July 7, 2025 • 48 mins
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Sarah Williams discovered the real secret to thriving after military service wasn't about chasing a salary figure or landing the most prestigious position—it was about purpose. After dedicating nearly 30 years to aircraft maintenance in the US Air Force, Sarah faced the question every service member eventually encounters: who am I beyond my uniform? Her journey from leadership on the flight line to finding fulfillment with Firewatch Magazine offers profound insights for anyone navigating major life transitions.
Sarah demonstrates how military values can transform into civilian strengths. Whether you're approaching separation from service, supporting someone who is, or simply fascinated by journeys of reinvention, this episode offers practical wisdom for navigating life's most significant transitions.
Visit FirewatchMagazine.com to learn more about resources for veterans, first responders, and patriotic families.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Josh Porthouse (00:00):
The views expressed in this podcast are
solely those of the podcast hostand guest and do not
necessarily represent those ofour distribution partners,
supporting businessrelationships or supported
audience.
Welcome to Transacting Value,where we talk about practical
(00:22):
applications for instigatingself-worth when dealing with
each other and even withinourselves, where we foster a
podcast listening experiencethat lets you hear the power of
a value system for managingburnout, establishing boundaries
, fostering community andfinding identity.
My name is Josh Porthouse, I'myour host and we are redefining
sovereignty of character.
(00:42):
This is why values still holdvalue.
This is Transacting Value.
Sarah Williams (00:49):
If you are driven by a number in your head
and that's what you're lookingfor, you're not necessarily
going to be happy.
You may get lucky and get thisawesome job and it's giving you
whatever you think your numberis, but is that really what's
going to get you out of bed inthe morning?
Josh Porthouse (01:08):
Today on Transacting Value.
What do you do after a 30-yearcareer in the US Department of
Defense?
More specifically, who do youbecome after you spent so much
time designing who you needed tobe?
Well, in today's conversation,retired US Airman and current
Firewatch Magazine contributorSarah Williams is going to talk
all about it, and for now, I'mJosh Porthouse, I'm your host,
(01:30):
and so, from SDYT Media, this isTransacting Value.
Sarah, how are you doing?
Sarah Williams (01:37):
I'm doing great, josh, thank you.
Josh Porthouse (01:40):
Absolutely.
I appreciate the opportunity.
I mean you've put decades ofyour life into what's about to
be this conversation, so you'redoing me the honor when you had
what was it close to 30 years inthe Air Force.
Sarah Williams (01:53):
Correct.
Josh Porthouse (01:55):
And all of the experiences and all of the
deployments you've had.
Did you get a break after ordid you go straight into
Firewatch?
Sarah Williams (02:03):
I took a year break.
A whole year I did transitionprograms correct.
I did tap four, block the honorfoundation and the star network
oh, okay.
Josh Porthouse (02:13):
Okay, I'm familiar with the honor
foundation and obviously tapeverybody's got to go through
tap.
But was that?
Did you find enough for you?
I mean, I just did like 15years active and I was like I
don't know, I need some time toexhale and figure out who I am.
And you did twice as long.
Sarah Williams (02:29):
And part of that .
I was also an intern with theGlobal Special Operations
Foundation, GSOF, so I was veryblessed to be coming out of a
staff and my boss gave me thattime to intern under the skilled
program and then to take thoseother other programs as well.
Josh Porthouse (02:46):
Yeah, okay.
Well, let's start there then, Iguess, relatively speaking, at
the beginning.
So for anybody who's new to theshow, unfamiliar with you and
your experience, just take acouple minutes.
Who are you, where are you fromand and what sort of things
have shaped your perspective onthe world today?
Sarah Williams (03:03):
Absolutely.
I'll start my senior year ofhigh school.
So you know not to share my age, but that was 1993.
And I was on my way to aservice academy interview.
I knew I wanted to be in themilitary and I had a wonderful
guidance counselor that guidedme towards the service academies
.
So I was at the final stages ofthat process and I had applied
(03:26):
to the Naval Academy, Air Forceand Coast Guard and I was on my
way to an interview in my 86Camaro, my pride and joy I had
worked two summers for and I wasdriving in the big town of
Duluth, Minnesota, and I say bigtown because I grew up in a one
traffic light town of 1200people in Grand Marais,
Minnesota, and I say big townbecause I grew up in a one
traffic light town of 1200people in Grand Marais,
(03:47):
Minnesota, First time in the bigcity, right, and I ran a red
light and I was broadsided,completely, 100% my fault.
So I was okay physically.
The other person was okayphysically.
My Camaro was very dented,upented up, and the policeman
showed up and he said why areyou in such a hurry?
(04:09):
And I told him why and helooked at me and I'll never
forget it.
He slammed his clipboard shutand he said you go do that
interview and we'll take care ofthis later.
So that is how I have tried toalways look at my career is.
I chose aircraft maintenancebecause it's a job working with
people and I wanted to be thatperson.
(04:29):
Like that police officer wasthat, no matter what happened in
your life, no matter whatyou're dealing with, just go.
Josh Porthouse (04:36):
Wow, wow, ok, and so then you stayed with
aircraft maintenance your entirecareer.
Sarah Williams (04:43):
I sure did so.
After that interview I well, atfirst I didn't get picked up
right away.
I was on my way to go to, I wasworking three jobs, I was going
to go to veterinary school andthen, two weeks before boot camp
, the Air Force sent me a snailmail letter and said oh, we have
a spot for you now.
Be here in two weeks.
And my dad and I we got in thatsame Camaro and he drove me out
(05:06):
to Colorado.
And four years of school and 26years later, here we are.
Josh Porthouse (05:10):
Wow, wow.
And so I mean I'm assuming thisis like everybody's sort of
multi-contract experience in theDOD.
But you know, let's say it'sfour years.
Every time, at like three yearsyou're like I don't know if I
want to keep doing this.
And then by five years you'relike I don't know why I did this
, but then you continue to do itagain, contract after contract.
(05:31):
Was it the same case for you?
Sarah Williams (05:33):
It was I.
I really loved aircraftmaintenance.
I mean, from day one I was new,nothing, new, nothing, no
military background.
I'm this, you know, youngLieutenant running around in a
90% male dominated field on theflight line, but I learned to
love the smell of JP eight andI'd go visit with my maintainers
and I'd get my hands dirty.
And every job until I got moresenior was like that, where I
(05:57):
just got to be with people thatwere making a difference and we
were getting those aircraftfixed and in the air and
absolutely loved it.
Then, you know, there's themore senior positions after that
, but I would not change a thing.
The entire military career wasan honor for me, a blessing, and
I loved it.
Josh Porthouse (06:16):
Now, I think in every branch, every rating or
occupational specialty is fullygender equal, I think, is the
phrase now, but at the time,what is this?
The mid to late 90s, thatwasn't the case, correct?
So how did you end up?
I mean, what did you deal with?
How did you end up?
Making a name for yourself,that sort of fought, the stigmas
(06:39):
and the stereotypes, and whatdid you have to do differently?
Sarah Williams (06:43):
I will say one thing that helped on day one
when I drove up.
I drove up in a 1967, I'm sorry, a 1976 jacked up Chevy truck
with 33 inch tires.
I'm like, okay, it'll work.
But no, I mean seriously.
I attached myself to a seniorNCO.
I said teach me and I just madeit a big point to really
(07:06):
understand my people and tosupport them.
And once they saw that, youknow they'll do anything for you
.
Now, of course, there weretimes where you know the days
weren't so so, so nice, orthere's, you know you're running
around the flight land likeclowns on fire, but at the end
of the day it was all about thepeople.
Josh Porthouse (07:26):
Yeah, and I assume that served you well over
the last few years as well,transitioning out and now into
your new career path andstanding on a lot of the same
skill sets, minus maybe JP8.
Sarah Williams (07:39):
Right Minus the JP8, but I just go.
You know we put gas in the car,no yeah.
Josh Porthouse (07:45):
Yeah, and so now then, crafting all of that and
honing all that into a skillsetthat you can stand on and and
use, what are you finding to bethe most resonant, or maybe even
the most relevant skills thatyou've taken with you?
Sarah Williams (08:00):
I would say the most relevant is resilience.
We are always facing thesethings in our life, no matter
what we're doing, that are hard.
I mean, it can be something inour personal life, it can be
something happening to a familymember, it can be having your
pride and joy car gettingbroadsided and it's 100% your
fault, you know.
But having resilience to beable to, to figure out how do I
(08:25):
overcome this?
Who do I talk to?
What is my support network?
What action am I going to taketo get myself out of the
situation onto more firm ground?
Josh Porthouse (08:37):
In coming up with these systems.
I guess it's probably afortuitous assignment in
airframes and aircraft, but Iassume systems is sort of your
jam.
Sarah Williams (08:51):
Ie fixing things .
Josh Porthouse (08:53):
No more specifically a pattern or a
process, or implementing onewhere it seems a little bit more
uncertain or complex or chaotic.
Sarah Williams (09:02):
I would say yes, but with flexibility, worked in
there as well.
And let's just take the camaro,for instance.
I had to get home that nightafter that incident.
My door if you remember thoseold 86, you know camaros, it's a
big, huge, heavy door and youcan't you can't go around a
corner and hold that by hand butit wouldn't shut.
So I got out of that interviewand I was my biggest concern was
(09:24):
somebody, that somebody stoleall my cassette tapes.
My cassette tapes were stillthere, but I had to get home.
I couldn't call my parents.
I was embarrassed I probablyshould have, but I just was like
, okay, I'm going to figure thisout.
So I drove it to a body shop.
Of course, this is before cellphones, this was before I could,
you know even being able tolook up where a body shop was.
(09:46):
I had a, I had a yellow pagesin the car.
I found a body shop and I hadprobably $40 in my wallet cash,
no credit cards.
I'm like, well, all right.
So I talked to these nicegentlemen there, explain my
situation and here's kind ofwhere the people aspect comes in
.
They basically fixed my doorwell enough for me to shut it
(10:08):
and drive the two and a halfhours home and I said I don't
have, I don't have, I don't havea credit card.
I gave him, I gave them $20 andthey said that's fine, just go.
So there again somebody in yourlife that like just trying to
help me out, just go get homesafely.
