Speak Up. Show Up. Lead. — Ep: “Cut From a Different Cloth” with Army Veteran & Author Quattro Walker
Speak Up. Show Up. Lead. — Ep: “Cut From a Different Cloth” with Army Veteran & Author Quattro Walker
Show theme: Speak your truth. Show up anyway. Lead from the front.
Guest: Quattro Walker — Army veteran, two-time author, accountability coach
Host: Jeremiah “JJ” Hardy
Quick Take (TL;DR)
Quattro Walker went from a turbulent start to the Old Guard, combat deployments, and ultimately entrepreneurship. In this episode, he breaks down how practice, patience, and perseverance turn pain into purpose—and why ownership and small daily changes (1%) beat motivation every time. If you’re stuck, overwhelmed, or transitioning (military or otherwise), this is a masterclass in building grit and direction.
Listen & Subscribe
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/35mh4LtuPPwxPfJXrWvwNn
YouTube (subscribe & comment): https://www.youtube.com/@victoryleadershipcoaching/featured
About the Guest
Quattro Walker is a U.S. Army veteran, speaker, and two-time author of Cut From a Different Cloth and a co-author in Motivation Manifesto alongside Les Brown. Today, he coaches youth, educators, and transitioning veterans, focusing on accountability, feedback, and building a life around your authentic strengths.
Episode Highlights
1) From Chaos to Calling
Early adversity, identity questions, and rebellion led to a breaking point—and a decision.
GI Joe to Old Guard: Childhood sparks → enlistment → selection to the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard).
After 9/11: First on-site support, then deployments to Germany, Iraq, and Afghanistan—loss, pressure, and long-term perspective.
“I’m a strong believer in not having ‘quit’ in my vocabulary.”
2) The 3¢ Method: Practice, Patience, Perseverance
Practice the thing you want to be great at—daily reps.
Patience with the learning curve—skills compound slowly.
Perseverance through the dips—expect resistance, push anyway.
Takeaway: You don’t need hype. You need habits.
3) Transition Playbook (Military or Civilian)
Game plan before you jump. Treat life like a risk assessment.
Audit your off-duty joy: What do you do so deeply that people have to pull you away? Build from that.
Not everyone must be an entrepreneur—but everyone needs clarity.
“If something came to your mind, don’t let anyone tell you it’s not for you. The only person who can kill that vision is you.”
4) Educators & New Leaders: Fear vs. Growth
Promotions often happen before leadership training.
Growth is uncomfortable—and that’s your signal you’re in the right place.
Use simple feedback frameworks (e.g., positive → improve → positive) to coach effectively.
5) Ownership > Blame
Blame protects the ego and kills growth.
Reflection + responsible action = momentum.
Run your own R&A loop: what worked, what didn’t, what to adjust next.
“The second you stop blaming is the second you start winning.”
6) Speaking to Youth: Story First, Labels Last
Credibility with teens comes from real stories, not titles.
Replace “I can’t” with “I’m learning.”
Your difference is your leverage—be ‘cut from a different cloth.’
Gut-Punch Quotes
“Block out the outside noise. Change 1% a day and stack it for 365.”
“If your dream isn’t big enough for people to look at you crazy, dream bigger.”
“Don’t ingest empty mental calories—feed your mind for endurance, not dopamine.”
Practical Tools You Can Use Today
1% Rule: Identify one habit you’ll improve by 1% today (timebox it to 10–15 minutes).
Weekly R&A: Every Friday, write: Start / Stop / Continue / Learn.
Ownership Check: When something goes wrong, answer two questions:
What was within my control?
What will I do differently next time—specifically?
Feedback Sandwich (that works): Highlight a specific win → give one focused improvement → end with confidence + next step.
Resources & Mentions
Quattro Walker: author of Cut From a Different Cloth; co-author, Motivation Manifesto (with Les Brown)
JJ’s Book: Speak Up. Show Up. Lead.: A Veteran’s Story of Grit, Growth, and Leadership from the Ground Up — available on Amazon
Why This Episode Matters
Whether you’re a new manager, an educator, a veteran in transition, or a parent trying to lead at home—your past doesn’t disqualify you; it prepares you. Quattro’s journey is proof that discipline, honest reflection, and the 3¢ Method can pull you out of the spiral and put you back on mission.
Action Steps (Pick One)
Write your 1% change for the next 7 days.
Book a leadership clarity call to build your personal game plan.
Share this episode with someone who’s stuck between chapters.
Keep the Conversation Going
Comment on YouTube (questions for Quattro welcome)
Subscribe & follow so you never miss an episode:
Work With JJ
Need help building ownership, clarity, and resilient leadership—on the job or in life?
Book a call: https://api.leadconnectorhq.com/widget/bookings/virtual-coffee-with-jj
Let’s build the habits, systems, and mindset that make leadership inevitable.
