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How does a Green Beret become a private equity executive, business leader, and president of a multimillion-dollar company?

In this episode of The Not Special Show, former Green Beret Prescott Engle shares the incredible journey from getting kicked out of college to earning the Green Beret, serving during the Cold War in Central America, walking away from the CIA, building a successful career in insurance, private equity, and business leadership, and ultimately leading Alliance Nationwide Exposition.

Prescott opens up about the lessons that shaped him: resilience, leadership under pressure, overcoming failure, raising eight children, making difficult career transitions, and why success starts with serving others. Whether you're a veteran, entrepreneur, business leader, or someone navigating life's next chapter, this conversation is packed with practical wisdom and unforgettable stories.

In this episode, we discuss:
* Getting kicked out of college—and the conversation that changed his life
* Earning the Green Beret and surviving Special Forces training
* The instructor who tried to make him quit
* Cold War missions in Central America
* Why he turned down a career with the CIA
* Building a successful career in insurance and private equity
* Leadership lessons from the military that apply to business
* The importance of mentorship and earning confidence
* Raising eight children and building a lasting marriage
* Why education and intelligence are not the same thing

⏱️ CLICKABLE CHAPTER TIMESTAMPS
00:00 Why Prescott is Special
01:43 Growing Up Wild & Burning Down a Cornfield
05:03 Getting Kicked Out of College
07:53 What He Told Himself on the Way to Boot Camp
10:08 The Green Beret Recruiting Pitch
12:42 Special Forces Selection Begins
18:22 "I'm Going to Make You Quit"
26:46 Earning the Green Beret
28:02 GOVX
28:36 Life in 7th Special Forces Group
31:03 Cold War Missions in Central America
35:17 Leadership Lessons from Special Forces
36:57 Education is Not a Relative Indicator of Intelligence
40:22 Why He Turned Down the CIA
42:55 Starting Over in Insurance
46:25 The Sales Lesson That Changed Everything
48:20 Meeting His Wife & Building a Family
51:03 Liberty Speaks
52:06 From Business Consultant to Company President
57:55 A Lesson From Desert Storm
01:01:40 Surprises in the Industry
01:05:47 Changes in the Events Industry
01:07:27 Business Need to Read the Room
01:09:16 Balancing Business and Family
01:10:29 “I Was a Shit Father”
01:15:09 Finding Your Tribe
01:17:39 Getting From and Giving to the Army
01:19:17 What he Would Tell his Younger Self
01:25:24 What He Values Most in Life

Prescott's story is a reminder that your biggest setback doesn't have to define you. The discipline, humility, and perseverance that carried him through Special Forces became the same principles that helped him succeed in business and life.


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🌐 Website: www.libertyspeaks.com
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