Harmonizing Life, Leadership, and Legacy with JoAnne Bass

0:00Ladies and gentlemen, welcome back to another exciting episode of Mick Unplugged. And today we have someone, the first time that I met her, I was truly captivated by her mind, her vision, all the amazing things that she has done and will continue to do for our military and veterans. I would love to present to you my good friend who has the most brilliant mind and leadership that I know. It's Joanne Bass. You're listening to Mick Unplugged, hosted by the one and only Mick Hunt. This is where purpose meets power and stories spark transformation. Mick takes you beyond the motivation and into meaning, helping you discover your because and becoming unstoppable.

0:42I'm Rudy Rush, and trust me, you're in the right place. Let's get unplugged. How you doing today? Mick, I'm so glad to be here. You know this is some love because we're recording this, by the way, Somewhere downtown D.C. And I live in Northern Virginia. And it is a whole thing to get here to D.C. But one, I just, you know, I'm honored and humbled to be here. I love the work that you're doing, period. But especially the work that you're doing for our veteran community. And so it's really my honor to spend some time with you. And again, the love to come all the way to D.C. to come and spend some time with your audience.

1:23And really hopefully share some good insight that we can all glean from. No, absolutely. Absolutely. And, you know, it goes without saying I met you. Wow. It's only been earlier this year, but it seems like forever at an event with Robert Irvine. Yeah. A golf tournament, a golf event to support our military, our veterans, our first responders. Yes. And the moment that my wife and I met you and your husband, we were like, those are our people. Amen. Those are our people. I feel the same way. But I'll tell you, you know, growing up and spending time in the military, 31 years for me and 27 years for my husband.

2:04You know, we always talk about this notion of a military family. And when you're part of it, you just never leave it. And when we met you, we're like, oh, he's part of the family. So so it felt great. And a shout out to Robert Irvine and the foundation, who really is a connector amongst people and brings people together. and so thanks for being at that golf tournament absolutely and I'm not gonna admit that we were all in the golf shop together trying to warm up because it was colder than we all thought it was going to be in April yes it gets cold here yeah no but I want to talk about a little bit of your history with obviously the military my daughter-in-law is a retired air forceman woman And I'm just so passionate when I see leaders because it's not easy.

2:58Yes. Especially in the military, it's not easy. Yeah. And your background amazes me. So talk to us about how you got started. What made you decide to do the Air Force? Like go through all of that with us a little bit. So I am the daughter of an army soldier. And so for my entire life, I have known nothing but national defense, right? Like as a military child. And then as an 18 year old, I'll never forget. I wasn't quite mature enough yet to go to college. I didn't know what I wanted to do. I grew up old school, by the way, where my parents were not paying for my college. and I'll never forget my dad always said four years in the military never hurt anybody and so I thought well I'll do four quick years get a GI Bill and figure out life and then at the and I tell people this all the time right so I so I joined the United States Air Force and I'm not thinking that it was going to turn into a lifelong career and and a real honor but but at the four year mark, I only re-enlisted Mick because I had a Honda Civic that I need to pay off.

4:12So I wasn't completely all, we're going to have to get a picture of that Civic and post it, but I wasn't completely all sent in. I'm a normal 18-year-old like most folks who didn't necessarily sign up for patriotic reasons, but I certainly stayed for those reasons. So signed up to figure out life, get a GI bill at the four-year mark, signed up another four years to pay off my Honda Civic. And then it was probably about the eight-year mark when I started serving with people who we read about, right? Some of our nation's heroes who have paid the ultimate sacrifice. And I was part of those organizations and those units of true heroes.

4:55And so I started to really understand what it meant to wear our nation's cloth and to be part of something bigger than ourselves. And the bigger than ourselves piece is where I like to talk about it because only 1 % of our nation serves. Only 1 % of the United States population serves our military. Yet we are a free and prosperous nation because of that 1%. So it took me a long time to really grasp and understand that what we do is for the sake of our children and our children's children.

