A former special forces soldier who has become an entrepreneur and TV star has revealed what it takes to turn adversity into strength.
Ex-Royal Marines and Special Boat Service trooper Anthony “Staz” Stazicker said hard times can be turned into blessings and opportunities and he has given the secrets to his success in a new book.
Staz was the undercover mole in Channel 4’s popular SAS: Who Dares Win in 2021 and is a new member of the directing staff in this year’s Australian version of the reality show.
He had 13 years of distinguished and decorated military service – including ten within the elite forces with the Queen at Windsor Castle awarding him the Conspicuous Gallantry Cross for combat actions in Afghanistan in 2013.
Leaving in the forces in 2018 he then used his skills and drive to become a multi-million-pound entrepreneur, setting up technical clothing company ThruDark with former SBS operative Louis Tinsley.
In his new book The Hard Road Will Take You Home, on sale now, he aims to equip the readers with the same mindset to not to take the easy route but strive to achieve their goals.
Staz grew up in Bolton but moved to Nottingham aged eight where he was bullied, and a few years later his mother died suddenly from a brain haemorrhage.
He also had a promising football career playing as a schoolboy for England and Fulham until a knee injury in a motocross accident ended it.
Adrift it was only when he was 20 and at college during the second Gulf War that he decided to join the Royal Marines.
Explaining why he wrote the book he said: “Its about highlighting who we are, the struggles we have, the strengths we have, the things we can bleed across into business and into life as well.
“For a lot of people, myself in particular I had a promising football career from a young age, I was playing for England schoolboys and Fulham, and I put all my eggs in that basket and it did not work out. I was a little bit lost.
“I think young men need a passion, a purpose, something to aim for, a goal to strive towards.
“That’s actually what the military did for me.”
He added the book was not a straightforward memoir but has distilled “the processes and tactics” gathered and translated them into tools which people can use to succeed.
“Anyone looking to innovate, show creativity or handle adversity will find value here.”
He said his success both in the special forces and later in setting up his company ThruDark was due to four concepts he learnt as a special forces soldier – battle prep; techniques, tactics and procedures; teamwork; and the lessons we should all consider when learning how to innovate, persevere and succeed.
He said: “With all these books what I usually do is take what is useful and remove what is not.
“I think they are transferable for people who are not necessarily in business but are just trying to better themselves as an individual, who are hopefully aspirational.
“Look I am from humble beginnings, I am not educated to an especially high level but the things you can do yourself are within your own means, that don’t require things other than discipline and determination.
“I think people lose hope essentially but what I am trying to do is say there are times when things are extremely difficult but you have to just put one foot in front of the other.
“There were times during selection (for the SBS) where I could not think further than the next 30 seconds, let alone nine months. It was just getting through the next 30 seconds, minute, hour, day, building up the process brick by brick.
“Hopefully there is value to be had for everybody.”
The Hard Road Will Take You Home: What the Military Elite Teaches Us About Innovation, Endeavour and Next-Level Success by Anthony ‘Staz’ Stazicker is out on 2nd November from Atlantic Books.
