No Result
View All Result
Reserve & National Guard
SUBSCRIBE FREE
No Result
View All Result
Reserve & National Guard
SUBSCRIBE FREE
Reserve & National Guard

Former adjutant general helps veterans design the life they want

Bianca Strzalkowski
by Bianca Strzalkowski
June 7, 2021
Author Linda Singh is the former adjutant general of Maryland National Guard. Courtesy photo.

Author Linda Singh is the former adjutant general of Maryland National Guard. Courtesy photo.

A retired major general penned a new book that showcases how attitude is everything when it comes to accomplishing goals and overcoming obstacles. 

Dr. Linda Singh, former head of Maryland National Guard, had no intention of “doing nothing” after her transition from the military. Instead, she knew she could now pick and choose what she says yes to, which has included supporting retired Lt. Gen. Russel Honore in his leadership of the security task force following the Jan. 6 attack at the Capitol. Singh’s other projects include authoring a personal development guide to help readers take stock of the things that are holding them back.   

“What’s In Your Box? Designing the Life You Want” explains how boxes are used to store and organize things with meaning and purpose. Singh then highlights how goals and accomplishments should be stored similarly for easy access when opportunities arise. By defining what is important to “box up” and what can be left behind, readers have the opportunity to purge what may be worsening their attitude and contributing to unproductive behavior and push themselves closer to realizing their potential. 

Singh is no stranger to sharing her story and insight. She previously published “Moments of Choice: My Path to Leadership” in 2016, but she said the books serve different purposes. 

“When I think about the difference, the first book was more about my leadership journey and story. The second one is more about lessons learned and helping others see, what’s the work that you need to put in in order to get what you want out of life,” she said. “I decided to do that for a number of reasons … but it really was out of all the questions that I would get in interviews, the majority were asking, ‘what made you successful?’” 

Singh made history in Maryland by leading the first all-female command staff for the National Guard. And the Maryland-native is a success story all on her own. She dropped out of high school and once lived homeless on the very streets she came to serve. Looking back, she credits her recruiter with providing the step up she needed at that moment in her life. 

“People often only see the end result, and they don’t really know all of the different twists and turns and ‘noes’ that you get going down a path that isn’t successful. There are many dead ends that you may have to retrack and do something else. I really wanted to put something out that would allow me to not just give people something to focus in on about my story but to help them to re-look at their own lives in very simple steps. I didn’t want it to be complicated; I wanted it to be short, bite-sized pieces,” Singh said. 

When Singh was adjutant general, she worked with Bosnian leaders as part of the State Partnership Program. Army photo.

The inspiration for the book came while she was deployed to Bosnia as part of the State Partnership Program. Local engagements with the country’s young people allowed her to talk about key issues and the response to those talks made a lightbulb go off that such a self-help type book would be a good fit for ages 19-32, she added.  

While the guide describes how to organize achievements and dreams, it is also a useful tool for women to promote their accomplishments and achieve their goals, especially in male-dominated fields, and learn how to lean into their accomplishments when fending for themselves in competitive environments. 

“You need to examine your beliefs and values, your action and behaviors, and your intentions to determine if they are in alignment with one another. If they are not then they may not be serving you well in your journey towards success,” Singh said. 

In a year that put many people off track, “What’s In Your Box? Designing the Life You Want” can be seen as a tool to figure out realistic next steps for determining what comes next.  

“One of the concepts I talk about in the book is how people tend to set hairy, bodacious goals, and when it takes so long to get to them, you get discouraged. So, I ask people to break them down into smaller, micro-goals so that you can accomplish things and see forward movement. … it’s about not getting stuck, even though we’re in the middle of a pandemic, it’s a time for growth — a time to really reassess your goals and determine what your breakout moment is going to be? What do you want to be different?” Singh said.  

“What’s In Your Box? Designing the Life You Want” is available for purchase at the Archway Publishing Online Bookstore, Amazon, and Barnes & Noble. 

