After five years as an Infantry Officer in the Army, Paul Weber knew he wanted to help athletes optimize their performance. But getting there wasn’t easy.

He tried in-person training, worked with kids, coached athletes, and dabbled in different fitness roles before launching his online business. Then came six months of crickets - zero clients, few followers, and a lot of anxiety.

Today, Paul runs a thriving coaching company, serves 20+ athletes, has over 11,000 Instagram followers, and hosts a podcast with 100+ episodes.

In this conversation, we explore his transition journey, his thoughts on investing in coaching, and the mindset it takes to go from zero to sustainable business owner.

This one’s a masterclass in persistence, clarity, and playing the long game.

What You’ll Learn:

- Why Paul left the Army and chose a career in fitness coaching

- The six-month stretch where nothing happened — and why he didn’t quit

- How Paul grew from 600 to 11k followers and 5 to 24 clients

- The difference between effort and effectiveness

- How to invest in the right coaching and avoid wasted time

- Practical tools and systems for starting a content-based business

- Advice for veterans trying to maintain fitness post-service

-------------------------------------------------------------Connect with Paul: https://www.paulbweber.com/

IG: @paulbweber

https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-weber-6a395114a/

Paul Weber Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/7l8lRRU01Fw3W641OnkqOx?si=4011720245d345de

The Values Factor (book): https://amzn.to/4ct6kdo

Tools mentioned: Descript (https://get.descript.com/0uzqr0o6h8pg), ConvertKit, Buzzsprout, Canva-------------------------------------------------------------Connect with Griffin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/griffinbrand/

Connect with Jack: https://www.instagram.com/hawaiimortgagebroker/

-------------------------------------------------------------

If this episode resonated with you, share it with a fellow veteran or service member navigating their transition. Your review and rating help inspire more veterans with stories like Paul's.

And as always: Go do the thing. Make that decision. Find your next mission.

In this episode of Veteran Ventures, we sit down with Patrick J. Murphy - a third-generation veteran, former Army JAG officer, and the 32nd Under Secretary of the Army.

Patrick was the first Iraq War veteran elected to Congress, where he helped co-author the Post-9/11 GI Bill and led with a deep sense of purpose and patriotism. His journey since leaving the military includes law, politics, entrepreneurship, media, teaching at Wharton, and investing in veteran-led businesses.

This episode is packed with practical advice for transitioning veterans on topics like:

- Translating military service into civilian success

- Advocating for yourself through effective storytelling

- Why your ethos, pathos, and logos matter more than your resume

- Building winning habits through purpose, exercise, and lifelong learning

- Using LinkedIn to communicate value and grow your network

- Empowering military spouses and fighting veteran suicide

- The importance of asking for advice - not jobs

Whether you're months from ETS or years into your post-service path, this conversation offers a front-row seat to what it means to serve with purpose beyond the uniform.

-------------------------------------------------------------Connect with Patrick: https://www.linkedin.com/in/patrickmurphypa/

IG: @patrickmurphypa

X: @patrickmurphypa

Warrior Money Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/lt/podcast/warrior-money/id1779749359

Face The Fight: https://wefacethefight.org/

Taking The Hill (book): https://amzn.to/4j8DuAP

-------------------------------------------------------------Connect with Griffin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/griffinbrand/

Connect with Jack: https://www.instagram.com/hawaiimortgagebroker/

-------------------------------------------------------------

If this episode resonated with you, share it with a fellow veteran or service member navigating their transition. Your review and rating help inspire more veterans with stories like Patrick's.

And as always: Go do the thing. Make that decision. Find your next mission.

This is a conversation where we explore what happens when a cyber-curious Marine steps into the world of NCIS, then climbs through the ranks of the tech and cybersecurity industry.

In this episode of Veteran Ventures, we sit down with Brent Maynard, a former Marine who parlayed his early technical experience into roles with the NSA, NCIS, Amazon, Microsoft, Schwab, and other household names.

Now a Managing Director in cybersecurity and a mentor to countless others, Brent shares real, actionable insights for veterans looking to transition into tech, startups, or corporate life - especially those who feel like they don’t have “the right background.”

We cover:

• How Brent became one of the first cyber Marines (before the MOS existed).
• Why NCIS hired him at age 22 and how it jump-started his civilian career.
• The myth of "needing a clearance" to succeed post-military.
• Why he took a pay cut to join Nordstrom and how it unlocked his future.
• Tips on breaking into cybersecurity and navigating the startup world.
• The value of mentorship, culture fit, and curiosity as success drivers.
• What makes someone ready to lead and how to admit when you're not.
• Why surfing, ramen, and dystopian novels make him better at work.