5:40You know, and I'm trying not to get emotional because I know who you are and what you stand for. and you talk about that one percent right why is it that we only have one percent yeah and and i'm gonna take it a step further because i don't know the number of this but i don't know how many people that aren't a part of the one percent support the one percent if you get what i'm saying right like like i was not a part of the military but i can promise you who every day of my life goes to support. Yes. Right? Yes. Why don't we have enough people that do that part? You know, I am a persistent optimist.

6:31I call myself, by the way. I think, by and large, the majority of people in our nation do support the military. I think what it is is most people don't know how to really support the military or have a full understanding. You know, as we talk about some of the challenges that our nation is going to face when it comes to, for instance, recruiting in the military, if only 1 % serve, what I share with people broadly is we can't count on just the 1 % serving to figure out our recruiting challenges. We need 99 % of America who knows that this is their military. And by the way, I share that often with people.

7:17I don't this isn't my Air Force or my Army or my Marine Corps, my Space Force. Right. Like this is America's Air Force, America's Army, America's Navy, America's Marine Corps, America's Space Force and Coast Guard. You know, but it's it's America. So how do we start to educate and form? I think it's platforms like yours that really do that. People, again, by and large, appreciate what their service members do for them. They just sometimes don't know the how. And so now as I've transitioned out of uniform in the last 20 months, that's part of some of my how is I know the power of our military service members and their families.

8:02But I think it's important that we really do educate America on the value proposition of a strong military. And Mick, one of those things, I do call our service members America's greatest competitive advantage. Like if you have, again, if we realize if employers, if industry of corporate America really realizes the value that they get when they hire or bring on or onboard a service member, their family member, and that is talent. Like just anyway. So anyway, I think we have back to, you know, your question. I think we have more of an issue of helping America realize how they might support their military.

8:47OK. And that's your passion now. One of your passions. Yeah, for sure. I usually ask my guests at the very beginning, what's their because? Yeah. That thing that's deeper than your why. Right. Like I say this all the time in every episode. Your why is probably your children. Right. Your parents, your community, your family. But when I ask you, but why? Yeah. That sentence usually starts with, well, because I care about your because. And so if I were to say, Joe, what's your because? Why do you do what you do the way that you do it? What's that burning desire and purpose for you now? Yeah. Why are we getting so deep so early in the morning?

9:29That's how we do it. That's how we do it. This is what I've learned. So I would say that my because, I said it a few minutes ago, my because is because I want a free and prosperous nation for my two girls and your children and our great grandchildren. That is why. But I know that the only way for us to have, you know, the freedom of democracy, it's going to take all of us. So the military piece is one component, having a strong military. But we have got to, as a nation, rally around this thing called democracy, value what we all bring to the fight. Industry has to start building stuff. Schools have to start teaching things.

10:17Parents and grandparents and aunts and uncles have to start teaching character and citizenship. So that is, again, I'm still trying to figure myself out. But because and why I do the things that I do is because I want years from now to be able to rest well and know that our kiddos have it and their kiddos have it. And we're going to continue being a great nation. I love that. Right. So speaking of these kiddos, we're in a different era than when you and I grew up. Right. And I say it's not bad. We are. I tell people all the time it's not bad when we talk about millennials and Gen Z. They're the most resourceful generations that we've ever had.

11:04But there's more things for them. There's more information. There's more access. How do we recruit them into military and or service? What's the missing recipe for my kids and those that are going to follow? That is the question of the century. And to be honest, I don't know that that is not a question just for the military. I think all of workforce in America and quite frankly, workforce across the globe is really thinking deeply about how do we tap into the full potential of this next generation. When I served as the chief master in the Air Force, one of the things I was very much focused on was the people aspect, the people behind the warfighting mission that we have.

11:56And I knew for certain that the only way we were going to tap into this next generation and the generations that follow after that is we can't have old antiquated people policies that I came into 30 years ago. You know, our workforce looks different today than it did 30 years ago. The military looks different today than it did 30 years ago. 30 years ago, the workforce was primarily, you know, the man coming to work and the woman staying home. And that is what things look like. And I'll never forget, you know, the old generation military would say if the military wanted you to have a family that issue, you won.

