MILCOM Founders Podcast — Episode 22: From Coast Guard Academy to Performance Excellence with Jeff Parks
Join host Rod Loges and guest Jeff Parks as he shares his journey from Coast Guard Academy graduate to founder of Performance Breakthroughs Inc., where he spent 25+ years helping organizations, teams, and individuals achieve excellence.
In this episode:
- Jeff’s Coast Guard career spanning rescue operations in Puerto Rico, counseling at the Academy, and leadership development at headquarters
- His transition from military service to founding Performance Breakthroughs Inc. after being passed over for promotion
- The three C’s of coaching: how Jeff coached, counseled, and cajoled Rod through critical business decisions
- Jeff’s unique approach to measuring success through human impact rather than financial metrics
- His “Live Your Passion, Give Your Gift” philosophy and focus on making a difference in people’s lives
- The eight-piece framework for organizational excellence and long-term client relationships
- Jeff’s candid discussion about facing pancreatic cancer and approaching end-of-life with grace and humor
Key takeaways:
- Success should be measured by the impact you have on people, not just revenue growth or company size
- High Value, Long-Term Relationships (HVLT) form the foundation of both business and personal success
- Every career decision is a life decision that affects your entire family
- Finding mentors and being a mentor creates lasting value beyond any business transaction
- Approaching life’s challenges with humor, faith, and focus on what you’ve accomplished rather than what you haven’t done
Guest: Jeff Parks, Founder of Performance Breakthroughs Inc., U.S. Coast Guard Academy Class of 1973
Jeff Parks is a Coast Guard Academy graduate who served as Director of Training, Workforce Performance Improvement, and Leader Development for the US Coast Guard. His distinguished military career included rescue operations in San Juan, Puerto Rico, serving as a counselor for cadets at the Academy following two tragic suicides, and developing comprehensive leadership programs at Coast Guard headquarters. After retiring from military service, Jeff became the Prime Contractor for the Department of Homeland Security’s inaugural Executive Capstone Program, designed to unite leadership from 22 disparate agencies under the newly formed DHS. He also created and facilitated a George Mason University Certificate Program focused on “Management Development for Organizational Effectiveness.”
Following his government service, Jeff founded Performance Breakthroughs Inc., where he specialized in building high-performance organizations and teams through executive coaching, leadership development, and culture transformation. His comprehensive approach included performance consulting, change management implementation, and helping leaders discover their unique purpose and gifts. Jeff has battled pancreatic cancer for over 10 years and recently entered hospice care, yet continues to share his profound wisdom about leadership, relationships, and facing life’s ultimate challenges with remarkable grace and authenticity.
Special note: Jeff recently gifted his entire leadership library to Fire Chief Tom LaBelle of Prince William County, ensuring his decades of collected wisdom continues to benefit future leaders.
The MILCOM Founders Podcast champions and celebrates military community business owners. Each episode brings practical insights and lessons learned from successful veteran entrepreneurs.
Want to support veteran entrepreneurs? Learn about the Dick Loges Veteran Entrepreneur Scholarship Fund at https://www.milcomfounders.com/