Josh Porthouse (10:27):
And so what sort of a role, I guess, do you find
that that kind of grace has hadfrom you to you as you've gone
through your career, as youtalked about for other people,
but you're also one of one inevery one of those instances?
Sarah Williams (10:45):
How has that affected me for the future?
Josh Porthouse (10:48):
More in the present, at that moment
respectively, however you wantto take it, but that degree of
grace and self-assessment, Ithink, has a role to play as
well when you're talking aboutresilience.
Sarah Williams (10:58):
Absolutely, and that's why I'm doing what I'm
doing now with Firewatch,because I want to give it back.
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Sarah Williams (11:57):
Absolutely, and that's why I'm doing what I'm
doing now with Firewatch,because I want to give it back.
I knew that I did not want acontractor job or an office job
or a six-figure job.
I wanted a job that was notdefined by a paycheck but
defined by purpose, autonomy andmaking a difference for, in my
(12:20):
case, veterans, first respondersand patriot families with
Firewatch, and I absolutely loveit.
Josh Porthouse (12:27):
Well, that helps too right.
Finding something that on onehand, you've got enough of a
living wage and it's paying youwell enough to do whatever you
want, but on the other hand thatit's actually fulfilling.
And I guess, if there's a thirdhand, that you enjoy it and
that you can go to itconsistently and not have it
burn you out, that's huge.
Sarah Williams (12:46):
Yes, I remember when I was going through the
transition programs and theywere all wonderful, but every
single one had a little portionin it.
That said, figure out what yournumber is.
Ie, what are you worth in thecivilian world?
And they had all these differentcalculators and I hated it.
I was never comfortable withsitting down and figuring out
(13:06):
what my number was Cause for me,it was never about the money,
and I get it.
I mean, I don't have kids toput through college, it's just
two German shepherds and myself.
But I just think that if youare, if you are driven by a
number in your head and that'swhat you're looking for, you're
not necessarily going to behappy.
You may get lucky and get thisawesome job and it's giving you
(13:29):
whatever you think your numberis, but is that really what's
going to get you out of bed inthe morning?
I don't think so.
Josh Porthouse (13:38):
If anything, it may be the one that keeps you up
at night.
Sarah Williams (13:41):
Exactly, exactly , yes.
Josh Porthouse (13:43):
Yeah, absolutely Well.
So okay, how do you?
How do you, I guess, contendwith that sort of dichotomy,
right?
Because, not to pry into toomuch of the details, but you've
obviously got 30 years ofretirement, I mean, you're on a
pension, right?
Sarah Williams (13:59):
Cause it was active duty.
Yes.
Josh Porthouse (14:02):
Yeah.
So so you're on a pension, Imean you've got an income.
So do you think, compared toanybody getting out after four
years or getting separated after20 or whatever applies, is that
sort of the same kind of equityin terms of perspective,
potential, purpose fulfillment,or are there instances where
(14:22):
money comes as a higher sort ofpremium?
I guess?
Sarah Williams (14:25):
The money is important in some regards
absolutely but I do think itapplies to everybody, whether
you got out at four years or 30years, or whether you are a one
striper or you have four starson your collar.
I think that having thatpurpose means that you never
have to work a day in your life.
And then what's going to happenis okay.
Say, you take an entry-leveljob and you're making $20,000 a
(14:49):
year on something you absolutelylove.
If you love it and you'redriven, you're going to increase
that paycheck.
You're going to find other waysto be making 40K the next year
or 60K the next year.
You're going to figure it out,because once our heart and soul
is in what we do, ouropportunities are endless.
Josh Porthouse (15:09):
I like that.
So you've had a lot differentexperiences than I've had in the
DoD.
I mean one commissioned,vice-enlisted, two 30 years to
15, and then three totallydifferent branches, let alone
specialties, and you knoweverything that comes with that
Stations, campaigns, operations,whatever.
(15:30):
Have you found, I guess,looking back, that it was a
relatively seamless transitionfor you, contract after contract
, and you just sort of grew intoyour role.
Or was there like an activeassessment or reassessment of
who you were as a person torelearn a new position or a new
(15:50):
promotion or a new step?
Sarah Williams (15:53):
Oh, there was definitely reassessments and
relearning.
One thing with aircraftmaintenance is you don't get to
pick your airframes.
You don't get to pick obviouslyyour locations is you don't get
to pick your airframes, youdon't get to pick obviously your
locations.
And then each location haddifferent responsibilities and
learning curves with it,depending on what our mission
was or whether we were deployed,of course.
(16:14):
Then you throw 9-11 in thereand all of a sudden there's no
plan.
You just get on a C-130 and go.
And then, of course, command andthen staff.
Every single position had alearning curve, but I would
always revert back to okay, pickthe, maybe it's the one striper
that has the most knowledgethat can help you out.
Maybe you know, it doesn't haveto be rank, it can just be
(16:37):
somebody else that has beenworking in that position or that
unit for five years already.
And it's talking to peoplebeing willing to learn and then
once they see that and see youropen-mindedness, they're not
going to let you fail.
Josh Porthouse (16:54):
Hmm, I've had a Marine recruiter come on the
show.
He was also actually in myplatoon at one point.
I've had one or two of my squadleaders come on the show at one
point or another and it'sinteresting because from your
perspective, and what you'redescribing is exactly what they
said from their perspective andhow they described it, and so
(17:16):
that sort of harmony doesn'tmake a difference the branch,
the rank, the time and service,and to a certain degree, I think
, maybe only time and grade,because you got to learn the
ropes the first year or two, butafter that, once you understand
how to apply what you'velearned and the science is
muscle memory, I think the arttends to take over, and it's
this like inverse uh ratio of askill set the longer your career
(17:41):
where it's a little bit lessscience and a little bit more
art.
Was it the same case for you A?
Sarah Williams (17:45):
hundred percent.
Josh Porthouse (17:49):
Do you think now you've essentially reinvented
yourself in the private sectoras a civilian, now not in the
DOD?
Has it been starting overRelearning the science and
communicating and feeling outprocesses in society?
Because you stepped out ofreality for 30 years and now
you're back.
Everything's different.
Sarah Williams (18:09):
Yes, I would say it's not starting over but it's
learning the civilian way.
For example, my boss, steve,roderick and Stacey, they're
amazing, they're super, they'rejust super intelligent people.
And I, but I started, I startedusing I don't mean that as a
caveat, I just mean that I usedmy military terminology and I
(18:30):
wasn't remembering the fact thatneither of them have been in
the military.
They're, they're, they're supersuccessful business people.
And so I started talking toSteve oh, let's do this at 1800
or 1400.
And he's like oh, now I got tosubtract 12.
And then I was using a coupleacronyms one day and I really
had to remind myself tocivilianize myself when I talk
(18:54):
terminology and time and alsoexpectations.
So another example there is youknow, in the military we just
operate 24, seven, you know, andespecially in in command, you,
if you're working at two in themorning, then it's okay to go
take a break from, I'm going tosay, 1400, two to 3 PM the next
(19:15):
day, whatever your schedule iskind of just all the time.
So my first week on the job Iblocked out two hours on my
calendar for a personal event inthe middle of the day and I
learned that that was not theright thing to do, because that
was company time and our companytime is scheduled.
It is what it is right, and Ieither needed to coordinate it
(19:38):
first prior to just throwing iton the calendar, which would
have been fine, or I needed todo it during non-company time.
Josh Porthouse (19:48):
Okay, well, there's a lot of that friction
and complexity and obviousuncertainty in different degrees
and scales and scopes, wheneverwe're in a war, war, fighting
environment or humanitarian aidmission, or it's the nature of
war, it's theory of war, right?
So what role does humility have, in your opinion, in that
(20:09):
process?
Sarah Williams (20:10):
Oh, a huge, huge role.
No matter how many great thingssomebody did in the military I
mean, we all did great things Ifwe have to talk about them,
number one, then we're too busytalking and we're not executing.
So, as I'm learning thiscivilian, you know caveats and
expectations and I realize oh, Ijust used six acronyms in that
(20:33):
sentence.
Josh Porthouse (20:34):
Check myself, remind myself that that's okay,
but from a standpoint, hey guys,I'm really I apologize, let's
start that conversation over andjust to kind of put myself in
my receiver's shoes and becognizant of where they're
coming from have you found,either professionally in the DOD
(20:58):
or now after the fact, let'ssay professionally, personally,
that that degree ofvulnerability helps or hurts
your position in a conversation,in a role, in a, you know,
whatever placement in societyyou want to attribute to that?
Sarah Williams (21:15):
It can help or hurt.
I think it helps when you arevery genuine.
It can help or hurt.
I think it helps when you arevery genuine and you pick the
timely avenue in which toexplain yourself.
Or maybe you don't have toexplain yourself.
But on the flip side and here'san example I was in a meeting
with a civilian entity last week.
(21:36):
They had no agenda, they wereall over the place.
People were talking on top ofeach other.
I was getting so frustrated andinstead of maybe holding my
tongue and talking to the leaderof that meeting after the fact,
I started stepping on peopletoo and at one point you could
(21:59):
just tell I was frustrated, andI don't think anybody was very
impressed with that, becausethis entity doesn't know me I
was kind of a new member of itand who's this person that
thinks that?
You know she wants structure inthe meeting.
So I need to step back and pickthe right time to give feedback
and not get wound up over howsomething is or is not happening
(22:25):
just because it's not the wayI'm used to doing it.
Josh Porthouse (22:28):
Well, that's a powerful observation, isn't it?
It's hard right, that's exactlywhat I was going to say.
Yeah, I mean, could you imagineif there were anything else
that maybe is even moredifficult?
I don't think so.
You have to say yeah, I mean,could you imagine if, if there
were anything else that maybe iseven more difficult?
I don't think so.
You have to I don't know how tophrase it.
You have to learn or mayberelearn your place.
(22:49):
I mean it's it's.
It's a new organization, orwell, it's a new sector of
society.
Sarah Williams (22:54):
And they may operate very well that way,
right?
So I like to call it checkingmyself.
It's almost like I should.
I should walk into those thosetypes of meetings and just put
that like the top of my notebookor something.
Josh Porthouse (23:08):
Or yeah, right, tie the string around your
finger, or whatever the trick isyeah.
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Sarah Williams (23:33):
I should walk into those types of meetings and
just put that at the top of mynotebook or something.