12:39Like that was a thing. Yeah. That is not the case in today's modern military family or today's working family. And so we've got to update our HR people policies and they have to be relevant at the speed that we need it to to be able to onboard talent that we have. The other thing that I would say is and this can be controversial and I've had a lot of my peers in the military kind of freak out when I say these things. But when I think about the military that we're going to need in the future, it looks more like Ocean's Eleven than it does, you know, from 50 or 60 years ago. Like, I care less about the rank that somebody has on their sleeves or their shoulders.

13:28I actually care about the potential and the talent and what they bring to the team. And so that's where I think we're going to have to tweak up some of our stuff to reach that next generation. The other thing that I would say, it's interesting because people always say, oh, this generation. And I'm like, they said that about me and you when we entered the workforce. And what I would say is this generation has choice. This generation wants to know that they are part of something greater. This generation is going to ask why. And we better be able to have some transparency to help, you know, just bring them along so they understand the big.

14:13And they're so smart and talented. Like they know. Right. Yeah. They're going to be just fine. It's a five generation. You know, we talk about five generation serving. It's the other four they have to understand this next generation that's coming up. I totally agree. And you hit on something that when I'm talking to business leaders, I've been saying for the last 12 months. Because trust and transparency is the new currency. And so for every leader, trust, transparency, emotional intelligence. Those are the three things that you have to make the forefront of what you do because this generation, air quotes.

14:52Yeah. Right? That's what they care about. Listen, Mick, I grew up in the military where, and I said this myself, you know, you're joining the military. We ain't joining you. Like I grew up saying those things. But again, it gets back after like this is a new world that we live in where the challenges that we had in the past are not going to be the same ones we have in the future. So tapping into that. Right. It is it's trying to figure out that balance for in the military, for instance. Right. You're joining a profession of arms. It is a select few. It's one percent, as I mentioned to you. Yeah.

15:35But we're still going to have to take a look at our people policies. And if we want to hold hard and fast to write like this is how it is and you joined us. Well, good luck with that. You know, we've got to figure out where does that make sense? Yeah. Yeah. Again, that's why you're one of the most brilliant minds that I know. And from a leadership perspective, you kind of hit it really quickly. So we're going to zoom in a little bit. She said she was a chief master sergeant. She was the 19th chief master sergeant of the United States Air Force, which means you're a bad. Shut your mouth. I'm talking about Joe.

16:10Right. Talk about the moment. And it probably isn't a moment, but but when you realized. Being the leader was your destiny, because I know for me when I felt it for the first time and it was almost like I looked out and I could see. oh, whatever I do impacts all of them. Whatever I say impacts all of them. The decisions that I make, boy, what was that like for you? And it's different because I was just leading a company. You're leading the people that are protecting our nation. Yeah. I would say that, you know, what I recognize is it's funny, right? Like hindsight is 2020. What I recognize now is that leadership is absolutely a journey.

17:03And now I can look back at over 30 years and see that every assignment that I had, every duty title that I had, every work team, you know, every team that I worked with, it was all a setup for the next chapter that was coming. And so I've learned that. And leadership is about, you know, reps and sets, right? Like, you don't just go in there, right? If I evaluated myself based on, you know, me 20 years ago, like, I'm a completely different person. The foundation is still the same, but the reps and sets that you build in that experience is huge. I will never forget it was my birthday, June 15th, 2020, when I was sitting in Biloxi, Mississippi at my previous assignment, Kiesler Air Force Base.

17:57And I was, you know, one of the last few that were being considered for Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force. I already had a blessed, wonderful career, by the way. And at that particular time, myself and my husband, we were looking at we were looking at property for when we retire, because, you know, just like any other job, right, there's kind of a hierarchy and it just gets fewer and fewer. And so we thought, you know, hey, we've had an amazing career. We're going to continue serving, but it may be out of the military. But I was being looked at for chief master in the Air Force and, you know, going through the interview process, which is, you know, pretty selective.

