
• Find Your Real Why
  The first step in starting any business is knowing who you want to serve and why it matters to you.

"The last line of my obituary won’t say ‘I wish I worked more.’ It will say ‘Cherish each moment. I did.’"
— Lisa Ducharme

CONNECT WITH LISA DUCHARME:

Website: https://www.massvcc.org
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisaducharme
Instagram: @lisaducharme2020 / @massvcc2023

CONNECT WITH THOMAS HELFRICH:

X (Twitter): https://x.com/CutTheTieX
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Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cutthetiecommunity/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@cutthetie
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@cutthetie
LinkedIn:

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