Josh Porthouse (23:40):
Sure, yeah, tie the string around your finger or
whatever the trick is, yeah.
So this is.
This is, I guess, a goodopportunity then, when we're
talking about all the thingsthat you've learned about you
and how you've put them intopractice.
This is a segment of the showcalled developing character D D
D, developing.
(24:00):
Now, for clarity for you andanybody else who might be new to
the show, it's two questions,but here's why my theory is that
our values are a shortcut toour identities, to deepen our
relationships, to broaden outcommunication and conversation,
but to deepen society andculture, and I think it gives
(24:21):
our awareness, self-awareness, agrounding.
And so, to make all of thesedecisions, I'm sure your
Department of Defense, careerand professional acumen
contributed a lot, but can't beall, because you started as you
before you started.
So my two questions are aboutyour value systems, and they're
(24:42):
rooted in time.
Okay, my first question is whatwere some of the values that
you remember being raised on orgrew up around or were taught?
And then my second question isnow that all this time has
passed and this experience hasbeen gained, what, then, are
some of your values now?
Sarah Williams (25:03):
then, or some of your values now.
I was the first daughter ofthree.
I was very, and still am, verystubborn and I will say my
parents were, in my opinion,kind of strict, especially, I
think, because I was the firstand we didn't have a lot of
money and, uh, my dad both mymom and dad uh, just super,
super hard workers.
My first five years we lived ina cabin in northern Minnesota
with no plumbing, no electricity, no running water.
(25:25):
I remember waking up at nightbecause we just had a wood stove
in there and my sheets would befrozen to the wall and I'm
still traumatized by dropping mystuffed animal down the
outhouse toilet one night.
But through that I watched mydad build our next house.
(25:46):
I watched my mom primarily.
She was raising us, workedpart-time, my dad was the
full-time.
I watched how hard they workedand sometimes growing up.
It was very frustrating becauseI had friends who you know.
They had a boat or they had areally nice house with heat.
It took a while for me toreally get to that understanding
(26:08):
.
I wouldn't wish that on anybody, but it taught me that you
don't need to live off a creditcard and you don't need to be
driving the most fancy car inthe neighborhood or have the
fanciest house, if you just workhard.
And I mean by the time I lefthome and my sisters were there,
(26:29):
they did have the nicer house.
They had the things because mymom and dad worked really hard
for them.
You know, and this was backwhen I think the APR for a house
loan was like 12 percent orsomething.
So I witnessed that and then itwas ingrained in me as I was
growing up and then just furtherreinforced throughout my
military DOD career.
Josh Porthouse (26:50):
Okay, so that was that.
Yeah.
So then if we take that and usethat as a foundation or as a
springboard for your own, let'ssay, self-assessment and
character development, whatabout now?
Sarah Williams (27:04):
The working hard definitely has helped me out a
lot.
Now here's one where I did notlisten to dad.
I got in a lot of financialdebt throughout the years.
I did have credit cards.
I had numerous credit cards andI bought stuff I didn't have
money for, you know, and Ifinally got to a point where I
(27:25):
realized how stupid I was being.
But that was later on and I hadtold.
I told myself I was going to bedebt free by the time of 40
years old.
So I made that decision.
About 35 years old I took Daveum, the Dave Ramsey's financial
peace University program.
Josh Porthouse (27:39):
Oh yeah.
Sarah Williams (27:40):
Teaches you how to get out of debt and I was
debt free by 40.
And then, oh, congratulations,oh, thank you.
And I haven't relied on creditcards since and it's this huge
freedom off your shoulders whenyou don't owe money to people
except, okay, so a housemortgage.
There's probably usually alwaysthat.
But, yes, working hard and thensometimes not following the
(28:02):
values my parents were trying toinstill in me, but in the end I
learned from that too.
Nobody's perfect, I mean, youknow, and I, I, I did have a fun
boat at the time.
I had horses I had, I didburrow.
I mean I did a lot of funthings with that money I didn't
have.
But being debt-free is a lotbetter.
Josh Porthouse (28:22):
Yeah, Well, I mean the peace of mind alone
that comes with that.
Sarah Williams (28:25):
Yes, yes.
Josh Porthouse (28:27):
Yeah, absolutely .
Now, to that point, though.
You mentioned Dave Ramseyearlier and, at least as far as
I'm aware, snowballing the debtpayoff is one of the big
principles of his entirecurriculum, right?
Yes, okay, so I mean it goesboth ways, right, Like as it
accrues and as you pay it down,but that's all finances.
(28:49):
What about the cognition?
Because we hear about it allthe time and I'm sure, as a
commander or, you know, formerlyknown as that, you saw it all
the time with your airmen, right, the people that get into this.
Well, on a spectrum, on onehand, a relatively safe and
comfortable pattern ofself-neglect, to then that just
(29:11):
becomes destructive, the thehouse calls the wellness checks
that you know, whatever thatactually has some substance, it
tends to snowball as well.
How do you manage that?
Through any of these, let's say, career changes, identity
changes in some cases, becauseit's tempting.
(29:31):
There's times where you're likeI don't know if this is for me,
what did I just do?
Doubt comes in all the time.
Sarah Williams (29:38):
Absolutely.
You know in in that regard it'sit's the whole 10 of your
people will take up 90 of yourtime.
But how I manage that is I hadhalf.
To this day I have six.
I call it my six pack and Ihave six friends who I could
call day or night some military,some not, and from different
(30:02):
walks of life that if I have aquestion, if I need help, if I
just need to vent or if I justhad a shitty day, I can call up
one of my six pack and they'realways there for me and likewise
I am for them as well.
So it doesn't have to be six,it could be 10.
It could be three, but I thinkhaving you know dial, a friend
on speed dial, is absolutelynecessary to help help overcome
(30:23):
those times and to be there foryou.
Josh Porthouse (30:28):
Well, so I well, I appreciate the point for
clarity, because I'm notentirely sure speed dial exists
anymore.
That's where you I'm kidding.
But so when you're talkingabout that, though, you said,
these are people from alldifferent walks of life as well,
and in the military, and I'mreally just isolating it for
(30:48):
clarity, as a reference, to makethis point.
But it could be as a policeofficer, it could be as a
firefighter, an EMT, a nurse, itdoesn't matter.
Pick your focus of frontlinecommunity servant, high
occupational stress position,right, but for now, in the
military, all you know arepeople in the military.
(31:09):
You live where you work, youwork where you enjoy your
hobbies.
It eventually, or initiallymaybe, starts in this silo and
then, if you're lucky, youbroaden it out, and if you're
normal, you don't.
So how did you branch out?
What worked for you, socially,behaviorally, anything?
Sarah Williams (31:30):
I would be very involved in other column,
extracurricular activitiesoutside of the workplace and
volunteer opportunities.
I've been in this past year.
I've had more time to do someof that and I think those kinds
of things are invaluable For me.
It's the American Legion, Womenin Defense, NDIA, Canine
(31:52):
Partners for Patriots, theHumane Society of Tampa Bay, to
name a few, and all of those are, you know, very different from
each other, some moreprofessional, some more social,
some about saving animals, andbut they're, they're all ways to
be involved in somethingoutside of that silo of
excellence that we're used to.
Josh Porthouse (32:13):
Oh, that's a cool phrase.
What do you think that's rootedin?
Is that performance?
Yeah, silo of excellence.
Is that performance?
Is that awareness?
Is that professionalism?
What is that attributed to?
Sarah Williams (32:27):
In my opinion, a silo of excellence is something
that comes from an organizationsuch as DOD that is very strict
in its structure, strict in itsstructure.
So I've always thought, youknow, I did some consulting at
one point, working for the jointstaff, where we visited
combatant commands and sharedbest practices, insights,
lessons learned and we alwaystried to break, help, help the
(32:50):
teams break down their silos ofexcellence.
Cause you've got, you know, thelogistics, the, the, you've got
the operational people, you'vegot intelligence, you've got all
the different that are veryfocused on what they do, as they
should be.
But if you're able to encouragean organization to flatten it
out a little bit more and tofind a venue with which to talk
(33:11):
across versus up and down thatchain of command, you can be
much more productive All right,folks sit tight, We'll be right
back on Transacting Value.
Josh Porthouse (33:22):
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Sarah Williams (34:20):
Slash that's linktreemiketaylor357, and tune
into Transacting Value to hearmore but if you're able to
encourage an organization toflatten it out a little bit more
and to find a venue with whichto talk across versus up and
down that chain of command, youcan be much more productive.
Josh Porthouse (34:42):
How do you recommend instilling that in?
Let's say it's not evenprofessional.
Let's say it's not even anorganization.
You're trying to build out yoursix-pack.
It's not even professional.
Let's say it's not even anorganization.
You're trying to build out yoursix pack, the six pack of
friends, not your fitnessroutine, and you're trying to
identify these opportunities.
Right, let's say you're withina year, three years, whatever,
of active duty, of separatingfrom your whatever tenured
(35:06):
position you had.
How do you start to broaden itout?
Sarah Williams (35:11):
You find out what your passion is and and
then it's going to evolve intoyou go to one event, then
somebody recommends another oneand then eventually you just
have all these opportunitieswithout putting too much on your
plate.
But for me it's always been, uh, like the humane society I love
.
What do we get?
Over 200 animals adopted outper week?
(35:32):
It's a no kill shelter, I guessthey're per week, yes, between
the cats and dogs and exotics,an average of 200 per week.
It's because of how well runtheir organization is and how
they operate.
Sherry Stilk, the presidentshe's absolutely amazing and she
herself is is at events.
(35:52):
Um, you can talk to her.
She's got an open door policy.
She treats all of hervolunteers and employees like
that and it's a very flatorganization and it's very
effective.
Um, so I in in.
In answer to your question,though, I think you find
something you're passionateabout.
You start going to those events, the uh, you know, I mean, it
(36:13):
can just be as simple as aGoogle and finding what's where,
and then it's going to branchout to many others.
Josh Porthouse (36:24):
Okay.
Well then to your point of sortof flattening out the dialogue
in the conversation.
So it's not, as let's say,organizationally hierarchical.
How do you start to makeinroads into flattening out
wherever you end up?
Because sometimes you know youget a job at I don't know
PricewaterhouseCooper, or youget a job at whatever Ross, or
(36:46):
whatever it is you're doing as atruck driver.
