The Veteran Entrepreneur Masterclass Podcast

The Veteran Entrepreneur Masterclass Podcast

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The Veteran Entrepreneur Masterclass Podcast episodes

  • Bringing Entrepreneurs' Ideas to Life with Alex Chompff (Ep. 25)

    An entrepreneur's journey can be challenging, but it can also be incredibly rewarding for those with the vision, drive, and determination to succeed. However, bringing an entrepreneur's idea to life often requires more than just hard work and dedication – it also requires access to capital. How can entrepreneurs find financial support to help them realize their ideas?

    In this episode, Brett talks with Alex Chompff, Executive Director and Co-Founder of Evolution Accelerator and Managing Partner of Evolution Ventures, a venture syndicate arm that provides capital directly to entrepreneurs at a larger scale. 

    Aiming to help entrepreneurs turn their ideas into reality, Alex talks about how he serves veteran-owned businesses, how he got started in the financial technology industry, and the factors determining whether to bring on a strategic or capital partner.

    Alex Chompff has experience and knowledge that only comes from a lifetime of once-in-a-lifetime opportunities. After serving in the United State Marine Corps, he became the Director of Technology at the world's largest venture capital firm during the legendary dotcom era.

    Companies Alex subsequently co-founded operate at the front edge of innovation, creation, and value growth. These include NatureTrak, the Minters Collective, Evolution Accelerator, and The DAO Treasury Corporation. Today, Alex is a member of the Sacramento Angels and serves as an advisor to dozens of startup and growth companies.

    In This Episode

    01:53 - Backstory of Alex Chompff

    06:27 - What inspired Alex to serve veterans

    09:55 - Why Alex chose to work with other veteran-owned businesses

    15:40 - The risks involved in bringing ideas to life

    18:31 - How Alex helps entrepreneurs bring their ideas to life

    21:52 - How Alex got started in the financial technology industry

    29:41 - What led Alex to help people in the cannabis industry

    32:40 - Factors that determine whether or not to bring on a strategic or capital partner

    39:05 - A typical timeline for Alex to begin talking to entrepreneurs about the potential growth of their businesses.

    42:13 - How people learn about Alex's work

    45:46 - The factors Alex considers when deciding whether to invest in an idea

    Favorite Quotes

    07:48 - "Running a business with someone is like being married. It helps to have a common set of values and a common understanding of what constitutes good work and moral action. And it's important to be aligned with the people around you." - Alex Chompff

    16:36 - "When you bring your idea to life, you communicate it to everybody around you. Your biggest problem will not be that somebody understands and steals your idea. It's going to be that people only half understand your idea and implement it incorrectly or in ways you didn't have in mind." - Alex Chompff

    33:36 - "As far as whether to take on an outside investor or a capital partner, the most important thing to know is yourself. Understand what your goals are for yourself and for the business that you're creating." - Alex Chompff

    35:11 - "Taking on capital is a lot like being married. You have to understand that if you accept someone's money to further your commercial interests, you're creating a rest of your life bond with that person." - Alex Chompff

    46:15 - "Your time is always worth more than your money." - Alex Chompff

    59:13 - "Experience teaches us that it takes more than one person to make a company, and there is no one person who has everything that it takes." - Alex Chompff

    1:01:58 - "Use your investor's resources to be healthy because, ultimately, that's an important part of being an effective leader. An important part of building a sustainable enterprise is to be in a place of emotional, financial, physical, spiritual, and mental health." - Alex Chompff

    Connect with Alex Chopff

    • LinkedIn
    • Evolution Accelerator Website

    Connect with Brett Henderson:

    • 310-491-7975
    • Swe90.com
    • LinkedIn: Brett Henderson
    • Strategic Wealth Endeavor

    Listen to The Veteran Entrepreneur Masterclass Podcast

    • Apple Podcast
    • Spotify
    1 hr 11 min
  • The Key to Success in Entrepreneurship with Matt Halloran (Ep. 24)

    The thrill of starting your own business and being your own boss is a dream for many. However, entrepreneurship is a challenging journey. It takes more than just an innovative concept to succeed. As entrepreneurs, particularly financial advisors, how can you overcome the barriers and secure success in your business?

    In this episode of the Veteran Entrepreneur Masterclass podcast, Matt Halloran joins Brett Henderson for another conversation about entrepreneurship. A former business and life coach to top advisors, Matt talks about what motivated him to start ProudMouth, the biggest lesson he learned from his entrepreneurial journey, and how to achieve success in the business world.