18:40And I got a note from my team when I got into work that day and they said, hey, the future chief of staff, General C.Q. Brown out of Hawaii, out of the Pacific, is going to call and let you know if you were or weren't. And so I was like, OK, no pressure. Right. Like, so I so I go home for lunch and it occurred to me like, man, I haven't even prepared what I'm going to say when and if he calls. And so I started thinking about what am I going to say when he says you weren't it. Right. Like because I'm, you know, again, in my mind, not thinking that I will be the chief master sergeant in the Air Force.

19:23There's so many other strong, qualified, capable leaders. So I'm preparing for my I'm not going to get it speech. And he calls. And, you know, again, my birthday. And he's like, you know, hey, chief, I just wanted to let you know that I selected you to be the chief next chief master sergeant in the Air Force. So I was shocked. I didn't prepare for what I was going to say for that. And the only thing that came to mind was General Brown, sir, you made the right damn decision. And I don't remember anything else. I blacked out. Called the family, obviously, and was so excited and also humbled at the thought of being able to lead our Air Force.

20:11689 ,000 total force airmen that make up America's Air Force. And I tell people all the time, I'm not just the chief to the enlisted force, but I was chief to our officers, our civilians. You know, the aspects of war fighting matters to me, but also their care and well-being and that of their families and setting the conditions so those total force airmen could continue to ensure the safety and security of our nation. So it came down. But when people say, hey, Chief, you know, what does it feel like to be the chief master of the Air Force? I say the same, right? Like it's just, you know, you have more responsibility.

20:51But I've learned the keys to success. And those are to surround yourself by people who are smarter and more talented than you. And when you know how to bring the secret sauce together, and those are just teams of people that are empowered to get after it, then you just get out the way. Every leader has a role. And so, again, if we're not threatened by the role that people play and the skills and the talents that they bring and we just let them we provide vision and direction, but we let them handle it. It was, you know, I tell people all the time again, it was it was truly the team that I had surrounding me.

21:34But it was the men and women who serve in our Air Force who who who continue to make our Air Force strong. I love that. I appreciate that. I also know you're humble because you don't get chosen. Yeah. Right. Yeah. Just for the sake of being chosen. So now I'm gonna ask you the deeper question because you talk about responsibility and in the Bible it tells us to whom much is given, much is required. Yes. Right. So what was required of you with this new responsibility? Meaning what did you have to channel inside knowing that there's a new requirement? Yeah. I think a lot of preparation, right? And a lot, certainly a sacrifice of time.

22:21And so, you know, I had years of experience to really start to understand how to manage time, how to provide margin in my life, how to prioritize the things that are important, and also how to, again, push down and empower other people to do that. But, you know, one of the things that my family and I talked about, especially as we were entering into the position, I'll never forget. Again, we were driving from Mississippi to D.C., two different cars. And, you know, you have a lot of highway talk as you're trying to stay awake. And I'm talking to my husband as we're driving. And one of the conversations we had is how do we, as we enter into this assignment, that's one of the biggest assignments I've ever had.

23:11huge responsibility. How do we fortify our family? Like we talk about, again, how do we take care of the force? Well, that's great, you know, but winning for us was going to be that we're able to to have a successful tour, do our part, take care of the United States Air Force, but the family can't be broken. And it is a tough job, especially when you think about we're on the road 200 days out the year or more. And even when we're not on the road, we're coming home and the team's giving me trip books and planning for the next set of engagements. And all of the engagements we have matters because we've got 689 ,000 folks that are counting on us.

23:55Engagements with international partners, engagements with Congress, engagements with our stakeholders. Um, so, so fortifying the family and the loved ones, I think is key. I love that. And I want to go into something that you just brought up too, because I think for all business leaders, um, we have this challenge. You talked about being on the road for 200 plus days when you had that assignment. And I know you now, and it's still the same, like that hasn't stopped for you. You are still constantly. But some of it's real fun now. Yes. But you're still on the road. I'm still on the road. Yeah. How for the listeners and viewers, how can we start to balance integrating family time into all the my words craziness that we have going on?