You know you've got to.
Well, like you said, you've gota hierarchy you've got to fall
into and the routine may notmatch what you're used to.
So how do you try to influencethat and flatten it a little bit
, to compromise your learningstyle and their conversational
climate or whatever?
Sarah Williams (37:02):
Yeah, good question, josh.
You get out of your office, youwalk around leadership by
walking around.
You just start to go talk topeople like like even you know,
walking around, you just startto go talk to people like like
even you know, socom is love it,but it's a very, very strict uh
, you know?
I mean there's so many, um, youknow, classified areas, so
you've got all these naturalwalls built in already, because
(37:23):
if you're not read into theprogram, you're not going to go
in that skiff.
Here I go with my militaryjargon again anyway, Anyway.
So, like it's so calm,personally I would just I would
spend half my day just visiting,like walking around trying to
go to somebody else's workspace,versus talking on the phone,
learning a little bit.
(37:43):
Oh, I see you have a picture onyour desk of whatever it is and
then we'd have a conversation.
So now you form thatrelationship and then when I do
have to talk on the phone a weeklater, it's more comfortable
and it's not just you've got aname with the face, and I think
in any organization that canapply.
You could even be on a ship andyou walk around your ship while
you're underway.
(38:04):
It could be Amazon.
You go, walk the floor, youtalk to your employees, get out
of the office, get out of thewalls that you find yourself
working from within.
Josh Porthouse (38:17):
I like that a lot.
Now saying that this is aperfect opportunity, I think,
really for the sake of time, formy last, probably two questions
.
My first one is getting out ofyour walls where you find
yourself, or getting out of yourcomfort zone throughout your
career, throughout your life, tothis point, and then now,
presently, into the role youfind yourself.
(38:37):
What is all of those, or whathave all of those experiences
done for you to actuallyinstigate your own self-worth
and your own sense of self?
Sarah Williams (38:47):
They've made me stronger, everyone because
sometimes those situations arenot comfortable, or sometimes
you walk into somebody'sworkspace and they don't want
you there, they don't have timefor you.
So you know, you, you realizewell, oh, I just burned that
bridge, but it made me strongerbecause it taught me something,
and everything we experience isa learning lesson.
(39:09):
It's a building block tosomething that we can use later
on.
And we don't, we don't want to.
You know we don't always makethe right choices, but why beat
ourselves up?
It was a learning lessonRecover and go on.
Josh Porthouse (39:22):
And even, frankly, we don't always know it
at the time that we're going tobe able to look back and use it
.
Sarah Williams (39:28):
Right.
Josh Porthouse (39:29):
Yeah, that's, that's definitely something I've
learned, so you sort of owe itto yourself to try to make the
best of it.
And this, this is something Idid earlier this week, or I
guess it's last week now at thetime of this recording.
But I got home after a long dayand I didn't know what I was
doing.
I didn't know how to respond toa particular situation
physically, verbally, mentally,cognitively, every adverb you
(39:49):
can think of.
I was burnt out on the day, soI put a chair in the backyard it
was still sunny outside and Ijust sat there.
I went and got a bottle ofwater, made a sandwich and I
said no decisions till I feelbetter.
And then you know you're betterable to reflect on it, because
you never know how it's going toimpact the future you.
(40:10):
So you may as well pay itforward to yourself and make it
a decent enough interaction inyour internal dialogue to learn
something.
That's awesome.
Yeah, well, it worked Well,we'll see how well it works when
future me needs the moment.
But anyway, that brings me tomy last question.
So now, having said all of thesethings, you're in a role with
(40:31):
Firewatch Magazine that coversall sorts of things, I'm
assuming military.
Let's break down the magazineand then what does it do?
What does it cover?
Where can people go?
How can they find it Getinvolved?
Absolutely All of the above.
Sarah Williams (40:46):
Yes, firewatchmagazinecom will bring
you to our publication.
We are print and we are digitaland it is free on the digital
platform and you could alsocontact me anytime at Sarah at
firewatchmagazinecom that'sSarah with an H as on the screen
and we have so many fun thingsplanned for 2025 that people can
(41:10):
get involved in um that arecoming up and we're really
excited about where we're goingwith this publication.
So, military first responder,patriot, patriotic families, we
want to help you and we want tobe a resource that is the go-to
resource for those, those threevenues.
I will say here here's the new,brand new December, just hot
(41:34):
off the press.
Josh Porthouse (41:36):
There you go, Nice nice.
Sarah Williams (41:37):
Yes, so sign up.
Josh Porthouse (41:40):
There you go, firewatchmagazinecom.
So for anybody else who maybeis or isn't familiar with this
show or with the magazine, is itonly print and digital, or do
you guys broadcast anywhere else?
Sarah Williams (41:53):
Anywhere else, people can track you down in
person, anything like that wedon't broadcast specifically,
but we have an entire likemarketing, campaign, engagement,
platform, etc.
Project where we are out in the, we're out in the media, we're
out at venues, we are constantlyum networking different people
together.
Josh Porthouse (42:13):
That's super cool.
Sarah Williams (42:14):
Yeah.
Josh Porthouse (42:15):
Yes, and so it's all different groups of people,
though.
Sarah Williams (42:17):
Yes, yes, like, for example, I had a, so I also
bring our advertisers into themagazine as well as networking.
I had one client that does homehealthcare and then I ran into
a friend of mine whose motherneeds that service, so I put
them in touch with each other.
So it's kind of just being thatvoice and then and then putting
people, people in touch with,with who we've met that can, who
(42:40):
can help them yeah, sweet, byvirtue of now being tied to the
magazine, you mean yes, yes, yesit's a cool opportunity it, is
it Well speaking of findingfulfilling opportunities, I
guess, and things you'repassionate about.
Josh Porthouse (42:56):
It sounds like you just happened to walk into
this one.
It wasn't like a intentionaldiscovery, right?
Sarah Williams (43:01):
No, it's a cool story.
I started up a company calledShining Star LLC.
In October I launched it and itwas a window decal that a
business could put in theirwindow identifying the fact that
they offer a 10% discount to aveteran.
So then I I had this magazinesitting in my read pile.
I looked at it.
I thought, oh, I should be, Ishould be in this magazine.
(43:22):
So I contacted Steve and I saidI want to advertise with you
and he said let's meet.
So then we met a few days laterand then he said I love your
concept, but I want to hire you.
I said, okay, yeah, firewatchis doing what I was trying to do
, without starting from scratch.
Josh Porthouse (43:42):
Well, I mean, that's important, right?
Any, I think, business leaderor business throughout history
to this point that has actuallybeen super uber successful, I
guess theoretically like Uber aswell.
But Tesla, nobody started fromscratch.
Everybody started with a degreeof torque to then just drive
(44:04):
down the road.
Sarah Williams (44:05):
Yes, yes.
Josh Porthouse (44:07):
Yeah, that is powerful, but yeah, so to that
point, anybody who's new toTransacting Value and in case
you missed the point, since wetalked a little bit past it,
depending on the player you'restreaming this conversation on
or watching this video on, youcan click See More, you can
click Show More and in thedrop-down description you'll see
links to Firewatch Magazine andthen from that website, even
(44:27):
while we're finishing thisconversation, you can go there.
You can check out the material,you can check out the articles,
you can check out theadvertising, sponsorship
opportunities, everywhere it'sput out, and you guys also have
local events or an eventscalendar.
Sarah Williams (44:41):
Yes, in fact, that's in our latest issue,
right now.
Josh Porthouse (44:44):
Okay, well, there you go, and it's in print
so you can track that down aswell.
Perfect, firewatchmagazinecom.
Sarah, I love the conversation.
I appreciate your perspectiveand just your zeal, your
personality.
I think it made for a reallyinteresting opportunity.
I don't get to talk to too manypeople that have as long a
(45:05):
career as you've had in the DoD,but also where you find
yourself in a place that you'rewilling to talk about the length
of the career in a waythat's're willing to talk about
the length of the career in away that's still entertaining
and relatable and resonant.
So I appreciate your time, butI also appreciate the
opportunity.
So thank you well.
Sarah Williams (45:20):
Thank you, josh.
Josh Porthouse (45:21):
This was a lot of fun and I really appreciate
the opportunity for my endabsolutely, absolutely, and to
everybody else who's joined into watch this conversation or
listen to it, depending on theplayer you're playing it on.
I appreciate your time and Iappreciate you guys staying with
us throughout the conversation,learning some cool stuff,
learning Sarah's story andobviously all about Firewatch
(45:42):
Magazine.
I think it was a prettyempowering opportunity to
showcase it.
I appreciate that.
But there's also something youguys need to know.
If you want to hear any more ofour conversations, you can go
to our website,transactingvaluepodcastcom, and
here's what's cool about it.
In addition to that, On thehomepage there's a little button
that says leave a voicemail.
It's in the top right corner.
(46:03):
Click on it.
Two minutes of talk time, it'sall yours.
Here's my recommendation to youabout what you do with it.
One, let us know what you thinkof the show.
Let us know your feedback, thetopics, my style, the questions,
the content, the guests,anybody you think might be a
good recommendation to come onto the show, tell us.
It can be totally audible andit can be totally anonymous.
(46:25):
Leave us the voicemail.
But secondly, tell Sarah whatyou think of the conversation.
Let her know what you thinkabout what she's doing.
Talk to her about FirewatchMagazine, leave her comments,
ask her questions and we'llforward the audio file onto her
as well.
That said, I really doappreciate the time and the
opportunity.
If you guys want to getinvolved with our show, send an
(46:45):
email to transactingvaluepodcastat sdytmediacom and we'll be
sure to get in touch with you assoon as we're able, but until
next time, that was TransactingValue.
Thank you to our show partnersand folks.
Thank you for tuning in andappreciating our value as we all
grow through life together.
(47:06):
To check out our otherconversations or even to
contribute through feedback,follows, time, money or talent,
and to let us know what youthink of the show, please leave
a review on our website,transactingvaluepodcastcom.
We also stream new episodesevery Monday at 9 am Eastern
Standard Time through all ofyour favorite podcasting
platforms like Spotify, iheartand TuneIn.
You can now hear TransactingValue on Wreaths Across America
(47:29):
Radio.
Head to wreathsacrossamericaorg.