    Matt is the Partner and Chief Relationship Officer at ProudMouth, Influence Accelerator & Podcasting Expert, and host of the Top Advisor Marketing Podcast. Matt has helped 5,000+ advisors understand how to create trust and build rapport with prospects they haven't even met yet. He studied how people communicate for over 20 years, was featured in The Wall Street Journal as a digital communication expert, and wrote "The Social Media Handbook for Financial Advisors" – the first social media book dedicated to financial services.

    Matt has hosted and been on 1,000+ podcasts. He's also the host of ProudMouth's podcast, the Top Advisor Marketing Podcast, where he shares marketing strategies tailored for advisors and connects with top industry leaders. Matt has now combined his extensive knowledge and expertise in business and coaching with one of his passions: podcasting.

    In This Episode

    00:38 - How Brett Henderson got into podcasting

    04:25 - Backstory of Matt Halloran

    08:37 - How Matt transition from military to civilian life

    13:12 - What motivated Matt to start ProudMouth

    18:42 - The biggest lesson Matt learned from his entrepreneurial journey

    23:05 - What makes Brett's business successful

    27:54 - Matt's thoughts on why Brett is at the forefront of financial services

    32:32 - Matt's advice for entrepreneurs

    40:13 - Why knowing your purpose is important

    44:30 - What Giselle has learned over the years in the financial services industry

    Favorite Quotes

    20:25  - "I sell to people who have consumed so much of our content that they come in mostly pre-sold. I would rather have the right people come to me and buy from me than me having to go out and make hardcore sales." - Matt Halloran

    24:44 - "The number one thing most people don't do in the sales world is called the principle of reciprocity. If you do something nice for somebody, they expect you to ask them to do something nice for you." - Matt Halloran

    33:28 - "Try to be a little more patient with everybody because you don't know the struggles that just happened before they came into your life." - Matt Halloran

    35:12 - "Entrepreneurs are a different breed. Do not expect any of your team members to have even a millionth of a percent of the risk, passion, hours, and discipline entrepreneurs are willing to take. Because if they did, they'd be doing it themselves." - Matt Halloran

    43:01 - "The entrepreneurial journey is an ebb and flow, and you have to learn how to ride those waves. When you can learn how to ride those waves, that's when success happens." - Matt Halloran

    Connect with Matt Halloran

    • LinkedIn
    • Twitter
    • ProudMouth

    Connect with Brett Henderson:

    • 310-491-7975
    • Swe90.com
    • LinkedIn: Brett Henderson
    • Strategic Wealth Endeavor

    Listen to The Veteran Entrepreneur Masterclass Podcast

    • Apple Podcast
    • Spotify
    • Google Podcast
    49 min
  • How Military Values Can Drive Success in the Civilian World with David Stepanek (Ep. 23)

    The ability to adapt to changing conditions, think strategically, and lead in diverse and challenging environments are some of the skills highly valued in the civilian sector. While the military and the civilian world operate in different contexts, many successful business leaders and entrepreneurs have attributed their accomplishments to the lessons they learned in the military.

    In this episode, Brett Henderson talks with David Stepanek, Bristow's Executive Vice President, Sales and Chief Transformation Officer. In his role, David is responsible for all sales, marketing, and commercial functions of the business. In addition to activities in Bristow's existing end markets, his focus includes transforming the company's business mix through strategic diversification into new markets.

    As a Marine Corps veteran, David talks with Brett about what attracted him to the aviation industry, how he adapts his leadership style in the civilian world, and his secret to success.

    In this episode:

    01:26 - Backstory of David Stepanek

    04:31 - What attracted David to the aviation industry

    06:30 - How David adapts his leadership style in the civilian world

    11:43 - David's secret to success

    15:14 - What it takes to be truly present in a conversation

    18:56 - The role that launched David's career

    25:08 - How David approaches work-life balance

    31:14 - Some of the challenges facing the aviation industry today

    37:31 - David's vision for the Bristow Group

    41:27 - Some of the failures David has experienced in his career

    45:43 - What David advises veterans

    Favorite Quotes

    07:40 - "In the civilian world, if you're doing what you show up for work, do your job description, go a little bit over the edge, and show some enthusiasm, intelligence, and courage, you're a rockstar." - David Stepanek

