The Veteran (Semi) Professional

Send us Fan Mail

Topics Discussed:

• Should cadets and midshipmen be planning their post-military careers already? 
• SpaceX bringing the internet to Ukraine
• Russia guarding their ships with...dolphins?
• Apple doesn't want you to fix your phone
• The finances behind Elon and Twitter
• Big political moment in France 
• Do you even tactical nuke bro?

Big thanks to our sponsor:

fieldseats.com 

Fieldseats is an e-commerce federally licensed firearms dealer that provides reviews of new firearms.  With your review, you get entered into a raffle to wi the very firearm they just reviewed.  With a max of 40 people entering, your chances of winning are pretty dang good. 

Use code VETPRO to save 10%

Send us Fan Mail

Topics Discussed:

• How NATO prepped Ukraine to win
• Using "good enough" defense tech to beat Russia
• DoD wants to be like Elon 
• The disaster of CNN +
• New EU laws make big changes for big tech
• Carbon capture tech prizes 

Send us Fan Mail

John has a great story.  After leaving the army, he started working and eventually saw an opportunity to create a new business.  That led him to founding LogicBay, which he ran for 18 years before a successful acquisition in 2020.  He now helps small businesses raise capital through Folla Capital and helps veterans learn about entrepreneurship through VETtoCEO. 

Resources mentioned:
Corporate Bro

The Veteran (Semi) Professional: Ep. 22 Sales Platoon: Raleigh Wilkins on Apple Podcasts

Sales Training | Sales Platoon (mysalesplatoon.com)

Ways to raise capital: 

Fola Capital Group

Wefunder

StartEngine

Republic 

SeedInvest

Honeycomb Credit

Send us Fan Mail

What I love about Lauren's story: She didn't grow up farming but decided that's what she wanted to do.  We dig into how she got started and how their family runs a few businesses from their land.

Brownings Flower Truck

Send us Fan Mail

This episode is a little different.  Janice was referred to me by former guest Dr. Ruth Gotian (Ep. 117). Janice is not a veteran, but oh my she has a lot of wisdom to share!

We walk international travel (she's been to well over 100 countries) and the massively important work she does for people who are hard of hearing.  Janice shares how she got the Queen of England to act, why CEOs respond to her emails, and how we can all realize we have a lot more power than we think. 

HAI – Hearing Access & Innovations

JaniceLintz (@JaniceLintz) / Twitter

Janice (Schacter) Lintz | LinkedIn

One Woman Who Helps Millions Of People She Will Never Meet (forbes.com)

Send us Fan Mail

Jake's story is a great one.

He started piecing together the idea for making great watches while serving in MARSOC and then kept working on it after leaving the Marines and working in a few other places.

We talk about running a business with your significant other (his wife) and what he does to help others veterans thinking about entrepreneurship. 

Sangin Instruments

Send us Fan Mail

I got to meet Steve at an event in Houston and can attest that he is a genuinely good dude.  

His story is crazy and there's a TON to learn here.  

A former enlisted grunt, we get into his own rocky path out of the army and how he went from being on the brink of taking his life to living in a monastery for months to 20+ business partnerships and deals with millions.  

Steve is awesome and you will for sure learn something today.  

Send us Fan Mail

Topics Discussed:

• Mark goes on a short rant about LinkedIn transition "gurus" as well as bad advice that's out there for veterans 
• Ukraine v. Russia update 
• Russia launches hypersonic missile 
• Chemical facility in Ukraine and Russian propaganda 
• People made more off their homes than their jobs last year 
• RIP Madeline Albright 
• The crazy world of Chinese nickel and international exchanges 

Send us Fan Mail

Steve is an interesting case for this show because he himself is not a veteran.

After starting and exciting a few companies, Steve turned into an investor.  Through that process, he teamed up with a Navy veteran who showed him the power of veterans as entrepreneurs.  That led him down the path to start investing in startups and search funds, with a particular focus on investing in veterans.

Steve and his business partner also started Search and Acquire, a nonprofit focused on connecting veterans who want to acquire a business with sellers.  

Resources mentioned: 

HBR Guide to Buying a Small Business: Called "The Red Book" by those in the know, this is THE book you have to know if you are interested in business acquisition.

Buy Then Build: How Acquisition Entrepreneurs Outsmart the Startup Game

Follow Steve here:
@steveressler

These links lead to Amazon, where your purchase helps this site and podcast. 

Send us Fan Mail

Patrick's story has a lot in it:

- Working at some mega-firms like Goldman Sachs and Google and how he said "no" to them
- Being OK with quitting
- Starting a company with world-class experts to increase human performance