Notes

What Led Me From Military Service and Entrepreneurship Into Technology

Eric Odom

10 Sep 2025 — 3 min read

I never imagined the same discipline that carried me through two deployments and the patience that helped me build a business behind the barber’s chair would one day lead me into the world of technology. But looking back, every chapter of my journey, from the Marines to entrepreneurship, has been preparing me for this next step.

My story isn’t a straight line. I spent eight years in the Marine Corps, serving first as a mail clerk and later as a crew chief and platoon sergeant in a demanding air support role. After leaving the military, I shifted gears completely and earned my Master Barber license, eventually opening my own private studio. Both paths were different on the surface, but they had one thing in common: responsibility, adaptability, and service.

Now, I’m turning that same mindset toward technology. At Western Governors University (WGU), I’m building a foundation in IT and cybersecurity, blending the leadership skills of the military with the hands-on grit of entrepreneurship. This article is the beginning of documenting that transition, what led me here, what I’m learning, and where I plan to go next.

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The Marines: Discipline, Responsibility, and Adaptability

When I joined the Marine Corps in 2007, my world revolved around structure and responsibility. I started out as a mail clerk, ensuring vital communication lines stayed intact for deployed Marines. Later, I transitioned into a more technical and leadership-heavy role as a Direct Air Support Center (DASC) crew chief and platoon sergeant.

Those years taught me how to stay calm under pressure, lead teams, and adapt quickly when the mission changed. I also gained exposure to working with secure systems, private communication networks, and sensitive information, early glimpses of skills that overlap with the security-focused mindset I’m now pursuing.

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Entrepreneurship: Lessons From the Barber’s Chair

After leaving the military, I pivoted into a completely different world: barbering. In 2016, I earned my Master Barber license and spent years working in shops before eventually opening Eric’s Barber Studio, my own private business in Augusta, Georgia.

Running a business taught me lessons no classroom ever could. I learned what it means to take ownership, to adapt when things don’t go as planned, and to build trust one client at a time. I discovered how to manage a schedule, maintain consistency, and balance the creative side of cutting hair with the discipline of keeping a business alive.

What I didn’t realize at the time was that these same traits, resilience, problem-solving, and self-direction, are just as essential in technology.

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Why Technology, Why Now

So why make the leap into tech? For me, it’s about challenge and growth. Technology is always changing, and cybersecurity in particular is about staying a step ahead, solving problems, and protecting what matters.

At WGU, I’m working through a competency-based degree program that allows me to balance my business responsibilities while building real skills in IT and security. Alongside my coursework, I’m diving into hands-on resources like:

• GitHub → documenting projects and code

• TryHackMe → practicing real-world cybersecurity scenarios

• Medium → sharing progress, labs, and lessons

This shift isn’t about leaving my past behind—it’s about building on it. The military gave me discipline. Entrepreneurship gave me independence. Now, technology is giving me a new field to apply both.

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Looking Forward

Stepping into technology feels less like starting over and more like continuing a pattern I’ve followed my whole life: adapt, learn, and push forward.

• The Marines taught me discipline and teamwork.

• Entrepreneurship taught me resilience and ownership.

• Now, technology is teaching me how to solve problems on a new kind of battlefield.

This is just the beginning of my journey into IT and cybersecurity. Along the way, I’ll be documenting my progress, sharing labs, projects and resources, not just to hold myself accountable, but to encourage anyone else considering a career pivot.