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Finding Purpose After Service: Steve Conaway's Journey
Manage episode 491196988 series 3538483
Some of life's most significant opportunities emerge from our greatest setbacks. Steve Conaway's journey from Air Force service to successful entrepreneurship proves this in remarkable fashion.
When Steve enlisted in 1968, he sought education and skills through Air Force service. After training as an air traffic controller, he was deployed to Vietnam, where he managed complex air traffic situations near the DMZ. Despite the high-pressure environment—controlling fighter jets conducting combat missions with minimal safety protocols—Steve thrived in the challenging conditions.
Upon returning stateside and transitioning to civilian life, his Air Force expertise landed him a position with the Federal Aviation Administration. His career path seemed predictable until 1981, when everything changed dramatically. As vice president of the air traffic controllers' union during the infamous PATCO strike, Steve found himself among the 14,000 controllers fired by President Reagan. More shocking was the administration's determination to prevent these professionals from finding employment elsewhere—pressuring potential employers and even foreign countries not to hire them.
What could have destroyed his career instead sparked remarkable innovation. Recognizing an information gap in the real estate industry, Steve created a mortgage rate reporting service that operated successfully for 32 years. Simultaneously, he leveraged his technical aptitude to build expertise in computer-aided design systems, eventually launching his own computer services company.
"In the long run, Reagan did me a favor," Steve reflects. "I wouldn't be here today with that stress." His unexpected career pivot likely extended his life while providing greater satisfaction than his original path.
Today, Steve continues serving his community as commander of a VFW post and senior vice commander of an American Legion post. His advice for others facing career upheaval? "If you feel you're good at something, pursue it. But have a plan and stick to it."
Chapters
1. Early Life and Military Background (00:00:00)
2. Air Force and Vietnam Experience (00:15:16)
3. Air Traffic Control Career (00:30:30)
4. The PATCO Strike and Reagan's Response (00:44:38)
5. Entrepreneurial Ventures (00:55:35)
6. Veteran Service Organizations (01:07:46)
116 episodes
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