Cosmos

Welcome back to the show, extraordinary Americans. For today’s guest, we have Eric Brown. Eric is the founder and CEO of Imperial Consulting. He’s an innovative leader with over 24 years of experience in the Special Forces. As a Green Beret, he led complex operations across 12 countries during his military career, excelling in crisis management, team building, and strategic planning. 

His achievements include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal and four bronze stars. As the founder and CEO of Imperial Consulting, Eric integrates his military background with sharp business acumen to develop customized solutions for C-suite executives and leadership teams. His approach, rooted in simplicity, adaptability, and collaboration, enables organizations to navigate challenges, build trust, and achieve exceptional outcomes. 

Eric has been featured in the HCL Review business.com@fast company. He’s an extraordinary American, and I’m glad to have him on the show. Eric, are you there?

Eric

Mir, thank you for having me on the show today.

Cosmos

thank you, Eric, for taking the time to do this podcast. So, can you tell me in the audience a little bit more about your story, your background, and how you got started?

Eric

Sure, man. I am from the mountains of North Carolina. I grew up as a military kid and traveled all around the world. One highlight was living in Berlin, Germany when the wall broke. 

So that was a big deal for me. Joined the army. I started as a 19 Delta Calvary Scout, which sounds cool but wasn’t that cool. So, I decided to become a Green Beret. And that was it, man. Loved it. Travel around the world, meet amazing people, do amazing things. I got out just now, about two years ago. I wanted to keep helping people. So that’s why I started Imperial.

Cosmos

 Eric is getting into the Green Beret. It takes a lot of discipline and physical endurance.

A big lesson from being in the military is that you can’t do everything alone. So, it is important to work with a team, know your team, just know you can accomplish more, work as a team, make sure you keep your word, and do what you’re going to say. 

Another thing we take away is the saying from a friend, Aaron: Bush says, “Show me, don’t tell me.” So, you know, show up, do like you’re supposed to do, excel, and don’t tell people what you’re going to do; just do it.

Cosmos

Well, I mean, it’s a lot of people. They say many things, but then they don’t, and they don’t follow through. So, I think you’re saying you’re taught to do the opposite, just like following your actions.

Eric

Yeah, you know, actions speak louder than words. You know, and then also when you’re working with people, treat people right, you know, don’t, you know, take advantage of folks and everything, you know, will turn out good for you.

Cosmos

So Eric, what was your strategic vision from when you were Green Berry to where you are now? How did it evolve during that time, and what led you to do what you’re doing right now?

Eric

Well, when we were on the teams as a Green Beret, it was a small team. It had only 12 people, and we accomplished many things by working together. As I got out, I saw a gap in the private sector where people working on teams didn’t have that connection where they could excel and reach that next level. So, I wanted to bring our skills on the ODAs and Special Forces teams into the private sector to help them overcome change and achieve whatever challenge they’re trying to accomplish.

Cosmos

So Eric, to follow up on this, what skills do they teach you in the Green Beret that they don’t teach you in other divisions of the armed forces or the outside world?

Eric

Good question, man. Well, to start, you’re specially selected, so you must go through an assessment yourself. So, there is lots of land navigation, you know, walking through the woods, finding points, with a map and compass. You learn a lot about yourself and how to be a leader. A lot about discipline and endurance. The other thing is that as you move into the qualification course, you’re assigned your specialty, right? 

You’re assigned, especially mine, happens to be an 18 Bravo, which is a weapons specialist. So, you learn about 220 different types of guns and weapon systems and how to use them. We taught a language; mine happened to be Spanish. And then you become an expert. Ah, in the area of the world that you’re going to work in, there are five special forces groups worldwide and two National Guard groups, each with an area of responsibility for the world. Mine was the seventh group, which was South America. Then, we spent quite a bit of time in Afghanistan.

Cosmos

Wow, Eric. I have a lot of respect for that because of it. In. It’s a. It can be pretty intense. And I. Correct me if I’m wrong, but it’s very physically tasking. And, like, there are many endurance tests to get into the Green Beret in the first place. 

Eric

You’re walking through the woods, you know, with anywhere from 60 to 80 pounds on your back, you know, walking 12 to 20 miles a day, a clean task, you know, takes a lot out of you. I luckily went when I was young, so I wouldn’t want to do it again. It was a long 21 days.

Cosmos

Wow, Eric. Like, that is pretty intense. But my.

My question would be, what is the motivational factor that drives you and allows you to have the disposition to be in the green berry and also apply to business outside? Like what? Because most people cannot do your job, they would not get to that level. It’s probably the top 1% of physical endurance. So, what motivates and drives you to go through all the pain and all the suffering?

