Veteran Wealth Secrets

Jeremy Knauff is a Marine veteran who ran a successful marketing agency until a health crisis nearly killed him and destroyed his business. He rebuilt from that devastating loss by developing a process that his agency now uses to turn clients into the authority in their industry.

Episode Highlights:

• 01.25- Trials and tribulations of Jeremy Knauff
• 02:30- Jeremy Knauff went through a health crisis
• 03:34- Jeremy developed a process to turn people into authorities in their industry
• 11:07- Veteran's are great at doing the job but are not great at demonstrating capabilities and self-promotion
• 12:21- Adapt and overcome 
• 13:43- Leveraging the digital landscape to becoming an authority 
• 17-43- Becoming an authority by sharing knowledge and experience, and building a community
• 20:42- The foundation of building authority in an industry
• 23:57- The Spartan Media 

Key Points:

1. Learn from failures and build resilience from them. If you can't work the same way that you used to, find smarter ways to do things.
2. Get out there whether it's digital or in the physical world, to demonstrate capabilities and heighten self-promotion
3. Sharing your knowledge and experience, and building a community around your brand, are the key to becoming an authority

Quotes:

• “We learn so much more from our failures than we ever will from our success”- Jeremy Knauff
• “In the marketing industry, if you don't have case studies or clients that you can use as an example,  you're nobody”-Jeremy Knauff
• “The bottom line is there's a lot of opportunities out there if we're willing to take it.”-Jeremy Knauff
• “Regardless of the circumstances, focus on your goal, adapt, and overcome.”- Jeremy Knauff
• “Leverage the digital world to find and learn new knowledge and skills, stay up to date on it and keep refining because that's how we're going to be good at it. “- Jeremy Knauff
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Today, we will have Monica Munir, an Army Veteran and the Founder of Veterans Transition Services of America. Let's hear her advocacy in helping the veterans and how she found her passion in helping out the community. 

Episode Highlights:

• 01:40- An ironic and funny life journey of Monica 
• 05:15- Diagnosed with stage IV Lymphoma cancer
• 07:06- Monica transitioned from security to helping veterans 
• 10:21- Sickness opened Monica's eyes to so much more 
• 11:41- Permitting to seek a passion 
• 13:09- Monica found herself as an advocate 
• 16:53- How does Veterans Transition Services of America work? 

Key Points:

1. You don't have to have boots on the ground combat to help. As long as you have the passion for what you do, you can advocate for the veteran community.  
2. Veterans Transition Services of America walk through veterans to find and utilize available resources in transition. 
3. Look at how to help the families because family members are just as important as the veteran. 

Quotes:

• “Just being sick in the hospital opened my eyes to so much more, and so my passion is to help other veterans get on their feet so that they can help themselves and they don't feel they're lost.”- Monica
• “There's so much that you can get that veterans don't realize they're entitled to. People don't recognize that family members are just as significant as the veteran too.”-Monica
• “Yes, I am a female, I don't have boots on the ground in combat, but I was the one who helped them get what they're doing. Now, I utilized that to be an advocate for veterans.”- Monica

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Today, we will have Tim Johnson, the founder of Cannabis Safety First, industry safety and security specialist, providing biometric security systems, custom vaults, safety training, consulting, and legislative lobbyists. Let's sit down and gain insights from Tim with his call to change the stigma against cannabis, especially in the veteran's industry and community. Packed so much wisdom into the cannabis industry, let's sit down and gain insight from Tim with his call to change the stigma against cannabis, especially in the veteran's community.

Episode Highlights:

• 01:12- Tim Johnson's journey in the  law enforcement
• 05:00- What led to Tim's enhanced involvement in cannabis?
• 06:36- Problems with the justice system involving cannabis
• 09:41- Adult-use cannabis program
• 12:22- The drive of determination, commitment, and self-respect
• 18:52- Getting veterans more involved in the cannabis space
• 19:55- A push for veteran rights when it comes to cannabis 
• 24:50- A call to change the stigma against cannabis

Key Points:

1. There are so many opportunities for veterans in the cannabis industry
2. Use leadership skills and influence to call for a change for the cannabis stigma
3. There's a huge problem with the current justice system involving cannabis that needs to change 

Quotes:

• “Cannabis is everywhere, it's kinda like chocolate in a candy store.”- Tim Johnson 
• “The military teaches you discipline, and discipline leads you to set a goal. Once you set the goal, commit to following through with that goal and have self-respect.”- Tim Johnson
• “My passion is to correct that wrong, to get rid of that stigma, to take care of our veterans, stop killing us, give us our rights when it comes to employment and continuing educations”- Tim Johnson 
• “My goal is to reach out and educate all walks of life because educational awareness is the key to success.”- Tim Johnson 
• “Be active, contact lawmakers, and demand for a change.”-  Tim Johnson

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"Never take no for an answer.”- Dan Trtanj,  veteran who served five years as a military working dog handler.  Today, he is the owner and founder of At Eaze Extracts, a Veteran Owned Hemp CBD company focused on providing the highest quality Hemp CBD products while promoting "A Better Option for a Better Mind and Body"

Episode Highlights:

• 01:50- Dan's entrepreneurial journey
• 04:20- Cannabis as a potential medicine and alternative 
• 08:15- Dan's desire to be an entrepreneur 
• 11:50- The THC of recreational cannabis and medicinal cannabis
• 12:41- The 2018 Farm Bill 
• 15:00- Never take No for an answer 
• 20:24- How did Dan push through with his doubts  
• 24:25- Dan's mission in the next three years 
• 27:03- The cannabis as a perfect space for veterans

Key Points:

1. Have the right determination and mental attitude, and  never take a no for an answer
2. In moments of weakness and insecurity is where growth takes place.
3. Being an entrepreneur and starting your own business is both a blessing and a curse. There's no dabbling in entrepreneurship. 

