Episode 38: Cyndi & Michele - You Gotta Have Faith

Welcome to this week's episode of Tactical Transition! Join your hosts, Michele Lewis and Cyndi Po, as they share a deeply personal and insightful conversation about the role of faith in their lives, their business, and its profound impact on military career transition.

Key Points from This Episode:

A Personal Foundation: Cyndi and Michele begin by discussing the changing seasons, likening the dormancy and growth of fall to the periods of protection and growth in life. They introduce the topic of faith, acknowledging it's a risk in business but expressing gratitude for the growing openness about it. Their goal is not to convert, but to share how their Christian faith underpins their success and intuition.

Faith in Their Upcoming Book & Business:

• Michele and Cyndi are releasing a new book on military career transition. They emphasize it's "the experts on military career transition written by Christians, not a Christian book about military transition".
• Their business, 374 Consultants, is named after Psalm 37:4: "Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart". This philosophy guides them to lead with heart, service, and collaboration, not competition, always seeking to help others.
• They clarify that in their ESEL seminars, they do not preach. Still, their actions, resources, and trusted network are designed to alleviate the stress and anxiety of transition, helping service members with the "heavy stuff".

Navigating Life's Challenges with Faith:

• Cyndi shares how her unwavering faith has guided her through tragedies, including the loss of her father, and financial struggles, always finding God's provision.
• Michele bravely discusses her experience with immense grief after losing her son, Chris. While she questioned and felt anger, her faith provided an anchor, highlighting the importance of having God to turn to, even in anger. She quotes the MercyMe song, "Bring on the Rain," with the powerful line: "How can circumstances possibly change who you are forever in me?".
• Michele uses the analogy of floating in dense water: when faced with overwhelming challenges, letting go and trusting God prevents drowning, allowing one to float towards greater things.

The Power of Hope and Community:

• The hosts present a compelling statistic from the Pew Research Center (2011): Post-9/11 veterans attending religious services at least once a week have a 67% chance of having an easier time readjusting to civilian life, compared to a 43% probability for those who never attend.
• Michele passionately states that "Faith gives you hope. Faith gives you mission. Faith gives you integrity. Faith gives you character... Faith above everything provides hope".
• Cyndi adds that negative thoughts are harmful and should be countered with hope, trusting that even a "no" to a prayer means "something better" is on the way. She shares a personal anecdote of a business closure leading to new, better opportunities.
• Both hosts emphasize the vital importance of surrounding oneself with the right people and community—a beacon found in faith and reflected in the military family.
• Michele and Cyndi's heartfelt conversation underscores how their faith provides a resilient foundation, not only for their personal lives but also for their mission to support transitioning veterans. Their message encourages hope, trust, and connection as service members embark on their next adventure.