Eric

It comes down to goal setting and where you want to be. So, like I said, I wasn’t fulfilled in my regular army job. It wasn’t giving me what I needed in life. I saw the mission of Green Berets and Special Forces, what they do, deploying forward and working with others in other countries, as very fulfilling. 

I had to set a goal of how to achieve that. The first thing was to get in shape, go to the selection, and pass. That, while you’re there, you learn not only that, you know, you’re doing it for yourself, but also those that are, you know, to your left and right. 

You keep doing that because, you know, you want to reach your goal, and then that translates directly into business. If you want to start a business, anyone can, right? But you must take that leap of faith, like we did, to try to be a Green Beret. Many folks try to be Green Berets, and they’re not selected. I think the percentage always changes. 

But out of maybe 33% passed. Right. To achieve that, as you’re starting a small business, you set your goal of what you want to do, and you just have to keep knocking down those things that allow you to achieve that. So, I think my previous in the military, especially in special operations, gave me the drive and ambition to translate that into the private sector.

Cosmos

Eric, I have a mindset question for you. It’s about fear, right? Many people have to overcome many fears when they’re doing business or want to start a business, like emotional fears and fears about money management. 

From your perspective, being in the military, how do you overcome fear even though it’s a real part like failure is a very real part of life?

Eric

Yeah. Well, you can always say that you’re not learning new things if you’re not failing. Right. Because you’re never good at something as soon as you, you know, started. You have to keep practicing things. To overcome fear, you must ensure that you’re prepared for whatever task you will do. Right. Let’s say you want to run a marathon if you’re going to. You’re not showing up that day and running 26 miles. You’re going to train for months before that. So, it’s the same thing if you’re going to start a business. Sure. There is tons of fear in that. Right.

You’re doing something that everyone does. You’re leaving the comfort of, you know, that stable paycheck coming every week or every two weeks to do something you love. You plan that out so you’re not just jumping ahead first and not knowing what you’re doing. You set benchmarks and goals to determine what you have to achieve. And that’s how you overcome fear: by being prepared.

Cosmos

No, I mean, I mean, that’s true. Preparation plays a role in spirit. So does training as well. Because I know that when training comes, there’s discipline, which also helps overcome fear to a large degree.

Eric

And sometimes you just got to get up and do it, man. Just go for it.

Cosmos

 Eric, what, from your perspective, would be the greatest revelation or lesson you learned during your time in the armed forces and consulting businesses?

Eric

They’re kind of the same while I was in the. In the. In Special Forces, I was amazed at what people could accomplish if they set their minds to it. Especially folks that there are people that you thought couldn’t do something, but then they achieved it the same way. Working with companies, we often ensure that we give everyone a voice. A lot of times, you know, the leaders are the only ones talking. That’s where we find success in Special Forces, where we take into account the entire team to help accomplish the mission. 

Everyone’s part counts. We bring that same mindset into the private sector with our clients. Hey, just because they’re a junior member of your team doesn’t mean they could not have a solution. So we try to give them a voice. You never know where that winning idea will come from. That’s where I’ve been surprised, both in my military and private life. In the private sector, the answers usually come from somewhere unexpected.

Cosmos

One thing I’ve noticed, Eric, during my time in the business world is that many people who come out of the military have problems transitioning from the military to doing a job or starting a business. There’s a different type of transition process, which is kind of difficult. 

For the sake of, like, the audience, like, how. How should somebody transitioning from the military go about doing business? Or, like, going into the private sector?

Eric

Yeah, transitioning is hard because many of us, you know, we. Like myself, I joined the army at age 18 and kept the same job for 24 and 25 years. So, that transition into a new part of my life was difficult. Where I found success, I went through a nonprofit group called the Honor Foundation, which, especially for special operations soldiers transitioning, gives you some of those skill sets, those tools, and a mentor to help you gradually, over a couple of months, figure out those new skills and meet new people within the area that you want to go into. 

My mentor taught me quite a bit about the business world. And I would say, as you’re transitioning, don’t look at whatever your next job is. It’s not going to be forever. It’s just the next step to where you want to go. 

And then if there’s something you want to do, find somebody who does that already and talk to them. You might find out, wow, that’s not what I thought it was. Or you find out that’s exactly what I want to do. So I’ve always found the best way. If you’re going to do something, find somebody already doing it and learn from them.

Cosmos

I mean, that’s what you’re saying, right? It’s a common theme that I’ve learned during my time. Interviewing guests is like mentorship and community, which usually tend to accelerate the transition process and growth regarding financial freedom or anything.

Eric

They’re saying finding a new tribe. Right? The army was your tribe. As you’re getting out, you find your new sector that you’re going into and integrate into. That doesn’t mean you’re losing your identity and where you were before. You’re just gaining a new perspective, learning more, and growing.