    13:05 - "Never in my life have I anticipated being an executive vice president of a large public company, being named executive officer and being exposed to what I have. But over some time, I started to see that path. When I saw what I thought was an opportunity, I jumped on it and took risks." - David Stepanek

    35:45 - "We're taking a revolutionary event, whether that's in aviation, communication, or crypto coin. We have to apply evolutionary laws to be successful because that will sustain and get us through it. That's the challenge of aligning people on the intersection of evolution and revolution." - David Stepanek

    45:33 - "Take opportunities that come to you and do the best at whatever you have and be doing that day. Doing your best doesn't mean you have to be the best at everything. It means you have to be your best person that day and apply that to your business or your safety." - David Stepanek

    46:09 - "If you're a leader, be present in your group. Make sure that you've set an example. Make sure you engage thoughtfully and intently with the people you lead, and they'll continue to provide you with whatever is necessary to succeed." - David Stepanek

    Connect with Brett Henderson

    • 310-491-7975
    • Swe90.com
    • LinkedIn: Brett Henderson
    • Strategic Wealth Endeavor

    Connect with David Stepanek

    • LinkedIn
    • Bristow Group

    Listen to The Veteran Entrepreneur Masterclass Podcast

    • Apple Podcast
    • Spotify
    • Google Podcast
    50 min
  • Increasing VA Disability Rating and Compensation with Matt Chasen (Ep. 22)

    Adjusting to civilian life after serving the country can be challenging for many veterans. Not only do they struggle to find employment and financial stability, but they are also often faced with physical and mental health issues resulting from their time in service. While the VA disability compensation program is designed to provide financial support to veterans who have sustained service-connected injuries or illnesses, some may find that their initial disability rating does not adequately reflect the severity of their condition. How can veterans find ways to increase their VA disability rating and compensation?

    This episode is part of the educational series of the Veteran Entrepreneur Masterclass podcast. Today's guest, Matt Chasen, is a US Marine Veteran who aims to help veterans increase their VA disability rating and compensation. He talks about why most veterans fail to take full advantage of their VA benefits, how he helps veterans apply for disability benefits, and what advice he gives to all military coming out of service.

    Matt Chasen is the Owner of VT Bennies. They are dedicated to helping veterans nationwide obtain the benefits they deserve. Their role is to make the challenging process of applying for disability rating increase by connecting veterans with doctors in their area who are familiar with the VA claim documents. 

    In This Episode

    02:08 - Backstory of Matt Chasen

    09:09 - Some ways VA loans can benefit veterans

    11:27 - Why most veterans fail to take full advantage of their VA benefits

    14:22 - Why veterans should apply for anything that they feel could be a possibility for disability

    17:11 - How Matt helps veterans apply for disability benefits

    27:27 - Matt's approach to helping veterans who have been denied disability benefits

    31:37 - Matt's advice for military coming out of service

    Quotes

    09:13 - "Most veterans, in some form or fashion, are broken in their own way. They manage that brokenness, overcome it, evolve, and manage life. But knowing that there are resources out there that are available to other veterans is huge." - Brett Henderson

    14:22 - "Many veterans are still in tip-top shape when they first leave the military. So, they don't realize that they do have any disabilities. But fast forward five or ten years down the road, they start noticing pain." - Matt Chasen

    15:28 - "As a veteran, you always want to apply for anything that you feel could be a possible disability that you have. If you don't apply for it and you don't get it service-connected, it will end up coming back and biting you later on down the road. If you don't address the wear and tear on your body, it's just going to get worse and worse." - Matt Chasen

    Engage with Matt Chasen

    • LinkedIn
    • VT Bennies
    • VT Bennies on Facebook

    Connect with Brett Henderson and Giselle Cayme:

    • 310-491-7975
    • Swe90.com
    • LinkedIn: Brett Henderson
    • Strategic Wealth Endeavor
    • Giselle Cayme

    Listen to The Veteran Entrepreneur Masterclass Podcast

    • Apple Podcast
    • Spotify
    41 min
  • Why Every Business Needs a Reliable Legal Advisor with Dutch Schotemeyer (Ep. 21)

    Businesses face a multitude of legal challenges on a daily basis, from contracts and negotiations to disputes and lawsuits. With the increasing complexities of today's business world, how can businesses protect their interests, minimize risks, and make informed decisions that positively impact their bottom line?

