From Military Discipline to Coaching Purpose

After 24 years in the Navy and 14 more as a government contractor, Les Britt discovered his true calling: coaching others to build lives of purpose and legacy.

Key Takeaways

  • Military service instills discipline — coaching requires vulnerability. The transition from command-and-control to partnership-based coaching is one of the hardest shifts a veteran can make.
  • A “life-first” business isn’t a lifestyle business. It’s a deliberate decision to build your practice around the life you want, rather than fitting your life around your practice.
  • Purpose drives sustainable growth. When your business is rooted in genuine purpose, client acquisition becomes an extension of your mission rather than a separate activity.

Questions Explored

  1. How do you transition from 38 years of structured service to independent coaching?
  2. What does “life-first” actually mean when you’re building a business?
  3. How does your military background shape your coaching philosophy?

About Les Britt

Les is a leadership coach and Navy veteran with nearly four decades of military and government service. He now helps leaders build purposeful careers and meaningful legacies.