Cosmos

Yeah, that’s one thing I noticed, Eric. For many people, when transitioning through their lives, their identity stops them from reaching a new level. They are stuck in the past. So, from your perspective, how would somebody let go of certain aspects of the past to accelerate future growth?

Eric

I would say just on your identity. Like, your job never defines who you are. This is a job, right? This is what you do. What defines you are the actions that you take. So when you want to transition into something new, one, make sure that’s what you want to do, but find out what it’s all about, learn from it, and then gradually go into it and keep the good things from whatever you’re transitioning out of. Take that with you, and the things you don’t need or were negative about, leave them behind, and just go forward and do your new thing.

Cosmos

Eric, what was a challenge that you had in your life? Like one of a significant time or a challenge that you had, how did you overcome it? Especially in the armed forces or while you’re doing business.

Eric

Yeah, one of the most significant challenges I’ve talked about before was on one of my deployments to Afghanistan. I lost three of my good friends all at once in an IDM-initiated ambush. If you think about a 12-man team and lose three people at once, right? It’s like a third of the team. 

It was really hard to come back from, you know, that horrific event, getting over it. You just learned, actually talking about it, moving forward with your life, and then living for those that can’t be there with you or, you know, moving forward with their own lives and living for them, so overcoming, you know, the extreme challenge. In the same way, in the private sector, I always joke, and some people think it’s whatever, not a good joke. 

But anytime in the private sector, when something’s going bad, I was like, at least no one’s shooting at me, so I don’t have to worry about it. It’s not that bad so that I can get over it.

Cosmos

Well, Eric, I’m sorry for your loss. And I respect what you all do to protect the country.

One of the things that I wanted to understand is how you overcome, go past, emotional pain, and everything like that for the audience’s sake. It can be very intense, and people, like many, complain about trivial matters, as you mentioned. 

But what the armed forces go through is actual, real stuff. Many people complain, like, “Oh, I lost my car, or I lost this or that,” but it’s nothing compared to what people in the military have to go through.

Eric

I’d say, I mean, evolved. When I’ve, in my younger days in the military, you know, you’re taught not to talk about it, you know, just put it away and just move forward. You know, we’ve grown past that. Everyone has their way of dealing with their grief or whatever they have going on. I found a lot of help in seeking out an actual within, you know, our resources and Special Forces. 

We had a psychologist on staff, so going to an actual psychologist or therapist and talking about that helped me. It might not be for everyone else. You could talk to your friend or whatever, but you have to talk and get it out and then move on.

Cosmos

I see. Sometimes we all forget because I think when we’re in a first-world country or have all these. Life becomes very comforting, and we think that we have problems in our lives. But then, when we go to the real world, we go to war. That’s an actual. That’s an actual problem or issue. And then that’s when people realize how good their lives are, you know?

Eric

Yeah, for sure. I mean, you have to go to war. I mean, you just go to some of the, unfortunately, poorer countries in the world, and people would, you know, have a different aspect of life. That’s why America is great. Right? 

We don’t have crazy problems. I mean, think about how many, you know, you have a Starbucks on every other corner and a grocery store on every other corner. The amount of resources you have is overwhelmingly opposed to other parts of the world where they’re not. Not as lucky as we are to be American.

Cosmos

That’s one thing I noticed when I came over here. I feel like a lot of people just take the freedoms that America has for granted. 

Because they have never been to other countries, many people, when they come here, realize that the issues they have in other nations are not over here. They have issues regarding being able to care for themselves, pay the bills, have a roof over their heads, have food, and everything else.

Eric

Yep, for sure. I agree with you a lot. You just have to get out there and see the world, man. Try to get as many places as possible to give you that perspective.

Cosmos

Ultimately, I think it’s all about contrast. You know, like when you have a contract, and you see. You see the other side. That’s only when you’re able to appreciate what we do. What you already have in life. That’s one of the things that I noticed. Like, that’s one of the revelations I’ve had. People don’t appreciate what they have until now. Unless they’ve gone and seen what other people don’t have. And I think that’s why God created contrasts in life, for us to appreciate what we usually have.

Eric

See how other people live and be able to appreciate, you know, what you have. So there’s always. There are always people who have a better life than you and people who have a worse life than you. So that’s why you just live your life. Don’t worry about other people.

Cosmos

Totally.

Eric, extraordinary America, like, was, Like, I created extra America for Americans to understand their identity regarding the financial front for financial freedom because we’re ultimately a nation about freedom. So, from your perspective, how should Americans attain financial freedom? In their lives? And, like, how should they go about starting a business? From your perspective, like being in the armed forces, what type of mindset should they have?

Eric

I can do mindset. If there’s something you want to achieve, especially if there’s financial freedom, you’re going to have to have the mindset and discipline to do that and the drive to make it happen. So you must make some sacrifices along the way, especially not going out to eat every day or using that money where you could use it for vacation. Maybe you’ll use it to invest in yourself to learn a new skill and achieve that next level of what you’re trying to do. And on starting a business, I mean, if that’s what you want to do, you got to find that, that gap of whatever service you’re gonna provide, that it’s a needed service, and do, the best job you can to provide that service at the best way you can.