Key Takeaway:
You don’t need to stay in the world you came from. Translate your experience, embrace discomfort, and follow your curiosity.

------------------------------------------------------------------Connect with Brent: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brent-maynard/

https://www.akamai.com/

------------------------------------------------------------------

Connect with Griffin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/griffinbrand/

Connect with Jack: https://www.instagram.com/hawaiimortgagebroker/

------------------------------------------------------------------

If this episode resonated with you, share it with a fellow veteran or service member navigating their transition. Your review and rating help inspire more veterans with stories like Brent's.

And as always: Go do the thing. Make that decision. Find your next mission.

In this episode of Veteran Ventures, we dive deep into the inspiring journey of Sam Westfall. After a devastating accident in the Army left him medically discharged, Sam faced years of recovery and the challenges of transitioning into civilian life.

Struggling with depression and loss of purpose, Sam discovered an unexpected form of therapy: archery. This new passion not only became a source of healing but also sparked an entrepreneurial journey.

Sam founded Archery In Motion, a company creating innovative moving targets, and launched the Valor Archery Challenge, an event designed to bring veterans and communities together through the calming and connective power of archery.

Key Topics Discussed:

• Overcoming a life-altering accident and the challenges of transition

• How archery became a form of therapy and personal growth

• The process of starting Archery In Motion and building moving targets for archery practice

• Launching the Valor Archery Challenge to promote community and connection among veterans

• The importance of veteran service organizations and community support

• Insights into key veteran entrepreneurship programs like Bunker Labs, DAV Patriot Bootcamp, and Warrior Rising

• Practical advice for veterans looking to transition into entrepreneurship

------------------------------------------------------------------Connect with Sam: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sam-westfall-2227433/

Valor Archery Challenge: https://valorarcherychallenge.com/

Archery N Motion: https://www.archerynmotion.com/

IVMF (Bunker Labs): https://ivmf.syracuse.edu/

------------------------------------------------------------------

Connect with Griffin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/griffinbrand/

Connect with Jack: https://www.instagram.com/hawaiimortgagebroker/

------------------------------------------------------------------

If this episode resonated with you, share it with a fellow veteran or service member navigating their transition. Your review and rating help inspire more veterans with stories like Sam's.

And as always: Go do the thing. Make that decision. Find your next mission.

Join us for an insightful conversation with Quinn McArthur, a former Special Forces officer who transitioned from military service into real estate investing - eventually finding his niche in land-backed mortgage notes.

In this episode, Quinn shares how he leveraged networking, strategic decision-making, and his passion for financial freedom to build a life on his own terms.

Key Highlights:

🔹 Transitioning with Purpose – Why Quinn left the military to prioritize family and time freedom.

🔹 Avoiding Common Pitfalls – How to filter career advice from those who have never transitioned.

🔹 Finding the Right Path – The power of identifying what you don’t want to do.

🔹 Real Estate & Land Investing – How Quinn built a business funding land-backed mortgages.

🔹 The Importance of a Strong Network – Why cold calls, persistence, and relationship-building matter.

🔹 Taking the Leap into Entrepreneurship – When to go all-in and how to reduce risk.

About Quinn McArthur: Quinn is a West Point graduate and former Special Forces officer who pivoted into real estate after leaving the Army. He now runs Legacy Land Fund, a mortgage investment fund specializing in land-backed loans.

His mission is to help veterans and other investors achieve financial freedom through real estate - without the stress of hands-on management.

Takeaways for Veterans:

✅ Start early: Set up informational interviews before you transition.

✅ Define your ideal life and eliminate paths that don’t align.

✅ Don’t be afraid to pivot - your first job post-military doesn’t have to be forever.

✅ Build relationships and provide value first - opportunities will follow.

✅ Passive income isn’t a myth, it’s a strategic choice.

------------------------------------------------------------------Connect with Quinn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/quinnmcarthur/⁠

Legacy Land Fund: https://www.legacylandfund.com/

Apex Capital: https://apexcapitalre.com/------------------------------------------------------------------Connect with Griffin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/griffinbrand/

Connect with Jack: https://www.instagram.com/hawaiimortgagebroker/

------------------------------------------------------------------

If this episode resonated with you, share it with a fellow veteran or service member navigating their transition. Your review and rating help inspire more veterans with stories like Quinn's.

And as always: Go do the thing. Make that decision. Find your next mission.

