199. Trial by Fire in Afghanistan Helps Vet Coach Men to be Leaders

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Andreas A. Jones

Andreas A. Jones is an international best-selling author, coach, speaker and trainer. Serving in the U.S. Army shaped Andreas’s life and tested his endurance, faith, and fortitude. He describes it as “a trial by fire” and remains profoundly grateful for it. Since leaving the Army, he has applied lessons learned there to his career, continuing to learn new ones. He describes how each new job or new position helped him grow into the successful individual he is today. In his coaching and speaking, he shares the core concepts of leadership, integrity, and discipline.

How Did You Start Using Your Talents?

Growing up in Jamaica, Andreas credits the Boy Scouts with shaping his character, providing a discipline and structure, and preparing him for the U.S. Army, which gave him a foundation for a life of service.

The Most Impactful Turning Point?

“I was deployed to Afghanistan in 2007, which was a high point for that operation. I’m grateful I was able to go there, do my duty, serve my country, and make it back home alive, with all limbs and faculties intact. I’m eternally grateful for that. I have buddies who got different injuries they’re still dealing with to this day.”

The Most Powerful Lessons Learned?

At Home Depot after leaving the military, Andreas went to his manager and said, “I want to be a better leader.” His manager gave him a book by John Maxwell, The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership. “That was the paradigm shift in my life.” Applying the principles in that book, he recalls, “I started to find myself, and re-define who I am and what I stand for. In the Army we talked about leadership all the time, but I never really got a full understanding of it until I read that book and got involved with John Maxwell.”