Read comments
Tags: authorBosniaLeadershipLinda SinghMaryland National GuardNational GuardState Partnership ProgramVeterans“What's In Your Box? Designing the Life You Want”
Bianca Strzalkowski

Bianca Strzalkowski

Bianca Strzalkowski has more than 10 years of experience in storytelling. Her portfolio includes interviews with former Secretary of Defense Gen. James Mattis, Air Force Gen. Charles “CQ” Brown, “Shark Tank” CEO Daymond John, and countless elected and military leaders. Bianca holds a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration and journalism. She resides near Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Maryland, with her husband and two children. She is a member of the Military Reporters & Editors Association.

Related Posts

Navy reservist captures history over 30-year career

by Taneika Duhaney
5 hours ago
0
Navy reservist

Amy Forsythe, now a Navy reservist, has documented service members in some of the most remote regions in the world...

Read more

Marine Corps Reserve veteran reflects on ‘fly on the wall’ view of Iraq War

by Kari Williams
2 days ago
0
Iraq

When talk of the Iraq War began, retired Marine Corps Capt. Matthew Hoh was a junior officer for the Secretary...

Read more

The last World War II veteran on active duty served for nearly 55 years after the war

by Military.com
2 weeks ago
0
World War II

Dr. Earl Russell Fox spent most of his life in and around the military, joining the Navy during World War II.

Read more

National Guard, reserve veterans among IAVA’s advocacy all-stars

by AmeriForce Staff
3 weeks ago
0
IAVA

Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America's (IAVA) All-Star Advocacy Fly-In on Capitol Hill included several reserve component veterans.

Read more

‘Leave it to Beaver’ star Jerry Mathers recalls military service, KIA rumor

by Kari Williams
2 months ago
0
Leave it to Beaver

"Leave it to Beaver" actor Jerry Mathers stood on stage at the 1967 Emmys in full military uniform, shortly after...

Read more

New veterans head to Congress, including January 6-er

by Military.com
3 months ago
0
New veterans

New veterans will begin roaming the halls of Congress next week, contributing to one of the biggest classes of lawmakers...

Read more

Ads

Let's get social

The RNG Drill

News delivered directly to your inbox

Let's connect!

ABOUT US

  • OUR STORY
  • OUR TEAM
  • OUR WRITERS

MAGAZINE

  • GET PRINT
  • GET DIGITAL
  • GET THE NEWSLETTER

GET RESOURCES

  • VETERANS TOOLKIT

ADVERTISE

  • GET OUR MEDIA KIT
  • PUBLISHER’S STATEMENT

SUBMISSIONS

  • PITCH US
  • SUBMIT YOUR STORY

Never miss out on the latest stories.

© 2021 Reserve & National Guard by AmeriForce. Privacy Policy | Terms | Site by Swiss Commerce

Thank you for your interest in The Reserve & National Guard Magazine!

Thank you for your interest in The Reserve & National Guard Magazine!

No Result
View All Result
  • NEWS
  • YOUR CAREER
    • UNIT TRAINING
    • DEPLOYMENT
    • PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
    • RECRUITING & RETENTION
    • ENTREPRENEUR
    • TRANSITION
  • EDUCATION
  • MILITARY LIFE
    • MILITARY SPOUSES
    • MILITARY KIDS
    • PARENTING
  • OFF DUTY
    • ENTERTAINMENT
    • TRAVEL
  • HEALTH
    • FITNESS
    • MEDICINE
    • MENTAL HEALTH
  • SPORTS
  • OPINION
  • HISTORY
  • MONEY
    • PERSONAL FINANCE
    • BENEFITS
  • GET THE MAGAZINE
    • PRINT MAGAZINES
    • DIGITAL MAGAZINES
    • GET THE NEWSLETTER
  • RESOURCES
    • VETERANS TOOLKIT
  • ABOUT US
    • MEET OUR TEAM
    • OUR AUTHORS
    • ADVERTISE WITH US
    • SUBMIT YOUR STORY
    • PITCH US
    • CONTACT

© 2022 Reserve & National Guard by AmeriForce. Site by SCBW

Skip to toolbar
  • About WordPress
    • WordPress.org
    • Documentation
    • Support
    • Feedback
  • AMP
    • View AMP version