In this episode of Veteran Ventures, we sit down with Mark Delaney, a veteran who has spent the last five years helping service members transition into the business world.

Mark is the host of the Veteran Semi-Professional Podcast (over 230 episodes!), runs a weekly newsletter packed with resources for veterans, and has built multiple businesses - including acquiring a SaaS company.

But before all of that, he was just like many others leaving the military - uncertain about his future and just trying to get into business school to start his next chapter.

This conversation is packed with insights on:

• The biggest mistakes veterans make during transition
• Why taking time off before jumping into your next career might be the best decision
• How to leverage the veteran network to unlock opportunities
• The world of entrepreneurship through acquisition - why buying a small business might be your best move
• The importance of dreaming bigger and breaking free from others' expectations

Key Takeaways:
✅ Your first job isn’t your last job – Give yourself grace to pivot.
✅ Take a step back before jumping forward – No one regrets taking time off after service.
✅ Leverage your veteran network – People want to help, but you have to ask.
✅ Dream bigger – The military mindset can limit how big you think about your future.
✅ There’s no perfect plan – You’ll adapt, just like you always have.

"You're not behind. You have decades to build your career and wealth. The key is starting in the right direction and staying flexible."

------------------------------------------------------------------

Connect with Mark: LinkedIn
The Veteran Professional
Business Buyers – Resources for buying small businesses
SBA Lenders – Helping connect borrowers to SBA lenders
[TechStacks](Coming Soon) – A new project highlighting tools used by entrepreneurs

------------------------------------------------------------------

Connect with Griffin: LinkedIn
Connect with Jack: Instagram

------------------------------------------------------------------

If this episode resonated with you, share it with a fellow veteran or service member navigating their transition. Your review and rating help inspire more veterans with stories like Mark's.

And as always: Go do the thing. Make that decision. Find your next mission.

In this episode of Veteran Ventures, we sit down with Andrew Kratz, a former Force Recon Marine turned successful entrepreneur.

After leaving the military without a clear plan, Andrew’s journey took him through real estate, a security detail for Morocco’s Crown Prince, and a stint teaching at his alma mater.

Eventually, a love for climbing and a knack for business led him to co-found Triangle Rock Club, a multi-location climbing gym with over 400 employees.

Andrew’s story is one of resilience, adaptability, and taking calculated risks. He shares his insights on transitioning from the military, finding purpose in entrepreneurship, and surrounding yourself with the right people to fuel success.

What You'll Learn in This Episode:

• The surprising twists and turns of Andrew’s transition from the military
• How working on a security detail for Moroccan royalty shaped his career
• Why his initial business plans changed after a rock-climbing accident
• The importance of persistence, adaptability, and being willing to suffer through challenges
• How he bootstrapped his first climbing gym and grew it into a six-location business
• The key role of partnerships, leadership, and financial strategy in business growth
• His perspective on what makes veterans uniquely equipped for entrepreneurship

Memorable Quotes:
💬 "I'd rather be lucky than smart, but you have to increase your luck surface area by putting yourself in the right situations."
💬 "Surround yourself with people who push you to be better—anchors will only slow you down."
💬 "You don’t need a perfect plan to be successful; you just need the discipline and tenacity to figure things out along the way."

---

Follow Triangle Rock Club on Instagram: @⁠⁠trianglerockclub⁠

https://trianglerockclub.com/

Follow Andrew on Instagram:⁠⁠@force.recon

---

Connect with Griffin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/griffinbrand/

Connect with Jack: https://www.instagram.com/hawaiimortgagebroker/

---

If this episode resonated with you, share it with a fellow veteran or service member navigating their transition. Your review and rating help inspire more veterans with stories like Andrew's.

And as always: Go do the thing. Make that decision. Find your next mission.

What if the only thing holding you back is the voice inside your head? In this episode of Veteran Ventures, we sit down with Nate Boyer, a man who has done it all - serving as a Green Beret, playing in the NFL despite never having played organized football before college, co-founding the nonprofit Merging Vets and Players (MVP), launching 8Primal, a Texas-based meat company, and stepping into Hollywood as an actor and director.

Nate shares candidly about overcoming imposter syndrome, tackling the fear of failure, and the importance of taking risks - even when the outcome is uncertain. From his experience in Special Forces to walking onto the University of Texas football team, Nate reveals how mindset, perseverance, and grit have shaped his journey. He also opens up about the challenges of personal growth, relationships, and learning to embrace vulnerability.

If you're a veteran navigating transition, an entrepreneur looking for motivation, or simply someone needing a push to chase your dreams, this episode is packed with wisdom and inspiration.