Slash transacting value tosponsor a wreath and remember,
honor and teach the value offreedom for future generations.
On behalf of our team and ourglobal ambassadors, as you all
strive to establish clarity andpurpose, ensure social
tranquility and secure theblessings of liberty or
(47:49):
individual sovereignty ofcharacter for yourselves and
your posterity, we will continueinstigating self-worth, and
we'll meet you there Until nexttime.
That was Transacting Value.
The views expressed in this podcast are
solely those of the podcast hostand guest and do not
necessarily represent those ofour distribution partners,
supporting businessrelationships or supported
audience.
Welcome to Transacting Value,where we talk about practical
(00:22):
applications for instigatingself-worth when dealing with
each other and even withinourselves, where we foster a
podcast listening experiencethat lets you hear the power of
a value system for managingburnout, establishing boundaries
, fostering community andfinding identity.
My name is Josh Porthouse, I'myour host and we are redefining
sovereignty of character.
(00:42):
This is why values still holdvalue.
This is Transacting Value.
Sarah Williams (00:49):
If you are driven by a number in your head
and that's what you're lookingfor, you're not necessarily
going to be happy.
You may get lucky and get thisawesome job and it's giving you
whatever you think your numberis, but is that really what's
going to get you out of bed inthe morning?
Josh Porthouse (01:08):
Today on Transacting Value.
What do you do after a 30-yearcareer in the US Department of
Defense?
More specifically, who do youbecome after you spent so much
time designing who you needed tobe?
Well, in today's conversation,retired US Airman and current
Firewatch Magazine contributorSarah Williams is going to talk
all about it, and for now, I'mJosh Porthouse, I'm your host,
(01:30):
and so, from SDYT Media, this isTransacting Value.
Sarah, how are you doing?
Sarah Williams (01:37):
I'm doing great, josh, thank you.
Josh Porthouse (01:40):
Absolutely.
I appreciate the opportunity.
I mean you've put decades ofyour life into what's about to
be this conversation, so you'redoing me the honor when you had
what was it close to 30 years inthe Air Force.
Sarah Williams (01:53):
Correct.
Josh Porthouse (01:55):
And all of the experiences and all of the
deployments you've had.
Did you get a break after ordid you go straight into
Firewatch?
Sarah Williams (02:03):
I took a year break.
A whole year I did transitionprograms correct.
I did tap four, block the honorfoundation and the star network
oh, okay.
Josh Porthouse (02:13):
Okay, I'm familiar with the honor
foundation and obviously tapeverybody's got to go through
tap.
But was that?
Did you find enough for you?
I mean, I just did like 15years active and I was like I
don't know, I need some time toexhale and figure out who I am.
And you did twice as long.
Sarah Williams (02:29):
And part of that .
I was also an intern with theGlobal Special Operations
Foundation, GSOF, so I was veryblessed to be coming out of a
staff and my boss gave me thattime to intern under the skilled
program and then to take thoseother other programs as well.
Josh Porthouse (02:46):
Yeah, okay.
Well, let's start there then, Iguess, relatively speaking, at
the beginning.
So for anybody who's new to theshow, unfamiliar with you and
your experience, just take acouple minutes.
Who are you, where are you fromand and what sort of things
have shaped your perspective onthe world today?
Sarah Williams (03:03):
Absolutely.
I'll start my senior year ofhigh school.
So you know not to share my age, but that was 1993.
And I was on my way to aservice academy interview.
I knew I wanted to be in themilitary and I had a wonderful
guidance counselor that guidedme towards the service academies
.
So I was at the final stages ofthat process and I had applied
(03:26):
to the Naval Academy, Air Forceand Coast Guard and I was on my
way to an interview in my 86Camaro, my pride and joy I had
worked two summers for and I wasdriving in the big town of
Duluth, Minnesota, and I say bigtown because I grew up in a one
traffic light town of 1200people in Grand Marais,
Minnesota, and I say big townbecause I grew up in a one
traffic light town of 1200people in Grand Marais,
(03:47):
Minnesota, First time in the bigcity, right, and I ran a red
light and I was broadsided,completely, 100% my fault.
So I was okay physically.
The other person was okayphysically.
My Camaro was very dented,upented up, and the policeman
showed up and he said why areyou in such a hurry?
(04:09):
And I told him why and helooked at me and I'll never
forget it.
He slammed his clipboard shutand he said you go do that
interview and we'll take care ofthis later.
So that is how I have tried toalways look at my career is.
I chose aircraft maintenancebecause it's a job working with
people and I wanted to be thatperson.
(04:29):
Like that police officer wasthat, no matter what happened in
your life, no matter whatyou're dealing with, just go.
Josh Porthouse (04:36):
Wow, wow, ok, and so then you stayed with
aircraft maintenance your entirecareer.
Sarah Williams (04:43):
I sure did so.
After that interview I well, atfirst I didn't get picked up
right away.
I was on my way to go to, I wasworking three jobs, I was going
to go to veterinary school andthen, two weeks before boot camp
, the Air Force sent me a snailmail letter and said oh, we have
a spot for you now.
Be here in two weeks.
And my dad and I we got in thatsame Camaro and he drove me out
(05:06):
to Colorado.
And four years of school and 26years later, here we are.
Josh Porthouse (05:10):
Wow, wow.
And so I mean I'm assuming thisis like everybody's sort of
multi-contract experience in theDOD.
But you know, let's say it'sfour years.
Every time, at like three yearsyou're like I don't know if I
want to keep doing this.
And then by five years you'relike I don't know why I did this
, but then you continue to do itagain, contract after contract.
(05:31):
Was it the same case for you?
Sarah Williams (05:33):
It was I.
I really loved aircraftmaintenance.
I mean, from day one I was new,nothing, new, nothing, no
military background.
I'm this, you know, youngLieutenant running around in a
90% male dominated field on theflight line, but I learned to
love the smell of JP eight andI'd go visit with my maintainers
and I'd get my hands dirty.
And every job until I got moresenior was like that, where I
(05:57):
just got to be with people thatwere making a difference and we
were getting those aircraftfixed and in the air and
absolutely loved it.
Then, you know, there's themore senior positions after that
, but I would not change a thing.
The entire military career wasan honor for me, a blessing, and
I loved it.
Josh Porthouse (06:16):
Now, I think in every branch, every rating or
occupational specialty is fullygender equal, I think, is the
phrase now, but at the time,what is this?
The mid to late 90s, thatwasn't the case, correct?
So how did you end up?
I mean, what did you deal with?
How did you end up?
Making a name for yourself,that sort of fought, the stigmas
(06:39):
and the stereotypes, and whatdid you have to do differently?
Sarah Williams (06:43):
I will say one thing that helped on day one
when I drove up.
I drove up in a 1967, I'm sorry, a 1976 jacked up Chevy truck
with 33 inch tires.
I'm like, okay, it'll work.
But no, I mean seriously.
I attached myself to a seniorNCO.
I said teach me and I just madeit a big point to really
(07:06):
understand my people and tosupport them.
And once they saw that, youknow they'll do anything for you
.
Now, of course, there weretimes where you know the days
weren't so so, so nice, orthere's, you know you're running
around the flight land likeclowns on fire, but at the end
of the day it was all about thepeople.
Josh Porthouse (07:26):
Yeah, and I assume that served you well over
the last few years as well,transitioning out and now into
your new career path andstanding on a lot of the same
skill sets, minus maybe JP8.
Sarah Williams (07:39):
Right Minus the JP8, but I just go.
You know we put gas in the car,no yeah.
Josh Porthouse (07:45):
Yeah, and so now then, crafting all of that and
honing all that into a skillsetthat you can stand on and and
use, what are you finding to bethe most resonant, or maybe even
the most relevant skills thatyou've taken with you?
Sarah Williams (08:00):
I would say the most relevant is resilience.
We are always facing thesethings in our life, no matter
what we're doing, that are hard.
I mean, it can be something inour personal life, it can be
something happening to a familymember, it can be having your
pride and joy car gettingbroadsided and it's 100% your
fault, you know.
But having resilience to beable to, to figure out how do I
(08:25):
overcome this?
Who do I talk to?
What is my support network?
What action am I going to taketo get myself out of the
situation onto more firm ground?
Josh Porthouse (08:37):
In coming up with these systems.
I guess it's probably afortuitous assignment in
airframes and aircraft, but Iassume systems is sort of your
jam.
Sarah Williams (08:51):
Ie fixing things .
Josh Porthouse (08:53):
No more specifically a pattern or a
process, or implementing onewhere it seems a little bit more
uncertain or complex or chaotic.
Sarah Williams (09:02):
I would say yes, but with flexibility, worked in
there as well.
And let's just take the camaro,for instance.
I had to get home that nightafter that incident.
My door if you remember thoseold 86, you know camaros, it's a
big, huge, heavy door and youcan't you can't go around a
corner and hold that by hand butit wouldn't shut.
So I got out of that interviewand I was my biggest concern was
(09:24):
somebody, that somebody stoleall my cassette tapes.
My cassette tapes were stillthere, but I had to get home.
I couldn't call my parents.
I was embarrassed I probablyshould have, but I just was like
, okay, I'm going to figure thisout.
So I drove it to a body shop.
Of course, this is before cellphones, this was before I could,
you know even being able tolook up where a body shop was.
(09:46):
I had a, I had a yellow pagesin the car.
I found a body shop and I hadprobably $40 in my wallet cash,
no credit cards.
I'm like, well, all right.
So I talked to these nicegentlemen there, explain my
situation and here's kind ofwhere the people aspect comes in
.
They basically fixed my doorwell enough for me to shut it
(10:08):
and drive the two and a halfhours home and I said I don't
have, I don't have, I don't havea credit card.
I gave him, I gave them $20 andthey said that's fine, just go.
So there again somebody in yourlife that like just trying to
help me out, just go get homesafely.
Josh Porthouse (10:27):
And so what sort of a role, I guess, do you find
that that kind of grace has hadfrom you to you as you've gone
through your career, as youtalked about for other people,
but you're also one of one inevery one of those instances?
Sarah Williams (10:45):
How has that affected me for the future?
Josh Porthouse (10:48):
More in the present, at that moment
respectively, however you wantto take it, but that degree of
grace and self-assessment, Ithink, has a role to play as
well when you're talking aboutresilience.