    In this episode, Brett Henderson and Giselle Cayme sit down with Louis "Dutch" Schotemeyer, a Partner at Newmeyer Dillion's Newport Beach office, to share tips and lessons in entrepreneurship. Dutch also talks about the importance of legal counsel for businesses and how having a knowledgeable lawyer can help prevent potential legal issues, protect a company's interests, and ensure that all operations comply with the law.

    Dutch Schotemeyer is a seasoned litigator who works on all types of general liability and complex commercial disputes. He leverages his litigation experience to provide clients with front-end legal advice in various potentially litigious situations, including contract drafting, contract negotiation, employment issues, insurance policy placement, daily operations, and advice to C-Level executives. His experience as a corporate attorney, providing risk management and related advice to a variety of clients, including developers, contractors, landlords, and other real estate professionals, is invaluable to those clients who need help maintaining their in-house legal staff.

    In This Episode

    02:41 - Backstory of Dutch Schotemeyer

    09:37 - How California deals with small businesses

    13:31 - What makes people want a fractional general counsel

    17:01 - The rate Dutch charged for his services

    22:02 - What it takes to establish an LLC

    27:04 - The top three insurances that a new business owner should have

    31:33 - Dutch recommendation for anyone who wants to start their own business

    35:45 - What EPLI is and why you need it in California

    38:21- The trends Dutch sees in the business landscape

    46:47 - The two things Dutch would recommend to help mitigate risk

    Favorite Quotes

    13:42 - "Most people come and call the lawyer once the milk is spilled" - Dutch Schotemeyer

    20:57 - "The penalty for failure in California is high if you mess up with your employees. Many people don't understand the risk they're taking, and they should at least understand and know what that is." - Dutch Schotemeyer

    41:33 - "If you can run your business without a partner, you are better off doing it." - Dutch Schotemeyer

    Connect with Louis "Dutch" Schotemeyer

    • LinkedIn
    • Newmeyer Dillion

    Connect with Brett Henderson:

    • 310-491-7975
    • Swe90.com
    • LinkedIn: Brett Henderson
    • Strategic Wealth Endeavor

    Listen to The Veteran Entrepreneur Masterclass Podcast

    • Apple Podcast
    • Spotify
    • Google Play

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    58 min
  • Don't Be Beta, Get Some Wins with Chief Knucklehead Stephen Colon (Ep. 20)

    In pursuing goals, getting caught up in the idea that achieving something big and grandiose is needed to succeed can be easy. However, the truth is that small wins can be just as powerful in helping accomplish larger goals. These small wins can give motivation, confidence, and momentum to keep pushing forward, progress, and overcome challenges. 

    In this episode, Stephen Colon joins Brett Henderson for another conversation on leading innovative ways and overcoming obstacles to achieve financial stability. A marine veteran who successfully transitioned into the civilian world, Stephen talks about his professional and business endeavors, why he gave up on some of his businesses, and how he generates the momentum he needs to get a win and become the best version of himself.

    Stephen Colon is the Founder and Director of Business Development at Knucklehead Media Group. He is a strategic and innovative business and sales professional with expertise in business development, relationship building, and training and development to drive growth, streamline productivity, and maximize profit. As a successful business owner, Stephen has fine-tuned the ability to leverage risk analysis for a company and deliver lasting results that propel a business to the next level. Additionally, he possesses a military background that has given him sharp leadership tools to build and train exceptional teams who contribute to achieving key business objectives and goals.

    In This Episode

    01:43 - Backstory of Stephen Colon

    05:14 - What led Stephen to leave the military

    07:03 - How Stephen spent his teenage years

    14:05 - Stephen's professional and business endeavors

    18:58 - Why Stephen's previous businesses failed

    22:15 - How Stephen found private equity partners to work with

    29:05 - Why Stephen gave up on his personal training business

    30:39 - How Stephen generates the momentum he needs to get a win

    36:48 - The drive Stephen has to be the best version of himself

    40:33 - LinkedIn connections Stephen recommends

    Favorite Quotes

    08:19 - "I wanted to lead teams, build teams, and build a business. I wanted to have an impact. That's what drew me to run my own business." - Stephen Colon

    11:57 - "There's no better catalyst for most entrepreneurs than realizing that you don't fit that mold of being just told of what to do and sitting in a box." - Brett Henderson

    15:59 - "Some people can learn from experiences in a job. In today's social media-oriented world, you can start a business, be a consultant, or do something you stand up for on your own to go and be effective. You can be effective wherever you are, whatever company you're at." - Stephen Colon