24:48Like how? Because I think you've mastered that. No pun intended. Because I I look up to you in that is something that I work on every day is how do I balance being a father? Yeah. Being a husband, being the leader that my community needs me to be. Oh, by the way, I have a circle of friends that need me, too. And I've got to be there for them. And then, oh, by the way, I have this team of like 45 people that I lead that all the decisions I make. Like, how do you balance that? Yeah, I will tell you that it took me probably 24 years to really understand that aspect. For the first part of my 24-year career, I think I was decent at it, sometimes not, and also sometimes hypocritical, meaning I would tell my service members and fellow wingmen, hey, take care of you, take care of yourself, take care of all the things, and I wasn't doing it.

25:50And I'll never forget that assignment at about the 24-year mark because it was a rough assignment. Nobody knew the struggle that I had and the balance because what do we do, Mick? We go on, we put on a mask, and the only people who typically know is our families. And so somehow I had a wake-up call. I've had previous conversations with my kiddos before, but there was one time where my youngest was like, Mom, you always put on your computer. Like I would come home from work, get home, set up my computer again, and start working, thinking I'm present, but I'm not really present. And so that was my 24-year mark in the military was really an inflection point on I need to get it together.

26:35And I've got to figure out a way to balance the different pillars in my life, the physical, the spiritual, the social, and the mental. because if I can't balance that and I'm not a full up brown, then I'm not going to be great to anybody. And so I started to also at the same time study this thing called self-care. They didn't do self-care when I came in, right? Like we didn't even know that. I don't even know that that was terminology. But I started to realize that self-care is not selfish, that if I take care of myself, I can be a better mother, wife, leader, airman, community partner, whatever it might be.

27:18And so I just started practicing that. The other thing I learned is, you know, you can never balance stuff, right? Balance just doesn't happen. So I started to use the word harmonize. And so I try to harmonize as much as possible my life. And I started including my family into some of the things that are important to me at work, too. And so it's funny because, like, you know, I would have work engagements that I that I need to go to. I'm required to go to. And I would tell my husband, right, like, I need you to be there, but not for everything, because I can't expect him to take on the same demand.

27:56So I'd say you can't miss the big stuff. I'll tell you when it's the big stuff. And then, of course, he would give my kiddos like a$30 or$40 to join me at a dinner event because he wants to watch the football game, right? So we learned, and it looks different for every family, but we learned to harmonize our lives, to try to help bounce. But it's a conscious decision every day. I'm not great at it, and I give myself grace. but harmonizing, bringing the family into the stuff, never missing the big stuff for your family is really important. So I needed that. Yes. I needed that. Yes. So this episode, Selfishly, is for me because that moment right there, harmonize.

28:42That connected for me. I get it now. It's not balance. Yeah. It's harmony. And asking your family for grace and asking your friends for grace. This time for me in quasi-retirement, this new chapter, I've told people this is like my payback tour. I feel like because we all have to create margin depending on what's on our plate. When I was Chief Master in the Air Force, by and large, I did not have a ton of time for my friends, people who I love. Because when I wasn't on the road or pouring into my immediate team, I had to pour into the family. So that is where for the last four years that focus was.

29:24And so now is a payback tour. But if your friends genuinely understand, then you're going to be fine. I love that. I love that. So you brought up self-care, which leads me to kind of our connection with the foundation, the Robert Irvine Foundation, and just what it means to me. and I know what it means to you being on the board of advisors there. Our military, our veterans and their family, I think a lot of times we take for granted the love that they need to feel from us. Yeah. And I say feel because words sometimes can just be words, right? Depending on what the moment is, words aren't even heard.

30:12Even with good intentions, they're not heard. How can we start making an impact so that, again, our veterans, our current military, the family, our first responders can feel the love because it's needed? Yeah, I think the aspect of opening up your communities and really just spending time with veterans is huge. So, you know, as I mentioned, we're downtown D.C. And I was just at an engagement where we were talking about the kickoff today of Buddy Check Week. And that really is kind of a week for us to spend time. And as veterans, remind each other to check up on our buddy and make sure that they're fine.