Key Topics Discussed

✔ Battling Self-Doubt & Imposter Syndrome – Why fear can be a guide, not a roadblock
✔ Transitioning Out of the Military – The struggles many veterans face and how to overcome them
✔ The Power of Just Showing Up – How hard work and consistency led Nate from Special Forces to the NFL
✔ Launching 8Primal – The journey of building a veteran-owned farm-to-table meat company in Texas
✔ Merging Vets and Players (MVP) – Helping former athletes and military members rediscover purpose
✔ Lessons from D-Day Veterans – Insights from Nate’s work on an upcoming WWII documentary
✔ Balancing Professional Drive with Personal Growth – Learning to embrace vulnerability in relationships

---

Follow Nate Boyer on Instagram: ⁠@NateBoyer37⁠

Connect with Nate: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nate-boyer-6997731b/

8Primal meat company: https://8primal.com/

⁠Merging Vets and Players (MVP) - Supporting transitioning veterans and athletes : https://vetsandplayers.org/

---

Connect with Griffin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/griffinbrand/

Connect with Jack: https://www.instagram.com/hawaiimortgagebroker/

---

If this episode resonated with you, share it with a fellow veteran or service member navigating their transition. Your review and rating help inspire more veterans with stories like Nate's.

And as always: Go do the thing. Make that decision. Find your next mission.

In this episode of Veteran Ventures, we sit down with Josh Kohn, whose eclectic career path has taken him from infantry officer to investment banker at JP Morgan - all without an MBA or a finance degree.

Josh’s story is a masterclass in taking risks, embracing failure, and creating opportunities through persistence and adaptability. Now the co-founder of Meridian Performance Systems, Josh is revolutionizing golf putting analysis through AI-driven computer vision technology.

In this conversation, we discuss:

• How to create "luck" through motion, awareness, and relationships.
• The power of networking, even through cold outreach.
• Why taking meetings, even when you're 90% sure you’re not interested, can change your career.
• The importance of surrounding yourself with people smarter than you.
• His experience founding Meridian Performance Systems, a putting technology startup that uses AI to make elite golf training accessible.

Key Takeaways:

✅Find a way to "Yes" – Opportunities come to those who take action.
✅Your career doesn’t have to follow a linear path – Josh went from sociology major to investment banking to tech startups.
✅Surround yourself with people better than you – The right team makes all the difference.
✅Luck is something you create – Increasing your exposure to opportunities leads to more "lucky" breaks.
✅Take the interview – Even if you’re not sure about the job, practice and networking can lead to something unexpected.

"You’re not the only one who can do your job, but while it’s your job, you’re the only one to do it. Give it everything, and when it’s time to transition, know that the mission will continue without you - and that’s okay."

---

Connect with Josh: https://www.linkedin.com/in/josh-kohn/

Meridian Putting App: https://puttmeridian.com/

• Veterans Bridge Home:⁠veteransbridgehome.org⁠

The Five Dysfunctions of a Teambook: https://amzn.to/4hQldaZ---

Connect with Griffin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/griffinbrand/

Connect with Jack: https://www.instagram.com/hawaiimortgagebroker/

---

If this episode resonated with you, share it with a fellow veteran or service member navigating their transition. Your review and rating help inspire more veterans with stories like Josh's.

And as always: Go do the thing. Make that decision. Find your next mission.

In this episode of Veteran Ventures, we sit down with Lindsey Schiro, CEO of 51 Vets, an organization dedicated to supporting elite military veterans as they transition into finance, banking, and business. Lindsey shares her deeply personal journey from pediatric nursing to nonprofit leadership after her husband was injured while deployed in Afghanistan. Her firsthand experience with the challenges military families face led her to advocate for better veteran support systems.

We explore how 51 Vets provides elite veterans with networking opportunities, mentorship, and direct connections to C-suite executives. Lindsey also shares insights into the importance of finding community post-military, the mental health challenges of transition, and how veterans can take control of their next career move.

Key Takeaways:

Notable Quotes:

---

Connect with Lindsey: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lindsey-schiro/

51Vets: https://51vets.org/

The All Secure Foundation (Veteran & Spouse Retreats): allsecurefoundation.org

Connect with Griffin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/griffinbrand/

Connect with Jack: https://www.instagram.com/hawaiimortgagebroker/

---

If this episode resonated with you, share it with a fellow veteran or service member navigating their transition. Your review and rating help inspire more veterans with stories like Lindsey's.

And as always: Go do the thing. Make that decision. Find your next mission.