Adapting Chapter 1 from an upcoming book / research (Coming in January) The Human Career By Dr. Lazaro "Tony" Astro, PhD, GCDF, CMCS, CCSP
Introduction: The Apartment in Santa Cruz
In the opening chapter of my book, The Human Career, I take readers back to a small, cramped apartment in Santa Cruz, Manila. It was the 1970s. The air smelled of diesel fumes from jeepneys and garlic frying in a neighbor’s kitchen. My world was a cacophony of languages—Tagalog, Hokkien, English—and the constant, humid pressure of survival.
My father never left the Philippines. He lived his entire life within a hundred-mile radius of his birth. Yet, he taught me more about transition than any Navy master chief ever did. He taught me that adaptability isn’t about changing who you are to fit the room; it’s about anchoring who you are so you can survive any room.
Thirty years later, I stood on the flight deck of the USS Independence off the coast of Japan. The wind was screaming, jets were launching, and I was thousands of miles from that Manila apartment. I wasn't just "Tony" anymore; I was a Sailor. I had a rank. I had a mission.
Today, sitting across from transitioning service members at the Fleet & Family Support Center, I see the same look in their eyes that I felt when I finally hung up my uniform. It’s not fear of unemployment. It’s the fear of Identity Erasure.
The "Cast Away" Moment
We have all seen the movie Cast Away. There is that pivotal scene at the end where Tom Hanks stands at a literal crossroads in the Texas panhandle. He has survived the island. He has delivered the package. But looking down those long, empty roads, the terrifying question isn't "How do I survive?"
The question is: "Who am I now that I'm not on the island?"
In my research for Cultural Human Intelligence, I define this as the Hybrid Paradox. When you leave a "High Context" culture like the military (or the Philippines of my youth) and enter a "Low Context" culture like Corporate America, you don't just lose a job. You lose your tribe.
Bestselling author James Clear, in Atomic Habits, talks about how "true behavior change is identity change." You can’t just do civilian things (write a resume, wear a suit) and expect to feel okay. You have to become the person who thrives in that new environment without deleting the person you were.
The "Human Career" Framework
In my book, I argue that your career is not a ladder; it is a portfolio of identities.
When I counsel a Master Chief who is terrified of becoming a "Project Manager," I tell them this: You are not starting over. You are integrating.
The Manila Kid gave me resilience (or tiyaga).
The Navy Chief gave me discipline and logistics.
The Academic (PhD) gave me the language to explain it all.
If I had deleted the "Manila Kid" to become the "Navy Chief," I would have burned out. If I deleted the "Navy Chief" to become "Dr. Astro," I would have no credibility with my veterans.
The Strategy: The 3-Step Identity Audit
So, how do you do this practically? Here is the exercise I prescribe in Chapter 2 of Civilian Readiness Academy:
List Your "Tribes": Write down every group you have belonged to (Family, Division, Church, Hobby Group).
Extract the Value: Next to each, write one trait that tribe gave you (e.g., Navy = Decisiveness; Family = Empathy).
Build the Narrative: When you walk into an interview, do not recite your job description. Weave those traits together. "I bring the decisiveness of a military leader tempered by the empathy of a counselor."
Conclusion
Transition is not a transaction. It is a transformation. Whether you are coming from the rice fields of Luzon, the flight deck of an aircraft carrier, or the boardroom of a Fortune 500 company, the rule remains the same: You cannot navigate a new world using an old map.
But the good news? You don't have to throw the map away. You just have to draw new lines connecting where you’ve been to where you’re going.
Disclaimer
The views expressed in this article are those of the author, Dr. Lazaro "Tony" Astro, and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the Department of the Navy, Department of Defense, or the U.S. Government. This article is based on the author's academic research and personal experience as a transition counselor.
Resources & Further Reading
For a deeper dive into the frameworks discussed above, please refer to my published and unpublished works:
For the "Human Career" Philosophy:
Pending Publication: Astro, L. A. (2025). The Human Career: The Seven Capabilities That Predict Success When Everything You Know Disappears. Amazon Digital Services.
Link to Author Page For Resume Strategy & "Identity Translation":
Astro, L. A. (2025c). Resume Rewired: The Resume Guide.
Link to Book For the Mindset Shift (CQ/CHI):
Astro, L. A. (2025b). Cultural Human Intelligence: Bridging the Gap in Transition.
Link to Book For Avoiding Pitfalls:
Astro, L. A. (2025a). Civilian Readiness Academy: A Counselor’s Perspective.
Link to Book