    31:30 - "How do you generate the momentum necessary to get yourself a win? You have to start getting small wins, then those small wins accumulate over time, and you develop the inertia and the momentum to string together a few good weeks. And those few good weeks progress towards a much larger goal." - Stephen Colon

    38:07 - "You can be a victim or a victor. You can point the finger at other people, or you can point the finger back at yourself and realize that you can do something about it." - Stephen Colon

    38:24 - "If you decide to take the easy road out, you are essentially training your brain to find the way out instead of the way through or the way around something." - Stephen Colon

    Connect with Stephen Colon

    Stephen Colon on LinkedIn

    Knucklehead Media Group

    Connect with Brett Henderson:

    • 310-491-7975
    • Swe90.com
    • LinkedIn: Brett Henderson
    • Strategic Wealth Endeavor

    Listen to The Veteran Entrepreneur Masterclass Podcast

    • Apple Podcast
    • Spotify
    • Google Podcast
    46 min
  • How Veterans Can Find Successful Careers in the Corporate World with Joe Frankie (Ep. 19)

    Transitioning from military service to a civilian career can be a challenging experience for veterans. It can be difficult to find a job that not only utilizes the skills and experience gained during service but also offers a stable and fulfilling career path. Many veterans find that the corporate world can be a great fit for their skills and experiences, but it can be difficult to navigate the job search process and stand out to potential employers. 

    In this episode, Brett Henderson shares a conversation with Joe Frankie. As a military veteran who wants to transition into the civilian sector, Joe talks about the darkest days in his corporate career and how LinkedIn has helped him pursue his mission. Now a coach and LinkedIn strategist, Joe discusses how he helps veterans find successful careers in the corporate world and what advice he can give to people who want to start their businesses.

    Joe Frankie is a West Point graduate, combat veteran, and award-winning author. As CEO at JFIII Associates, he now helps companies build better teams. He brings 40 years of leading and untangling multiple business projects up to $8 billion worldwide and as many as 53,000 associates with a track record of building teams, deploying technology, and mitigating risk.

    As a mentor and coach, Joe finds and assesses top-tier talent who leads and flourishes in the organizational culture. On an individual basis, Joe coach civil and military leaders on how to build a LinkedIn bridge from where they are to where they want to go. As of January 3, 2023, Joe has coached and mentored 696 executives, veterans, and students on using LinkedIn and resumes to better merchandise themselves and achieve their desired objectives.

     

    In This Episode

    01:49 - Backstory of Joe Frankie

    04:03 - The darkest days of Joe's career

    08:38 - How Joe learned to use LinkedIn

    12:23 - How Joe distinguishes between LinkedIn bots and genuine connections

    13:54 - Joe's approach to helping veterans find civilian careers

    18:48 - The challenges entrepreneurs face in today's economy

    22:17 - How the civilian world qualifies veterans for careers

    25:49 - How Joe approaches interviews

    27:13 - The power of a good LinkedIn profile

    33:13 - How veterans can have successful careers in corporate America

    38:10 - Joe's tips for getting promoted

    39:28 - Joe's advice to veterans who want to pursue entrepreneurship

     

    Favorite Quotes

    10:17 - "LinkedIn offered me to help military people. If they populate what they brought to the table, I will help translate that into the hiring manager's vernacular." - Joe Frankie 

    16:18 - "If you can articulate what you did in the military, your profile allows you to tell story after story about how you solve problems." - Joe Frankie

    19:05 - "With crisis comes opportunity. For entrepreneurs, you have to look outside the box. The people who look outside the box adjust faster than their peers. If you're a follower, you get what's left." - Joe Frankie

    34:04 - "Do everything you can to be excellent. When you got a good track record in the civilian world, it gets easier to matriculate between civilian organizations. When you have a positive reputation, people check up on you, and the world is your oyster." - Joe Frankie

    40:12 - "There are a lot of things that you have to do to run your own business. It's not your technical ability that's going to hamper you. It's going to be the odds and the ends that seek your time because you're going to be the butcher, the baker, and the candlestick maker." - Joe Frankie

     

    Connect with Joe Frankie:

    • (817) 905 5071
    • LinkedIn: Joe Frankie III
    • JFIII Associates
    • 5-Minute Drill
    • LinkedIn: The 5-Minute Drill for Executive Networking Success

