The Transition by Bunker Labs

Today on the Transition, I talk about the importance of getting back to “why.” When you get caught up in the day to day of running your business, and all the  blocking and tackling that comes with chasing revenue, managing your team, and dealing with your personal life, it can start to wear on you. It’s all fun and dandy the first few months,  when you’re fueled off dopamine, or what I like to call, the honeymoon phase of entrepreneurship. After a while, the reality of the grind sets in ? You go through a break up or a divorce, you start losing friends and family? Now what? You lose motivation and you find it hard to show up. If that sounds familiar, today’s show is for you.  

Apply for the next cohort of Breaking Barriers in Entrepreneurship here: https://bunkerlabs.org/breaking-barriers/

Order my book, “Black Veteran Entrepreneur” here: https://amzn.to/3gme7kg

Today on the Transition, I discuss Blue Ocean Strategy, a method of thinking that allows you to identify uncontested market opportunities. 

Apply for the next cohort of Breaking Barriers in Entrepreneurship here: https://bunkerlabs.org/breaking-barriers/

Order my book, “Black Veteran Entrepreneur” here: https://amzn.to/3gme7kg

On today’s episode, we talk about mental health. Mike reflects on recent events in his life, how they impacted him, and what the reality of managing mental health looks like for many of us.

Be sure to subscribe to the Transition Newsletter on Substack here: https://bit.ly/37Bb8Ne

Order my book, “Black Veteran Entrepreneur” here: https://amzn.to/3gme7kg

For first-time founders, it’s easy to fall in love with your idea and build a company that places you as the hero of the story. Jim Collins, renowned business author and famous for his books, Good To Great and Built To Last, believes that in order to build an enduring company, you have to be willing to do the hard work of building a company that doesn’t solely rely on you. Additionally, you can’t just fall in love with your idea, you need to fall in love with the process of coming up with multiple ones. Collins refers to this concept as “Clock Building,” which I discuss on today’s show. 

Apply for the next cohort of Breaking Barriers in Entrepreneurship here: https://bunkerlabs.org/breaking-barriers/

Order my book, “Black Veteran Entrepreneur” here: https://amzn.to/3gme7kg

Do you ever feel there’s never enough time in the day to get things done? I know I do,  but one thing that’s been helpful for me, is carving time to build an ideal workweek. So for this episode of the Transition, I walk through my ideal work week template and how I structure my time, and share guidance on how you can do the same in your own business. 

Apply for the next cohort of Breaking Barriers in Entrepreneurship here: https://bunkerlabs.org/breaking-barriers/

Order my book, “Black Veteran Entrepreneur” here: https://amzn.to/3gme7kg

Download a copy of the “Ideal Work Week Template here: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1L0AlCaC0uYMpcqpnfk02bKNcN-3WIVv4wShDemJx9V4/copy?usp=gmail_thread

On this episode of the Transition, I’m joined by Army Veteran, Leadership Coach, and Serial Entrepreneur, Sean Patton, Founder of Stronger Leader Stronger Profits, which helps companies increase their profitability by developing stronger leaders. I met Sean last year when the Bunker Labs Crew flew into Nashville, TN for a team fly-in. After hearing him speak about his journey from the Army, his passion for Brazilian Ju Jitsu, and the challenge of opening up his own gym, I had to get him on the show. After graduating from West Point, Sean spent ten years as an army officer, half of which was in special forces. On the show, Sean discusses how he’s managed to leverage his leadership experience in the military and apply it in the business world through leadership/executive coaching, as well as his experience founding and running multiple jujitsu gyms in the Nashville area. 

Apply for the next cohort of Breaking Barriers in Entrepreneurship here: https://bunkerlabs.org/breaking-barriers/

Order my book, “Black Veteran Entrepreneur” here: https://amzn.to/3gme7kg

To learn more about Stronger Leader Stronger Profits click here: https://strongerleadersstrongerprofits.com/

I tell people that it takes at least three years or so to fully transition, but that's not based on any peer-reviewed data only my personal experience after spending 10 years in the military, five including my time at the Naval Academy Prep School and Annapolis, followed by five in the Marine Corp, for ten years total. Today’s guest, Jessica Van De Vop Jesus, left the Marine Corps as Lieutenant Colonel, in order to follow her passion for Food and Travel. Her first few years post-transition were rough, which she shares intimate details about on the show, for the first time. Through her struggles, Jessica managed to find meaning and purpose in the next stage of her journey, as an Author and Solopreneur, On today’s show, Jessica shares her story and I hope that those of you in the throes of your own transition, whether you’re just getting off of active duty, changing jobs, or making the leap to start a venture, I’m confident you’ll find inspiration in Jessica’s journey. 

Apply for the next cohort of Breaking Barriers in Entrepreneurship here: https://bunkerlabs.org/breaking-barriers/

Order my book, “Black Veteran Entrepreneur” here: https://amzn.to/3gme7kg

To learn more about The Dining Traveler, click here: https://diningtraveler.com/

In the following episode of the Transition, I break down how to achieve marketing momentum in your business that attracts high-quality leads, by walking you through the following frameworks:

The 1-Page Marketing Plan and the Weekly Marketing Cadence.

I use my company, IRONBOUND Media, as a case study on how to effectively implement them

Order my book, “Black Veteran Entrepreneur” here: https://amzn.to/3gme7kg

Download a Copy of the 1-Page Marketing Plan Framework here: https://www.thestrength.co/

When I’m not hitting the heavy bag at the IRONBOUND Boxing Academy in Newark, you can find me under a barbell at my CrossFit gym, doing squats, bench presses, and other strength training exercises, something I’m picked up playing football in high school and carried with me into the Marines. While doing research on how to incorporate running into barbell training, I came across today’s guest, Grant Broggi, Founder of The Strength Co, which includes a Brick-and-Mortar Gym, Online Coaching, and a manufacturing arm producing American-made plates and other barbell equipment. As an active duty Marine Artillery Officer, Grant jumpstarted his entrepreneurial journey, moonlighting as a coach on the weekends before opening up a gym and eventually building his strength empire. Shortly after transitioning off of Active duty and into his business full-time, like most, Grant got royally punched in the face due to COVID, eventually forcing him to shut down one of two gyms, but presented the opportunity to start his own manufacturing company. On the show, Grant opens up about how he managed to pull it off, the pains of running a brick-and-mortar gym, and why he believes there’s a future in American-made Iron. 

Be sure to subscribe to the Transition Newsletter on Substack here: https://bit.ly/37Bb8Ne

Order my book, “Black Veteran Entrepreneur” here: https://amzn.to/3gme7kg

Learn more about Grant and The Strength Co here: https://www.thestrength.co/

Today on the Transition, I revisit quarterly planning, and how to set yourself for success over the next 90 days, using objectives and key results. 

Be sure to subscribe to the Transition Newsletter on Substack here: https://bit.ly/37Bb8Ne

Order my book, “Black Veteran Entrepreneur” here: https://amzn.to/3gme7kg