Sarah Williams (10:58):
Absolutely, and that's why I'm doing what I'm
doing now with Firewatch,because I want to give it back.
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Sarah Williams (11:57):
Absolutely, and that's why I'm doing what I'm
doing now with Firewatch,because I want to give it back.
I knew that I did not want acontractor job or an office job
or a six-figure job.
I wanted a job that was notdefined by a paycheck but
defined by purpose, autonomy andmaking a difference for, in my
(12:20):
case, veterans, first respondersand patriot families with
Firewatch, and I absolutely loveit.
Josh Porthouse (12:27):
Well, that helps too right.
Finding something that on onehand, you've got enough of a
living wage and it's paying youwell enough to do whatever you
want, but on the other hand thatit's actually fulfilling.
And I guess, if there's a thirdhand, that you enjoy it and
that you can go to itconsistently and not have it
burn you out, that's huge.
Sarah Williams (12:46):
Yes, I remember when I was going through the
transition programs and theywere all wonderful, but every
single one had a little portionin it.
That said, figure out what yournumber is.
Ie, what are you worth in thecivilian world?
And they had all these differentcalculators and I hated it.
I was never comfortable withsitting down and figuring out
(13:06):
what my number was Cause for me,it was never about the money,
and I get it.
I mean, I don't have kids toput through college, it's just
two German shepherds and myself.
But I just think that if youare, if you are driven by a
number in your head and that'swhat you're looking for, you're
not necessarily going to behappy.
You may get lucky and get thisawesome job and it's giving you
(13:29):
whatever you think your numberis, but is that really what's
going to get you out of bed inthe morning?
I don't think so.
Josh Porthouse (13:38):
If anything, it may be the one that keeps you up
at night.
Sarah Williams (13:41):
Exactly, exactly , yes.
Josh Porthouse (13:43):
Yeah, absolutely Well.
So okay, how do you?
How do you, I guess, contendwith that sort of dichotomy,
right?
Because, not to pry into toomuch of the details, but you've
obviously got 30 years ofretirement, I mean, you're on a
pension, right?
Sarah Williams (13:59):
Cause it was active duty.
Yes.
Josh Porthouse (14:02):
Yeah.
So so you're on a pension, Imean you've got an income.
So do you think, compared toanybody getting out after four
years or getting separated after20 or whatever applies, is that
sort of the same kind of equityin terms of perspective,
potential, purpose fulfillment,or are there instances where
(14:22):
money comes as a higher sort ofpremium?
I guess?
Sarah Williams (14:25):
The money is important in some regards
absolutely but I do think itapplies to everybody, whether
you got out at four years or 30years, or whether you are a one
striper or you have four starson your collar.
I think that having thatpurpose means that you never
have to work a day in your life.
And then what's going to happenis okay.
Say, you take an entry-leveljob and you're making $20,000 a
(14:49):
year on something you absolutelylove.
If you love it and you'redriven, you're going to increase
that paycheck.
You're going to find other waysto be making 40K the next year
or 60K the next year.
You're going to figure it out,because once our heart and soul
is in what we do, ouropportunities are endless.
Josh Porthouse (15:09):
I like that.
So you've had a lot differentexperiences than I've had in the
DoD.
I mean one commissioned,vice-enlisted, two 30 years to
15, and then three totallydifferent branches, let alone
specialties, and you knoweverything that comes with that
Stations, campaigns, operations,whatever.
(15:30):
Have you found, I guess,looking back, that it was a
relatively seamless transitionfor you, contract after contract
, and you just sort of grew intoyour role.
Or was there like an activeassessment or reassessment of
who you were as a person torelearn a new position or a new
(15:50):
promotion or a new step?
Sarah Williams (15:53):
Oh, there was definitely reassessments and
relearning.
One thing with aircraftmaintenance is you don't get to
pick your airframes.
You don't get to pick obviouslyyour locations is you don't get
to pick your airframes, youdon't get to pick obviously your
locations.
And then each location haddifferent responsibilities and
learning curves with it,depending on what our mission
was or whether we were deployed,of course.
(16:14):
Then you throw 9-11 in thereand all of a sudden there's no
plan.
You just get on a C-130 and go.
And then, of course, command andthen staff.
Every single position had alearning curve, but I would
always revert back to okay, pickthe, maybe it's the one striper
that has the most knowledgethat can help you out.
Maybe you know, it doesn't haveto be rank, it can just be
(16:37):
somebody else that has beenworking in that position or that
unit for five years already.
And it's talking to peoplebeing willing to learn and then
once they see that and see youropen-mindedness, they're not
going to let you fail.
Josh Porthouse (16:54):
Hmm, I've had a Marine recruiter come on the
show.
He was also actually in myplatoon at one point.
I've had one or two of my squadleaders come on the show at one
point or another and it'sinteresting because from your
perspective, and what you'redescribing is exactly what they
said from their perspective andhow they described it, and so
(17:16):
that sort of harmony doesn'tmake a difference the branch,
the rank, the time and service,and to a certain degree, I think
, maybe only time and grade,because you got to learn the
ropes the first year or two, butafter that, once you understand
how to apply what you'velearned and the science is
muscle memory, I think the arttends to take over, and it's
this like inverse uh ratio of askill set the longer your career
(17:41):
where it's a little bit lessscience and a little bit more
art.
Was it the same case for you A?
Sarah Williams (17:45):
hundred percent.
Josh Porthouse (17:49):
Do you think now you've essentially reinvented
yourself in the private sectoras a civilian, now not in the
DOD?
Has it been starting overRelearning the science and
communicating and feeling outprocesses in society?
Because you stepped out ofreality for 30 years and now
you're back.
Everything's different.
Sarah Williams (18:09):
Yes, I would say it's not starting over but it's
learning the civilian way.
For example, my boss, steve,roderick and Stacey, they're
amazing, they're super, they'rejust super intelligent people.
And I, but I started, I startedusing I don't mean that as a
caveat, I just mean that I usedmy military terminology and I
(18:30):
wasn't remembering the fact thatneither of them have been in
the military.
They're, they're, they're supersuccessful business people.
And so I started talking toSteve oh, let's do this at 1800
or 1400.
And he's like oh, now I got tosubtract 12.
And then I was using a coupleacronyms one day and I really
had to remind myself tocivilianize myself when I talk
(18:54):
terminology and time and alsoexpectations.
So another example there is youknow, in the military we just
operate 24, seven, you know, andespecially in in command, you,
if you're working at two in themorning, then it's okay to go
take a break from, I'm going tosay, 1400, two to 3 PM the next
(19:15):
day, whatever your schedule iskind of just all the time.
So my first week on the job Iblocked out two hours on my
calendar for a personal event inthe middle of the day and I
learned that that was not theright thing to do, because that
was company time and our companytime is scheduled.
It is what it is right, and Ieither needed to coordinate it
(19:38):
first prior to just throwing iton the calendar, which would
have been fine, or I needed todo it during non-company time.
Josh Porthouse (19:48):
Okay, well, there's a lot of that friction
and complexity and obviousuncertainty in different degrees
and scales and scopes, wheneverwe're in a war, war, fighting
environment or humanitarian aidmission, or it's the nature of
war, it's theory of war, right?
So what role does humility have, in your opinion, in that
(20:09):
process?
Sarah Williams (20:10):
Oh, a huge, huge role.
No matter how many great thingssomebody did in the military I
mean, we all did great things Ifwe have to talk about them,
number one, then we're too busytalking and we're not executing.
So, as I'm learning thiscivilian, you know caveats and
expectations and I realize oh, Ijust used six acronyms in that
(20:33):
sentence.
Josh Porthouse (20:34):
Check myself, remind myself that that's okay,
but from a standpoint, hey guys,I'm really I apologize, let's
start that conversation over andjust to kind of put myself in
my receiver's shoes and becognizant of where they're
coming from have you found,either professionally in the DOD
(20:58):
or now after the fact, let'ssay professionally, personally,
that that degree ofvulnerability helps or hurts
your position in a conversation,in a role, in a, you know,
whatever placement in societyyou want to attribute to that?
Sarah Williams (21:15):
It can help or hurt.
I think it helps when you arevery genuine.
It can help or hurt.
I think it helps when you arevery genuine and you pick the
timely avenue in which toexplain yourself.
Or maybe you don't have toexplain yourself.
But on the flip side and here'san example I was in a meeting
with a civilian entity last week.
(21:36):
They had no agenda, they wereall over the place.
People were talking on top ofeach other.
I was getting so frustrated andinstead of maybe holding my
tongue and talking to the leaderof that meeting after the fact,
I started stepping on peopletoo and at one point you could
(21:59):
just tell I was frustrated, andI don't think anybody was very
impressed with that, becausethis entity doesn't know me I
was kind of a new member of itand who's this person that
thinks that?
You know she wants structure inthe meeting.
So I need to step back and pickthe right time to give feedback
and not get wound up over howsomething is or is not happening
(22:25):
just because it's not the wayI'm used to doing it.
Josh Porthouse (22:28):
Well, that's a powerful observation, isn't it?
It's hard right, that's exactlywhat I was going to say.
Yeah, I mean, could you imagineif there were anything else
that maybe is even moredifficult?
I don't think so.
You have to say yeah, I mean,could you imagine if, if there
were anything else that maybe iseven more difficult?
I don't think so.
You have to I don't know how tophrase it.
You have to learn or mayberelearn your place.
(22:49):
I mean it's it's.
It's a new organization, orwell, it's a new sector of
society.
Sarah Williams (22:54):
And they may operate very well that way,
right?
So I like to call it checkingmyself.
It's almost like I should.
I should walk into those thosetypes of meetings and just put
that like the top of my notebookor something.
Josh Porthouse (23:08):
Or yeah, right, tie the string around your
finger, or whatever the trick isyeah.
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Sarah Williams (23:33):
I should walk into those types of meetings and
just put that at the top of mynotebook or something.
Josh Porthouse (23:40):
Sure, yeah, tie the string around your finger or
whatever the trick is, yeah.
So this is.
This is, I guess, a goodopportunity then, when we're
talking about all the thingsthat you've learned about you
and how you've put them intopractice.
This is a segment of the showcalled developing character D D
D, developing.