Cosmos

Eric, from your perspective, what is it? From your perspective, what is your version of what the American Dream is about? Because, you know, when we talk about the American Dream, it’s a pretty general term and means different things to different people. So, what is your version of the American Dream? And how. And how do you go about acquiring it?

Eric

I guess the American Dream is being able to have the freedom to do whatever you want. If you wake up in the morning, you have endless options, which is how I see the American Dream. You can achieve anything here. Nothing’s. There are no rules that are holding you back. The only thing that can hold you back from achieving something is yourself. 

Achieving that means just getting up and going to do it. My American dream is just to be able to wake up and do whatever I want with my life. And then that’s where I see it. It doesn’t matter where I’m at as long as I have the freedom to do what I want.

Cosmos

I couldn’t agree more. The ability to do whatever you want and like, wake up, and live your life on your terms is ultimately the best thing one can ever experience. But most people don’t tend to experience that because, even though they like it, they have an identity of freedom. They’re not going about trying to live life on their terms. People end up living life for other people a lot of the time.

Eric

Yeah, they’re about their image and other people’s thoughts. You just have to worry about achieving your own goals. M. There will always be somebody there to criticize you or tell you not to do something. I just always don’t pay any mind to them and just keep doing what you’re doing. If it’s the right thing, it’s the right thing, and you’ll have success, and they’ll still be there complaining about whatever they didn’t do.

Cosmos

Yeah, that is there. And Eric, if you could turn back time, like, let’s say you had a time machine, you could go back to your 10-year-old self and give him a lesson to learn for the future and everything. You could talk to your 10-year-old self. What would you tell that person?

Eric

Don’t take things for granted; just learn as much as possible. I think my 10-year-old self was in Germany at that time. I probably told him to. I paid more attention to German class, took the opportunity to learn German when I was there, and took advantage of every opportunity to go to different places.

Cosmos

Yeah, I think I can tell you what I would like to tell my 10-year-old self if I could go back and tell him. I would like to tell him that there’s a huge world out there, with just different types of people and cultures. But then you just have to be curious and try to understand others. 

There are different places, but some places are just like this: you just have to accept that life is about learning. You can learn what to do or what not to do from people. That’s one thing I’ve understood throughout my life. Everybody I met taught me something, either how not to do things or how to do things.

Eric

I say you said earlier, talking with me, find a mentor. That’s the big thing to have. Find somebody who has achieved more than you and is doing something you want to do, and have them mentor you to the next level.

Cosmos

Totally.

And Eric, can you tell me the audience a little bit more about Imperial Consulting and like the premise of how you started this and what it is? A little bit more about what it’s about.

Eric

Sure. Starting at Imperial, I tried to help others. Right. How do you work better as a team and overcome challenges? The front was where I took what we had on our small elite teams, such as Green Berets, and brought that to a company. So, we customize solutions for mid-sized enterprise companies. For example, one was merging and acquiring four other companies. How do you pull those four different companies’ cultures together now? How do you do that? 

We call the program from Me to We, and we do that on a systematic process called what we call the Greenberry approach, where we teach people a way to overcome their challenges by setting up systems working together and learning more about themselves to overcome whatever the challenge they got going on.

Cosmos

Well, that’s amazing. And yeah, from my perspective, the way I see it is like the Green Berets are. They’re like one of the best in the armed forces. And I recommend that anybody check out more of Imperial Consulting because you want to learn from the best. 

And Eric, are there any other projects you’re working on that you’d want the audience to glimpse?

Eric

We’ve been getting a little bit more e-learning opportunities lately. So, we have a link to our learning on our website, www.imperial-consulting.com, where we’re starting to put more products that people can do at their own pace and learn different skill sets.

Cosmos

I see. And so, Eric, how can our audience connect with you or learn more about your Imperial Consulting?

Eric

So, number one would be the website imperial-consulting.com. The other is to look myself up, Eric Brown and Imperial, on LinkedIn. It’s probably the platform I’m most active on.

Cosmos

Eric, thank you for that. I appreciate that you took the time to come to this podcast and share your experience and mindset about Bearberry and its business application. I respect everything you’ve done for our country, and I hope you take the time to come on this podcast later.

Eric

I appreciate the time. It was great meeting you, and you put on a great show. Keep doing what you’re doing.

Cosmos

Thank you, Eric. I appreciate that.

And I want to conclude this episode by letting my fellow extraordinary Americans know that. Hey, look, there’s an extraordinary within every one of us. We must awaken it and unleash it. Until next time. Bye for now.