#92: Afghanistan Combat Veteran, Best-Selling Author, Business Executive: Craig Mullaney on his life journey

Published: Jan. 17, 2022, 2:48 p.m.

Craig Mullaney is currently a Partner at the Brunswick Group, an advisory firm specializing in business critical issues, he is also the bestselling author of \u201cThe Unforgiving Minute: A Soldier\u2019s Education, an Army Airborne Ranger, an Afghanistan combat veteran (2002-2005), and a Rhodes Scholar.

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In this interview, we talk about:

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- Craig\u2019s experience going to West Point, the oldest service academy in the US

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- Becoming a Rhodes scholar and attending the University of Oxford

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- Serving in the US Army as a platoon leader in Afghanistan from 2003-2004 and how he looks at the situation in Afghanistan as an Afghanistan combat veteran

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- Writing a NY Times Best-Selling book

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- Working at the Pentagon for the Department of Defense

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- Transitioning to work as a business executive at Facebook and now at the Brunswick Group

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Craig's Socials:

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The Unforgiving Minute book: https://www.amazon.com/Unforgiving-Minute-Soldiers-Education/dp/0143116878

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Brunswick: https://www.brunswickgroup.com/craig-mullaney-i9068/

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Twitter: https://twitter.com/craigmmullaney

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LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/craigmmullaney/

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Grateful Living Info:

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YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC9Bo0LHtRJJNJBUYIceg27w

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Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3Hn4ttttmbWfVqAhWh4Jhi

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Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/id1503185956

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My Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aroy81547/?hl=en

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Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/gratefulliving4

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Approximate Time Stamps:

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0:46 Craig\u2019s childhood an family background

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2:05 Where did your academic drive/motivation come from in HS?

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3:00 How did you decide to attend West Point?

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6:15 How did, at 17, you have the perspective to be willing to give up your life for your country?

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8:20 Who should go to West Point or a military academy?

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12:10 Advice to current student at West Point

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13:20 How do you look back at Ranger School?

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17:03 How did studying Oxford and being a Rhodes Scholar help you with your military career?

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21:04 What stands out from your time in the US Army as a Platoon Leader from 2002 to 2005?

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23:47 How do you look at Afghanistan and the US withdrawal in 2021 as someone who served in Afghanistan?

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27:27 Losing a fellow platoon member Private Evan O\u2019Neil

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31:40 How was transitioning back to the US and normal society after serving in Afghanistan?

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36:23 Is there something you would say to civilians about US policy towards Afghanistan?

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39:20 What was it like working under President Obama in the Defense Department?

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43:00 Writing a memoir on your soldier journey

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48:30 What was it like being a Senior Advisor for US AID?

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52:10 How should CEOs and leaders think about their relationship with social media?

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53:22 Being a Partner at Brunswick Group

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54:30 Personal life wisdom

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56:17 Any regrets on your time with West Point or Army?

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57:20 Life advice to 25-34 year olds?

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58:00 Supporting you