(24:00):
Now, for clarity for you andanybody else who might be new to
the show, it's two questions,but here's why my theory is that
our values are a shortcut toour identities, to deepen our
relationships, to broaden outcommunication and conversation,
but to deepen society andculture, and I think it gives
(24:21):
our awareness, self-awareness, agrounding.
And so, to make all of thesedecisions, I'm sure your
Department of Defense, careerand professional acumen
contributed a lot, but can't beall, because you started as you
before you started.
So my two questions are aboutyour value systems, and they're
(24:42):
rooted in time.
Okay, my first question is whatwere some of the values that
you remember being raised on orgrew up around or were taught?
And then my second question isnow that all this time has
passed and this experience hasbeen gained, what, then, are
some of your values now?
Sarah Williams (25:03):
then, or some of your values now.
I was the first daughter ofthree.
I was very, and still am, verystubborn and I will say my
parents were, in my opinion,kind of strict, especially, I
think, because I was the firstand we didn't have a lot of
money and, uh, my dad both mymom and dad uh, just super,
super hard workers.
My first five years we lived ina cabin in northern Minnesota
with no plumbing, no electricity, no running water.
(25:25):
I remember waking up at nightbecause we just had a wood stove
in there and my sheets would befrozen to the wall and I'm
still traumatized by dropping mystuffed animal down the
outhouse toilet one night.
But through that I watched mydad build our next house.
(25:46):
I watched my mom primarily.
She was raising us, workedpart-time, my dad was the
full-time.
I watched how hard they workedand sometimes growing up.
It was very frustrating becauseI had friends who you know.
They had a boat or they had areally nice house with heat.
It took a while for me toreally get to that understanding
(26:08):
.
I wouldn't wish that on anybody, but it taught me that you
don't need to live off a creditcard and you don't need to be
driving the most fancy car inthe neighborhood or have the
fanciest house, if you just workhard.
And I mean by the time I lefthome and my sisters were there,
(26:29):
they did have the nicer house.
They had the things because mymom and dad worked really hard
for them.
You know, and this was backwhen I think the APR for a house
loan was like 12 percent orsomething.
So I witnessed that and then itwas ingrained in me as I was
growing up and then just furtherreinforced throughout my
military DOD career.
Josh Porthouse (26:50):
Okay, so that was that.
Yeah.
So then if we take that and usethat as a foundation or as a
springboard for your own, let'ssay, self-assessment and
character development, whatabout now?
Sarah Williams (27:04):
The working hard definitely has helped me out a
lot.
Now here's one where I did notlisten to dad.
I got in a lot of financialdebt throughout the years.
I did have credit cards.
I had numerous credit cards andI bought stuff I didn't have
money for, you know, and Ifinally got to a point where I
(27:25):
realized how stupid I was being.
But that was later on and I hadtold.
I told myself I was going to bedebt free by the time of 40
years old.
So I made that decision.
About 35 years old I took Daveum, the Dave Ramsey's financial
peace University program.
Josh Porthouse (27:39):
Oh yeah.
Sarah Williams (27:40):
Teaches you how to get out of debt and I was
debt free by 40.
And then, oh, congratulations,oh, thank you.
And I haven't relied on creditcards since and it's this huge
freedom off your shoulders whenyou don't owe money to people
except, okay, so a housemortgage.
There's probably usually alwaysthat.
But, yes, working hard and thensometimes not following the
(28:02):
values my parents were trying toinstill in me, but in the end I
learned from that too.
Nobody's perfect, I mean, youknow, and I, I, I did have a fun
boat at the time.
I had horses I had, I didburrow.
I mean I did a lot of funthings with that money I didn't
have.
But being debt-free is a lotbetter.
Josh Porthouse (28:22):
Yeah, Well, I mean the peace of mind alone
that comes with that.
Sarah Williams (28:25):
Yes, yes.
Josh Porthouse (28:27):
Yeah, absolutely .
Now, to that point, though.
You mentioned Dave Ramseyearlier and, at least as far as
I'm aware, snowballing the debtpayoff is one of the big
principles of his entirecurriculum, right?
Yes, okay, so I mean it goesboth ways, right, Like as it
accrues and as you pay it down,but that's all finances.
(28:49):
What about the cognition?
Because we hear about it allthe time and I'm sure, as a
commander or, you know, formerlyknown as that, you saw it all
the time with your airmen, right, the people that get into this.
Well, on a spectrum, on onehand, a relatively safe and
comfortable pattern ofself-neglect, to then that just
(29:11):
becomes destructive, the thehouse calls the wellness checks
that you know, whatever thatactually has some substance, it
tends to snowball as well.
How do you manage that?
Through any of these, let's say, career changes, identity
changes in some cases, becauseit's tempting.
(29:31):
There's times where you're likeI don't know if this is for me,
what did I just do?
Doubt comes in all the time.
Sarah Williams (29:38):
Absolutely.
You know in in that regard it'sit's the whole 10 of your
people will take up 90 of yourtime.
But how I manage that is I hadhalf.
To this day I have six.
I call it my six pack and Ihave six friends who I could
call day or night some military,some not, and from different
(30:02):
walks of life that if I have aquestion, if I need help, if I
just need to vent or if I justhad a shitty day, I can call up
one of my six pack and they'realways there for me and likewise
I am for them as well.
So it doesn't have to be six,it could be 10.
It could be three, but I thinkhaving you know dial, a friend
on speed dial, is absolutelynecessary to help help overcome
(30:23):
those times and to be there foryou.
Josh Porthouse (30:28):
Well, so I well, I appreciate the point for
clarity, because I'm notentirely sure speed dial exists
anymore.
That's where you I'm kidding.
But so when you're talkingabout that, though, you said,
these are people from alldifferent walks of life as well,
and in the military, and I'mreally just isolating it for
(30:48):
clarity, as a reference, to makethis point.
But it could be as a policeofficer, it could be as a
firefighter, an EMT, a nurse, itdoesn't matter.
Pick your focus of frontlinecommunity servant, high
occupational stress position,right, but for now, in the
military, all you know arepeople in the military.
(31:09):
You live where you work, youwork where you enjoy your
hobbies.
It eventually, or initiallymaybe, starts in this silo and
then, if you're lucky, youbroaden it out, and if you're
normal, you don't.
So how did you branch out?
What worked for you, socially,behaviorally, anything?
Sarah Williams (31:30):
I would be very involved in other column,
extracurricular activitiesoutside of the workplace and
volunteer opportunities.
I've been in this past year.
I've had more time to do someof that and I think those kinds
of things are invaluable For me.
It's the American Legion, Womenin Defense, NDIA, Canine
(31:52):
Partners for Patriots, theHumane Society of Tampa Bay, to
name a few, and all of those are, you know, very different from
each other, some moreprofessional, some more social,
some about saving animals, andbut they're, they're all ways to
be involved in somethingoutside of that silo of
excellence that we're used to.
Josh Porthouse (32:13):
Oh, that's a cool phrase.
What do you think that's rootedin?
Is that performance?
Yeah, silo of excellence.
Is that performance?
Is that awareness?
Is that professionalism?
What is that attributed to?
Sarah Williams (32:27):
In my opinion, a silo of excellence is something
that comes from an organizationsuch as DOD that is very strict
in its structure, strict in itsstructure.
So I've always thought, youknow, I did some consulting at
one point, working for the jointstaff, where we visited
combatant commands and sharedbest practices, insights,
lessons learned and we alwaystried to break, help, help the
(32:50):
teams break down their silos ofexcellence.
Cause you've got, you know, thelogistics, the, the, you've got
the operational people, you'vegot intelligence, you've got all
the different that are veryfocused on what they do, as they
should be.
But if you're able to encouragean organization to flatten it
out a little bit more and tofind a venue with which to talk
(33:11):
across versus up and down thatchain of command, you can be
much more productive All right,folks sit tight, We'll be right
back on Transacting Value.
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Sarah Williams (34:20):
Slash that's linktreemiketaylor357, and tune
into Transacting Value to hearmore but if you're able to
encourage an organization toflatten it out a little bit more
and to find a venue with whichto talk across versus up and
down that chain of command, youcan be much more productive.
Josh Porthouse (34:42):
How do you recommend instilling that in?
Let's say it's not evenprofessional.
Let's say it's not even anorganization.
You're trying to build out yoursix-pack.
It's not even professional.
Let's say it's not even anorganization.
You're trying to build out yoursix pack, the six pack of
friends, not your fitnessroutine, and you're trying to
identify these opportunities.
Right, let's say you're withina year, three years, whatever,
of active duty, of separatingfrom your whatever tenured
(35:06):
position you had.
How do you start to broaden itout?
Sarah Williams (35:11):
You find out what your passion is and and
then it's going to evolve intoyou go to one event, then
somebody recommends another oneand then eventually you just
have all these opportunitieswithout putting too much on your
plate.
But for me it's always been, uh, like the humane society I love
.
What do we get?
Over 200 animals adopted outper week?
(35:32):
It's a no kill shelter, I guessthey're per week, yes, between
the cats and dogs and exotics,an average of 200 per week.
It's because of how well runtheir organization is and how
they operate.
Sherry Stilk, the presidentshe's absolutely amazing and she
herself is is at events.
(35:52):
Um, you can talk to her.
She's got an open door policy.
She treats all of hervolunteers and employees like
that and it's a very flatorganization and it's very
effective.
Um, so I in in.
In answer to your question,though, I think you find
something you're passionateabout.
You start going to those events, the uh, you know, I mean, it
(36:13):
can just be as simple as aGoogle and finding what's where,
and then it's going to branchout to many others.
Josh Porthouse (36:24):
Okay.
Well then to your point of sortof flattening out the dialogue
in the conversation.
So it's not, as let's say,organizationally hierarchical.
How do you start to makeinroads into flattening out
wherever you end up?
Because sometimes you know youget a job at I don't know
PricewaterhouseCooper, or youget a job at whatever Ross, or
(36:46):
whatever it is you're doing as atruck driver.
You know you've got to.
Well, like you said, you've gota hierarchy you've got to fall
into and the routine may notmatch what you're used to.
So how do you try to influencethat and flatten it a little bit
, to compromise your learningstyle and their conversational
climate or whatever?
Sarah Williams (37:02):
Yeah, good question, josh.
You get out of your office, youwalk around leadership by
walking around.
