Accelerent Breakfast: Jason Redman & The Journey to Overcome All

Leadership, failure, redemption, catastrophic injury, and a breathtaking journey to “overcome all” – through the eyes of a retired, decorated Navy Seal.

Jason Redman is a Bronze Star with Valor & Purple Heart recipient. During his 21-year Navy career, Jason spent 11 years as an enlisted SEAL and 10 years as a SEAL officer leading teams in combat operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.

On September 13, 2007, Lt. Redman’s assault team came under heavy machine gun and small arms fire. Despite being shot twice in the arm and once in the face, as well as enduring multiple rounds to his helmet, night-vision goggles, body armor and weapon, Jason fought valiantly with his team. They won the fight while ensuring that the entire team returned home alive.

Now Jason helps businesses and other organizations learn leadership strategies to develop unbreakable elite teams and create lasting change.

Accelerent—Phoenix

The Phoenix division of Accelerent is the area’s leading business development organization, and Benefit Commerce Group is proud to be the Title Sponsor of this division. At breakfast events throughout the year, guests invited by members of Accelerent hear from nationally-recognized speakers and experts like Jason Redman.

Lessons Learned from Jason

Everybody in life is faced with “major life ambushes” --  moments where you have failed, where you are facing something difficult.

After Jason’s ordeal, he knows, “It’s a gift to wake up alive in the morning.”  He is thankful for being alive, having had a second chance in life.

Unfortunately, he meets so many people who are frustrated, facing a problem, saying, “I’m having a bad day!” and telling a story of nothing. It’s a matter of perspective. To Jason, none of theirs are “bad days,” they are merely disruptions in schedule.

His bad day: 9/13/2007, in Iraq, when he was hit by multiple shots, and his life changed forever. As he waited for the gunfire to stop and to be taken for aid, he remembered, “If you can make it to the military ER with a pulse, you have a 90% chance to stay alive.”  So, he focused on staying awake, because if he fell asleep, he’d die.  “Stay awake to stay alive.” THAT was a bad day.

When he woke up after surgery, he realized how blessed he was.  “I will never take another day for granted.”

Over the years, reflecting on his experiences, Jason has developed 6 tenants of success:

1. Overcome.

Get over the victim mindset.

2. Live Greatly.

It’s better to have failed epically, and be able to say, “At least I went after it,” instead of, “I wish I had.”

3. Love Deeply.

Love for your country, your family, your teammates. It’s all that’s going to matter in the end.

4. Stay humble.

Pride and arrogance destroy businesses, relationships, countries. (One of the aspects that Jason does not talk about a lot—but a great victory—was that his entire team returned home alive after that bad day in Iraq.) But when you are wrong or you make a mistake, “I’m sorry” are the most powerful words a leader can use.

5. Lead Always.

Need to lead by example.  For example, if you are a parent, you are a leader.  Three principles of leadership: lead yourself, lead others, lead always.

6. Decisions.

Every day we face big and small decisions.  Think about every decision.  Think about the way it will shape the future.  Go out with no regrets.

For more information about Jason, you can go to his website: https://jasonredman.com/.

Next Accelerent Phoenix/BCG Breakfast Event – November 17th   

2023 is an amazing year of quality speakers and motivating topics at the Accelerent/BCG Breakfast Events!! The next one will be Friday, November 17th.  Our guest speaker will be Meridith Elliott Powell, sales strategist, leadership expert and award-winning author. Attendance is by invitation only.