Meet Joseph Perez | Joseph Perez / Author and Inventor / Doctoral Candidate

We had the good fortune of connecting with Joseph Perez and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Joseph, what role has risk played in your life or career?
Risk has had a significant impact on my personal life and career. I consider everything in life a risk. However, I was always someone that was scared, so facing my fear was something I felt like I always had to do to overcome these fears and obstacles. For me, the greatest risk was inaction. If I didn’t attempt to do something, if I didn’t pursue something I wanted, there was a 100% guarantee that I wouldn’t get it. It wasn’t until I left active-duty military in 2020 that I had the freedom to pursue my dreams. I remember the military took me a lot of incredible places, and it was an honor to serve in multiple locations overseas and at home. However, I knew that I needed to transition to the civilian world if I wanted to start a business (you have to get a sort of special permission to have your own business while on active duty) and that this was a step I needed to take. With no job offers, being a full-time doctoral student, I told my commander I would be leaving the military. I didn’t know how I would make ends meet, I really didn’t know how to transition my skill set into the civilian world, but I knew I had to figure it out. Once I learned about resume tailoring and how to communicate my skills into a civilian career, I understood the dangers and risks associated with not applying myself and asking for help. I applied for similar jobs at least 20-50 times, but once I learned about resume tailoring, I received a follow-up interview and job offer less than four weeks later. I had to reach out and ask for help if I wanted to succeed. Since then, I created and patented my first invention, and just finished writing my first book. I was incredibly scared, terrified to start both. I almost quit multiple times and had to have someone talk me out of it. I had to consider, if I quit now, I KNOW it won’t happen. If I just take one more step though, I might just get there. In the same week of 2022, I received two calls. “Your book is ready, your patent and invention has shipped.”

One week after that, all of my doctoral research findings were approved. While sometimes it is overwhelming, I am taking it one day at a time and loving it.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
One of the most difficult times in my life was my time in the military. I was active duty military at the age of 22. My first assignment was Infantry Officer’s School in Fort Benning, GA. After carrying 50-100 lbs of weight around, I was assigned to Airborne School and U.S. Army Ranger School. This was some of the most grueling and difficult times of my life. I was found unconscious multiple times during Ranger School. You are sleep deprived and food deprived for days on end. I remember wanting to quit every single day. I remember thinking, I can’t do this, but by God’s grace, out of 700 Soldiers, I along with 100 other Soldiers walked on graduation day. I remember thinking, I have to either do this, or die trying to do this. It was a complete mindset shift for me. Once I was completed with my initial training, I was sent to Colorado and immediately prepared to deploy to Afghanistan. I spent 12-18 hours every single day conducting mounted (vehicle based) and dismounted (walking, on foot) patrols. We looked for the Taliban, worked with government agencies, and were constantly on guard. It was one of the most difficult times of my life. It felt like the work never ended. Between eating, working out, and sleeping, you could usually only do 2 of the 3 things that you wanted so every day you had to pick. Once I came home, which was a miracle in itself, I haven’t viewed life the same. I am so grateful for every day on Earth.

That taught me to cherish every moment and go for whatever you want. Since then, I immediately reenrolled in school and successfully completed my MBA once I came home. I volunteered for the hardest jobs where I would feel that I would learn the most. I was selected to work on a general staff (work for 1, 2 star generals) which was essentially, again, working 7 days a week and studying after every shift. This was an overseas assignment, and we were assigned deploying the first armored unit in U.S. history. I didn’t know at the time, but the equipment that we emplaced would be the same ones that helped support during the Russia-Ukraine conflict we see today. Once I came home, I was told that I would be reassigned to another unit that I needed to attend for my career. Once I graduated from that training, I was assigned to South Korea during the North Korean Peace Talks, where I was an ambassador to the South Korean Army. I don’t feel like I had all the training needed, but I did my best. While I was there I felt like I needed to apply for a doctoral program. I did, and was accepted, School would start once I returned home. Once I finally returned to the United States, I was so happy. I reported to my commander and he told me, “welcome home, we’re going to need you to deploy to the Middle East again.” My heart sank. I knew I couldn’t do both school and deployment overseas. The schedule would just be too busy. I planned to put school on hold, but my commander told me I would actually stay in the United States for another assignment. This helped me to appreciate time so much. I spent every week and weekend devoting time to study and I just had all of my doctoral research approved. My next step is to defend dissertation. None of this was easy, all of it was worth it and helped me appreciate it so much more. I want the world to know that no matter what they’re going through, they can make it. Just when you feel like quitting, it’s right around the corner. It won’t be easy, but it is definitely worth it.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Best places to visit I love being outside in the sun so parks are always a number one spot and top pick for me. These would be my top picks.

Chaparral Park – City, can relax in the park and take in the views and enjoy the sun
Encanto Park – nice to relax and go for walk
Echo Canyon – beautiful outdoor scenery
Flagstaff – Snowboarding, I absolutely love snowboarding and had so much fun competing here for a few events! Def worth the trip even if it’s a little far from the city.

I really like juice bars too so any juice bar I love checking out as well!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I would definitely have to say thank you to my pastor at my home church in Seattle. Dr. David R. Cox. He has had such a profound impact and prayed for my family when times are hard and been there for support. He helped and taught me to always make sure that I am researching both biblical teachings taught in church and reading the Scripture for myself. This has significantly impacted my faith, which is the center of my life. My friends and family, I have learned an immense amount from both friends and family. Those that will be with you to the end and will always have your back.

Most importantly, my faith in God. Whether I was deployed overseas in Afghanistan, in college, or in tough times in life, God has always been there for me and will always be there for me.

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Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joseph-perez-doctoral-candidate-mba-520bb8173/