You just start to go talk topeople like like even you know,
walking around, you just startto go talk to people like like
even you know, socom is love it,but it's a very, very strict uh
, you know?
I mean there's so many, um, youknow, classified areas, so
you've got all these naturalwalls built in already, because
(37:23):
if you're not read into theprogram, you're not going to go
in that skiff.
Here I go with my militaryjargon again anyway, Anyway.
So, like it's so calm,personally I would just I would
spend half my day just visiting,like walking around trying to
go to somebody else's workspace,versus talking on the phone,
learning a little bit.
(37:43):
Oh, I see you have a picture onyour desk of whatever it is and
then we'd have a conversation.
So now you form thatrelationship and then when I do
have to talk on the phone a weeklater, it's more comfortable
and it's not just you've got aname with the face, and I think
in any organization that canapply.
You could even be on a ship andyou walk around your ship while
you're underway.
(38:04):
It could be Amazon.
You go, walk the floor, youtalk to your employees, get out
of the office, get out of thewalls that you find yourself
working from within.
Josh Porthouse (38:17):
I like that a lot.
Now saying that this is aperfect opportunity, I think,
really for the sake of time, formy last, probably two questions
.
My first one is getting out ofyour walls where you find
yourself, or getting out of yourcomfort zone throughout your
career, throughout your life, tothis point, and then now,
presently, into the role youfind yourself.
(38:37):
What is all of those, or whathave all of those experiences
done for you to actuallyinstigate your own self-worth
and your own sense of self?
Sarah Williams (38:47):
They've made me stronger, everyone because
sometimes those situations arenot comfortable, or sometimes
you walk into somebody'sworkspace and they don't want
you there, they don't have timefor you.
So you know, you, you realizewell, oh, I just burned that
bridge, but it made me strongerbecause it taught me something,
and everything we experience isa learning lesson.
(39:09):
It's a building block tosomething that we can use later
on.
And we don't, we don't want to.
You know we don't always makethe right choices, but why beat
ourselves up?
It was a learning lessonRecover and go on.
Josh Porthouse (39:22):
And even, frankly, we don't always know it
at the time that we're going tobe able to look back and use it
.
Sarah Williams (39:28):
Right.
Josh Porthouse (39:29):
Yeah, that's, that's definitely something I've
learned, so you sort of owe itto yourself to try to make the
best of it.
And this, this is something Idid earlier this week, or I
guess it's last week now at thetime of this recording.
But I got home after a long dayand I didn't know what I was
doing.
I didn't know how to respond toa particular situation
physically, verbally, mentally,cognitively, every adverb you
(39:49):
can think of.
I was burnt out on the day, soI put a chair in the backyard it
was still sunny outside and Ijust sat there.
I went and got a bottle ofwater, made a sandwich and I
said no decisions till I feelbetter.
And then you know you're betterable to reflect on it, because
you never know how it's going toimpact the future you.
(40:10):
So you may as well pay itforward to yourself and make it
a decent enough interaction inyour internal dialogue to learn
something.
That's awesome.
Yeah, well, it worked Well,we'll see how well it works when
future me needs the moment.
But anyway, that brings me tomy last question.
So now, having said all of thesethings, you're in a role with
(40:31):
Firewatch Magazine that coversall sorts of things, I'm
assuming military.
Let's break down the magazineand then what does it do?
What does it cover?
Where can people go?
How can they find it Getinvolved?
Absolutely All of the above.
Sarah Williams (40:46):
Yes, firewatchmagazinecom will bring
you to our publication.
We are print and we are digitaland it is free on the digital
platform and you could alsocontact me anytime at Sarah at
firewatchmagazinecom that'sSarah with an H as on the screen
and we have so many fun thingsplanned for 2025 that people can
(41:10):
get involved in um that arecoming up and we're really
excited about where we're goingwith this publication.
So, military first responder,patriot, patriotic families, we
want to help you and we want tobe a resource that is the go-to
resource for those, those threevenues.
I will say here here's the new,brand new December, just hot
(41:34):
off the press.
Josh Porthouse (41:36):
There you go, Nice nice.
Sarah Williams (41:37):
Yes, so sign up.
Josh Porthouse (41:40):
There you go, firewatchmagazinecom.
So for anybody else who maybeis or isn't familiar with this
show or with the magazine, is itonly print and digital, or do
you guys broadcast anywhere else?
Sarah Williams (41:53):
Anywhere else, people can track you down in
person, anything like that wedon't broadcast specifically,
but we have an entire likemarketing, campaign, engagement,
platform, etc.
Project where we are out in the, we're out in the media, we're
out at venues, we are constantlyum networking different people
together.
Josh Porthouse (42:13):
That's super cool.
Sarah Williams (42:14):
Yeah.
Josh Porthouse (42:15):
Yes, and so it's all different groups of people,
though.
Sarah Williams (42:17):
Yes, yes, like, for example, I had a, so I also
bring our advertisers into themagazine as well as networking.
I had one client that does homehealthcare and then I ran into
a friend of mine whose motherneeds that service, so I put
them in touch with each other.
So it's kind of just being thatvoice and then and then putting
people, people in touch with,with who we've met that can, who
(42:40):
can help them yeah, sweet, byvirtue of now being tied to the
magazine, you mean yes, yes, yesit's a cool opportunity it, is
it Well speaking of findingfulfilling opportunities, I
guess, and things you'repassionate about.
Josh Porthouse (42:56):
It sounds like you just happened to walk into
this one.
It wasn't like a intentionaldiscovery, right?
Sarah Williams (43:01):
No, it's a cool story.
I started up a company calledShining Star LLC.
In October I launched it and itwas a window decal that a
business could put in theirwindow identifying the fact that
they offer a 10% discount to aveteran.
So then I I had this magazinesitting in my read pile.
I looked at it.
I thought, oh, I should be, Ishould be in this magazine.
(43:22):
So I contacted Steve and I saidI want to advertise with you
and he said let's meet.
So then we met a few days laterand then he said I love your
concept, but I want to hire you.
I said, okay, yeah, firewatchis doing what I was trying to do
, without starting from scratch.
Josh Porthouse (43:42):
Well, I mean, that's important, right?
Any, I think, business leaderor business throughout history
to this point that has actuallybeen super uber successful, I
guess theoretically like Uber aswell.
But Tesla, nobody started fromscratch.
Everybody started with a degreeof torque to then just drive
(44:04):
down the road.
Sarah Williams (44:05):
Yes, yes.
Josh Porthouse (44:07):
Yeah, that is powerful, but yeah, so to that
point, anybody who's new toTransacting Value and in case
you missed the point, since wetalked a little bit past it,
depending on the player you'restreaming this conversation on
or watching this video on, youcan click See More, you can
click Show More and in thedrop-down description you'll see
links to Firewatch Magazine andthen from that website, even
(44:27):
while we're finishing thisconversation, you can go there.
You can check out the material,you can check out the articles,
you can check out theadvertising, sponsorship
opportunities, everywhere it'sput out, and you guys also have
local events or an eventscalendar.
Sarah Williams (44:41):
Yes, in fact, that's in our latest issue,
right now.
Josh Porthouse (44:44):
Okay, well, there you go, and it's in print
so you can track that down aswell.
Perfect, firewatchmagazinecom.
Sarah, I love the conversation.
I appreciate your perspectiveand just your zeal, your
personality.
I think it made for a reallyinteresting opportunity.
I don't get to talk to too manypeople that have as long a
(45:05):
career as you've had in the DoD,but also where you find
yourself in a place that you'rewilling to talk about the length
of the career in a waythat's're willing to talk about
the length of the career in away that's still entertaining
and relatable and resonant.
So I appreciate your time, butI also appreciate the
opportunity.
So thank you well.
Sarah Williams (45:20):
Thank you, josh.
Josh Porthouse (45:21):
This was a lot of fun and I really appreciate
the opportunity for my endabsolutely, absolutely, and to
everybody else who's joined into watch this conversation or
listen to it, depending on theplayer you're playing it on.
I appreciate your time and Iappreciate you guys staying with
us throughout the conversation,learning some cool stuff,
learning Sarah's story andobviously all about Firewatch
(45:42):
Magazine.
I think it was a prettyempowering opportunity to
showcase it.
I appreciate that.
But there's also something youguys need to know.
If you want to hear any more ofour conversations, you can go
to our website,transactingvaluepodcastcom, and
here's what's cool about it.
In addition to that, On thehomepage there's a little button
that says leave a voicemail.
It's in the top right corner.
(46:03):
Click on it.
Two minutes of talk time, it'sall yours.
Here's my recommendation to youabout what you do with it.
One, let us know what you thinkof the show.
Let us know your feedback, thetopics, my style, the questions,
the content, the guests,anybody you think might be a
good recommendation to come onto the show, tell us.
It can be totally audible andit can be totally anonymous.
(46:25):
Leave us the voicemail.
But secondly, tell Sarah whatyou think of the conversation.
Let her know what you thinkabout what she's doing.
Talk to her about FirewatchMagazine, leave her comments,
ask her questions and we'llforward the audio file onto her
as well.
That said, I really doappreciate the time and the
opportunity.
If you guys want to getinvolved with our show, send an
(46:45):
email to transactingvaluepodcastat sdytmediacom and we'll be
sure to get in touch with you assoon as we're able, but until
next time, that was TransactingValue.
Thank you to our show partnersand folks.
Thank you for tuning in andappreciating our value as we all
grow through life together.
(47:06):
To check out our otherconversations or even to
contribute through feedback,follows, time, money or talent,
and to let us know what youthink of the show, please leave
a review on our website,transactingvaluepodcastcom.
We also stream new episodesevery Monday at 9 am Eastern
Standard Time through all ofyour favorite podcasting
platforms like Spotify, iheartand TuneIn.
You can now hear TransactingValue on Wreaths Across America
(47:29):
Radio.
Head to wreathsacrossamericaorg.
Slash transacting value tosponsor a wreath and remember,
honor and teach the value offreedom for future generations.
On behalf of our team and ourglobal ambassadors, as you all
strive to establish clarity andpurpose, ensure social
tranquility and secure theblessings of liberty or
(47:49):
individual sovereignty ofcharacter for yourselves and
your posterity, we will continueinstigating self-worth, and
we'll meet you there Until nexttime.
That was Transacting Value.
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