The Gut Check: Are You Aligned with Your Values?
Rocky VI
Realign with Your Values: Why Staying Grounded Matters for Leaders
There’s a reason Rocky’s quote still lands after all these years:
"It ain’t about how hard you hit. It’s about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward." — Rocky Balboa (2006)
It’s not just a movie line – it’s a business reality.
As Veteran leaders, we didn’t sign up for easy. We signed up for impact. And in business, that means you’re going to take hits: a deal that falls apart, a bad hire, market shifts you didn’t see coming.
The difference between a drift and a knockout? Staying grounded in your values.
What this looks like in the real world:
Saying no to a client who doesn’t align with your mission, even if the money’s tempting.
Taking ownership when you miss the mark – and fixing it without excuses.
Backing your team when the heat’s on, because you built a culture of trust.
This isn’t motivational fluff. It’s how Veteran-led businesses earn reputations that outlast contract cycles.
So this week, take a gut check: Are you running your business in line with your values – or chasing wins that don’t matter?
Staying Grounded: Lessons from the Veterans Who Lead by Values
Jim Russo knew early on he wasn’t built for Wall Street’s ego-driven grind. He chose entrepreneurship – not because it was easier, but because it let him fight for something real. His values wouldn’t let him play a game that didn’t align with who he is.
Jude Black built her company on three simple, powerful values: serve the work, be brave, and take good care. Her leadership shows up in hard conversations, in protecting her team’s well-being, and in creating a culture where people don’t have to wear a different “work” face. That’s how values come off the wall and get lived every day.
Then there’s Liseth Velez, who launched her construction company straight out of the military – no handrails, no roadmap. Like many Veteran founders, she learned the business one hard-earned lesson at a time. But even as her company grew, she stayed clear on one thing: she didn’t want to be a checkbox on somebody’s diversity report.
“Yes, we can make more revenue and put money in the top line… but is it really worth the squeeze? Is it really who you want to be?”
For Liseth, it became less about chasing every opportunity and more about knowing her value – and choosing clients and projects that aligned with her mission. That shift didn’t just bring peace of mind. It brought better margins, better clients, and a stronger company built on purpose.
We’ve been having these conversations inside MilSpec Talent, too. Not as a corporate exercise, but defining what we stand for, not just as a company, but as a team of Veterans building something bigger than ourselves. It’s a gut check.
Because when the pressure’s on – and it always is – you don’t fall back on empty slogans. You fall back on your values.
This week, we challenge you: Take inventory.
Where are you moving with your values… and where have you drifted?
At MilSpec Talent, we help Veteran-owned businesses build teams that move forward with them – grounded in shared values and mission focus.
Ready to find the right fit for your mission? Reach out.