    Connect with Brett Henderson:

    • 310-491-7975
    • Swe90.com
    • LinkedIn: Brett Henderson
    • Strategic Wealth Endeavor

    Subscribe to The Veteran Entrepreneur Masterclass Podcast:

    • Apple Podcast
    • Spotify
    • Google Podcast
    49 min
  • The Power of Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) In Achieving Goals With Jason Jurado (Ep. 18)

    Neuro-linguistic programming (NLP) is a powerful tool for goal setting, motivation, and success. That is because it aims to help individuals understand and change their thoughts, behaviors, and communication patterns to achieve their desired outcomes. By providing individuals with the tools and understanding they need to pursue their goals with greater clarity and confidence, NLP can help them succeed in the areas that matter most.

    In this episode, Brett talks with Jason Jurado, Owner of One Path Coaching. A certified Master Practitioner of Neuro-Linguistic Programming, NLP Coaching, Time Line Therapy, and a certified Master Hypnotherapist, Jason is passionate about helping others achieve mind and body wellness. He helps clients to manage their emotions and to focus on defining and taking action steps to achieve and maintain positive mental health.

    With over 25 years of management experience focusing on developing and growing individual talent, Jason talks about why he is his friends' go-to person, how he helps people define and make life changes, and what role NLP plays in business management.

    In This Episode

    01:55 - Backstory of Jason Jurado

    03:04 - Why Jason is his friends' go-to person

    06:24 - How Jason enhances his abilities to help more people

    10:40 - Jason's approach to helping people define and make life changes

    15:50 - How Brett and his team understand the values of their clients

    19:48 - How Jason determines what his clients truly value

    24:52 - What NLP can do for business owners

    29:48 - How Jason helps entrepreneurs achieve their goals

    39:19 - What role NLP plays in business management

    45:21 - Jason's advice for veteran entrepreneurs

    Favorite Quotes

    03:15 - "I was always there for people. I had that calling, so I felt it inside and knew when to be quiet. I knew when to talk. I knew when to make suggestions and when to be there." - Jason Jurado

    10:23 - "No one's truly broken. People just have things they need help with." - Jason Jurado

    14:32 - "When you struggle with emotions and try to push them away and stuff them down, that's what causes the problems." - Jason Jurado

    19:51 - "The definition of values is what's important to you. When we elicit values, the context of a career, relationships, family health and fitness, personal growth and development, and spirituality are the six areas we look at." - Jason Jurado

    32:05 - "If you're not living the life you desire, you have things holding you back." - Jason Jurado

    Connect with Jason Jurado

    • LinkedIn
    • One Path Coaching

    Connect with Brett Henderson:

    • 310-491-7975
    • Swe90.com
    • LinkedIn: Brett Henderson
    • Strategic Wealth Endeavor

    Subscribe to The Veteran Entrepreneur Masterclass Podcast:

    • Apple Podcast
    • Spotify
    • Google Podcast
    50 min
  • Helping Military Veterans Succeed in The Civilian World with Jim Cragg (Ep. 17)

    Military veterans bring a unique set of skills and experiences that can make them well-suited for success in the civilian world. From discipline and leadership to problem-solving and adaptability, these qualities are necessary to succeed in business and make veterans some of the most successful entrepreneurs. 

    In this episode, Brett talks with Jim Cragg, President & CEO of Special Operations Technologies. Jim is in the U.S. Army Reserve and the Commander of the American Legion Ronald Reagan-Palisades Post 283. With over 25 years of leadership in the army reserves, 20 years of running an innovative business, and decades of working with the American Legion and its veterans, Jim helps folks identify their strengths and skill sets and then helps them create, launch, and grow new programs and ventures. His expertise is in entrepreneurship and innovation, and he loves meeting others and discussing the best ways to improve existing systems. Jim helps foster the skills learned in the military, such as perseverance, organization, and leadership, and how to apply those in the business world. 

    Committed to helping the veteran community, Jim talks about how his military experience helped him create a business to serve the military and law enforcement, why veterans are most likely to succeed in business, and how he helps veterans to accomplish their goals. 

