Join Kathleen Smith and Rachel Bozeman as they welcome Rob Fuller, a U.S. Marine veteran, cybersecurity leader, and community founder, for a raw look at his journey. From blowing up 300 pounds of C4 as a combat engineer to thriving in cybersecurity, Rob’s story takes a sobering turn with his struggle for VA benefits. Impacted by a culture of "toughing it out" and relying on "Vitamin M" (Motrin) instead of documenting injuries, he shares his battle with ongoing denied claims for nerve damage. Along the way, he discusses leadership rediscovery, building the Nova Hackers community, and even his role as a technical advisor for HBO’s Silicon Valley.

Chapters

01:59 - Rob’s Marine Corps Highlights
04:11 - Transition Shocks and Low Expectations
06:58 - Rediscovering Leadership Skills
10:19 - Pivoting from Government to Commercial Sector
13:43 - Prioritizing Family Over Work
17:19 - Embracing the Power of Being Wrong
20:00 - Building the Nova Hackers Community
25:01 - VA Benefits Warning: The Cost of Toughing It Out
29:32 - Technical Advisor Role on Silicon Valley
32:48 - Closing Thoughts and Marine Shoutout

Key Takeaways

Document Everything: Don’t simply “tough it out”—get seen for everything. An injury may not bother you much now, but it could affect you down the road. Document now so there is a paper trail to refer back to in the future.
Embrace Being Wrong: Rob has a superpower worth adopting—he doesn’t just mind being wrong, he loves it. When you’re wrong, you’re learning, so don’t be afraid to be wrong so that you can continue to progress and better yourself.
Prioritize What Matters Most to You: Rob’s decision not to miss his son’s first day of kindergarten reminds us that jobs are replaceable, family milestones aren’t.
Build Your Tribe: Rob took action when a poorly organized meetup left him wanting more. Despite early setbacks, he persisted, eventually co-founding Nova Hackers, which now has over 900 members.

Follow us for more veteran stories to guide your transition journey, and text this episode to a fellow service member who’s navigating their exit. Catch you next time!

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Don’t Tough It Out: A Marine's VA & Vitamin M Warning