A smattering of disbelief still flicks through Brian’s voice when he says getting blown up was the best thing that happened to him. It is still contrary to his own mind that such pain and terror could be anything but horrible, but it’s this precise contradiction of beliefs that Brian points out as being a path to massive growth. 

NICTRY is what his Texas license plate reads, as Brian’s own daily reminder that evil tried and failed to prevail that day. Even better, evil destroyed only itself, as the suicide bomber was the only fatality. Everyone else lived to tell the tale. His new mission is to teach people how to stand firm when everything around them is blowing up. 

Brian Fleming has learned a lot from his own struggles and the mentorship of others.

From people like Dave, who have an intimate understanding of his precise pain and challenges, he’s been able to learn specific resilience skills and focus on faith to navigate that path. But, he notes, there are two common misperceptions about mentors that are important to be aware of: First is that anyone who has experienced similar challenges will be a suitable mentor to you.

Common experiences, he says, are not enough. Credibility is important but so is connection. Unless you personally connect with a mentor, that mentor is not right for you. Next is that it is only a person who has experienced the same pain points is able to mentor you through yours. He calls that misperception, “the biggest crock of crap you’ve ever heard.”

Brian has learned a lot from people who can’t relate to his specific pain. The different perspective they’ve offered has been invaluable to him, as has the unique insight he’s received from people like Dave. 

The blend of perspectives allowed Brian to cozy up to a buffet of insight and knowledge, and create his own feast. He’s now dishing out heaping portions of help to individuals and companies to apply to their own pain points, in talks around the world and in his book, Redeployed .

It’s important to Brian to not only help people (especially veterans) navigate injuries and challenges, but to also help veterans through the process of transitioning back to civilian life. The loss of a purpose, the lingering effects of combat and in many cases, the aftermath of injuries can be overwhelming for our combat veterans. Assimilating into a culture that has no experience with this and learning how to apply their unique skillsets to civilian jobs is something that causes too many veterans to slip through the cracks back home. Brian hopes his book, written with Chad M. Robichaux, will serve as a compass to help guide his brothers and sisters to a new life. 

Brian Fleming is living his own version of the American Dream, using the opportunities he literally bled for, and wants others to do the same.