    In This Episode 

    01:54 - What motivated Jim to join the veteran entrepreneur community 

    05:30 - The commonality that binds combat veterans together 

    06:54 - Why Jim entered the business world 

    11:10 - Why veterans are most likely to succeed in business 

    18:02 - What it was like for Jim when he had malaria during his early military years 

    25:28 - How Jim got back into the military 

    27:55 - Jim's story of how he got into the manufacturing industry 

    34:01 - How Jim started his manufacturing company 

    39:09 - The lessons Jim learned in the military 

    49:51 - The qualities Jim looks for in people he works with

    Favorite Quotes 

    06:11 - "It's important to bring together all the people with military training. But the military ethos, that military value, is what the community needs. That's what the business world and our nation need politically, culturally, and sociologically." - Jim Cragg

     11:10 - "Someone has to tell these veterans coming out that they have a ton of worthwhile experiences. If they put half the amount of work they give into their army or Marine Corps jobs into their office jobs, they're going to be millionaires" - Jim Cragg

     12:37 - "Our community doesn't have enough political leadership. We don't have enough business CEOs with the skillset we have coming out of the military. And that's what we need to do." - Jim Cragg 

    Connect with Lt. Colonel Jim Cragg 

    ● LinkedIn 

    ● S.O.Tech Tactical 

    Connect with Brett Henderson: 

    ● 310-491-7975 

    ● Swe90.com 

    ● LinkedIn: Brett Henderson 

    ● Strategic Wealth Endeavor 

    Subscribe to The Veteran Entrepreneur Masterclass Podcast 

    ● Apple Podcast 

    ● Spotify 

    ● Google Podcast

    56 min
  • Improving Our Health Through Technology with Dr. Eric Luster (Ep. 16)

    When it comes to our well-being, implementing technologies that can detect invisible events is always a good idea. 

    In this episode, Brett Henderson sits down with Dr. Eric Luster, CEO & Founder of Movement Interactive Inc, to discuss his journey as an entrepreneur in the sensor industry and how these can provide us with peace of mind for our physical and psychological health. 

    Dr. Luster discusses: 

    ● Some details about organizations that support veteran entrepreneurship, like the IVMF 

    ● His background in the army and the transition from Sergeant Luster to Dr. Luster 

    ● His experience as a nuclear biological chemical specialist 

    ● The importance of having a partner that supports you in good and bad times 

    ● An overview of the person-centered design concept 

    ● What made him start his own business of health sensor monitoring 

    ● The importance of surrounding yourself with people who are smarter than you 

    ● Details on how he won The Veteran Entrepreneur of the Year at Oklahoma State University 

    ● What it’s to be a portfolio entrepreneur and his biggest business lesson 

    ● And more! 

    Resources: 

    ● Get Over Yourself - How to Move without the Ball by Dr. Eric Luster 

    Connect with Brett Henderson: 

    ● 310-491-7975 

    ● Strategic Wealth Endeavor 

    ● [email protected] 

    ● LinkedIn: Brett Henderson 

    ● Facebook: Strategic Wealth Endeavor

     Connect with Dr. Eric Luster: 

    ● LinkedIn: Dr. Eric Luster 

    ● [email protected] 

    ● Movement Interactive - Website 

    About our Guest: 

    Dr. Eric Luster is the CEO & Founder of Movement Interactive Inc. and a Portfolio Entrepreneur. After 14 years in senior roles at the Department of Defense as a nuclear, biological, and chemical specialist and a research scientist and engineer, Eric began his work in the design of person-centered healthcare technologies. In 2012, he invented Hiji®Band, a device created to detect and report traumatic brain injury in athletics. 

    He also sits on the Community Advisory Board for the Center of Innovation in Healthy and Resilient Aging (CIHRA) at Arizona State University, which focuses on advancing technologies that combat disease and providing innovative and technology-driven solutions for seniors. 

    Eric's innovative technology has been selected for showcase in the Clinton Global Initiative for its social impact. In 2020, he was selected by the Arizona Republic as one of the Top 40 Entrepreneurs Under 40. 

    He also received the top honor, Entrepreneur of the Year, at the 2014 Veterans Entrepreneurship Program and is a recipient of the Bronze Star Medal, an elite honor awarded by the Army for technical expertise and performance. 

    Most recently, Eric was named one of the Top 50 Technology Visionaries by InterCon (2019).

    51 min

About The Veteran Entrepreneur Masterclass Podcast

From the publisher's feed

Welcome to The Veteran Entrepreneur Masterclass with Brett Henderson founder of Strategic Wealth Endeavor. We’ve created a community of veteran entrepreneurs just like you who are ready to help you…