Quotes:

• I always had this determination and mental attitude to never take a no for an answer, because a lot of times  when somebody is telling you it's impossible,  it's because of their incapabilities, and so they are unable to see what you may be able to see or what you  believe you can manifest.”-Dan Trtanj
•  “If I had listened to every person throughout my life that tells me that I can't do it, I would've quit almost everything I've ever done in my life, or I wouldn't have started this successful business in2017. “- Dan Trtanj
• “If you're a high achiever, you're always assessing yourself both as professional and individual, there are so many doubts and setbacks, but I combat that by having transparency on what we do and by setting standards”- Dan Trtanj
• “Being an entrepreneur and starting your own business is both wonderful and hard given the pressure, but never for one second did that ever make me deter. Those moments of weakness and insecurity are where the growth is taking place.”- Dan Trtanj
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Let's gain great insights from Enrique Acosta Gonzalez, the CEO of Triad Leadership Solutions, and dig into a deeper understanding of effective leadership and how to fill the void. 

Episode Highlights:

• 01:13- What is Triad Leadership Solutions? 
• 05:27- Triad Leadership Solutions helps veteran's leadership work in the civilian world. 
• 09:00- The expectations on military leadership
• 09:50- What does effective leadership mean? 
• 12:30- The precursor to good leadership 
• 16:09- How to fill the void? 
• 19:47- Where there's nothing available, create it
• 21:20- Finding creativity within ourselves 
• 26:45- What's next to Triad Leadership Solution?

Key Points:

1. Effective leadership is the ability of a person to communicate clearly to the group who vested interest and trust in that person, which will result in the flawless execution of the team's mission.
2. To be a great leader is to become a great follower. At times, digress from leadership to be a follower to continue to  grow as a leader
3. Be proactive to dare and find the void, and then fill it with impactful efforts. 

Quotes:

• “We are not running a dictator leadership organization anymore, but an effective leadership with all the necessary steps to grow and be effective to the civilian world.”-Enrique Acosta Gonzalez
• “The school system is geared to teach you how to be a follower, and I believe that's the precursor to great leadership. You have to be a great follower to be a great leader.” -Enrique Acosta Gonzalez
• “Dare to identify that void if you see it fill it. See the necessity to fill it and make an impactful effort.” -Enrique Acosta Gonzalez
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Let us celebrate patriotism with Dean Wegner, the Founder & CEO of Authentically American, a Veteran owned, American-made premium apparel brand, who believes in the American worker, and honors our American heroes. Prescribed to the theory of  “it’s not what you know, it’s who you know.” 

Episode Highlights:

• 02:05- Dean Wegner's life and incredible experiences 
• 03:24- Why be an entrepreneur? 
• 04:51- Authentically American mission and passion for job creation 
• 05:35- Do veterans well suited to be an entrepreneur?
• 07:20- Dean’s Mantra of “It's not what you know, it’s who you know”
• 09:37- What works in networking to grow your brand? 
• 15:00- Traditional marketing strategy and leveraging social media platforms
• 16:30- Dean's personal and professional vision three years from now 
• 17:35- Sweat-activated print innovation of Authentically American T-shirt

Key Points:

1. Entrepreneurship is not for everybody in the military because a business will start on a blank sheet of paper, so it's not for someone who relies on SOP or structures. 
2. To be successful in entrepreneurship, you have to put planning, discipline in a different context, use creative thinking and problem-solving together. 
3. Invest in people and relationships, because success in this modern economy is not about what you know, but it’s who you know.

Quotes:

• “You'll have incredible experiences out there, but why not go on your own? It boils down to an opportunity to create jobs, an opportunity to make a difference,  and ultimately an opportunity to leave a legacy.” - Dean Wegner
• “Networking implies more about the relationship, the key is not just investing with people, but it's the follow-up after.”- Dean Wegner 
• “Ultimately, a few years from now, people will recognize our brand with the incredible product experience they'll have.”- Dean Wegner

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Let us sit for a meaningful conversation with Pete Turner and gain wisdom as he speaks about his success story in transition, his challenges and the things that he did to overcome those challenges, how he pivots when things aren't working out,  and much more.  

Episode Highlights:

• 01:30- Pete's incredible journey from the military to his successful podcast. 
• 07:50- 2 main secrets to deal with the transition
• 09:02- Breaking out and figuring out your support system in transition 
• 15:00- Pete's challenges in getting into the front door for an interview 
• 20:11- Pete describes his pivot after being on a null value.
• 22:00- Work out the problem and figure out how to get it done
• 25:00- Pete's shift to podcasting
• 26:55- The best  piece of advice to anyone who plans to do a podcast 
• 29:40- Podcast drives some revenue, but more importantly, it drives opportunities 
• 30:30- What next for Pete in the next three years 

Key Points:

1. Two main secrets to do in transition are to outwork your problems and find a mentor. 
2. Go to a place that is advantageous to your goal, if things are not working out, pivot and reinvent your goals.
3. You have to be lean, figure out how to multiply, have a network to be surrounded by great people who would help you on your journey. 

Quotes:

• “Transition is a multifaceted broken jar that you have to cobble together and find the right pieces, it's hard, and you should expect a lot of trials.“-Pete Turner
• If you can't get a response, it's an indication that you're not going in the right direction, and you need to pivot dramatically and figure out how to get help to solve the problem. “- Pete Turner
• “You have to be lean, there can't be any fat, you have to outwork the problem and figure out how to get it done, and that's leadership”- Pete Turner
• Wear a lot of hats, but more importantly, you have to find other heads to put hats on so that you can be surrounded by great people who help you get to where you're going.”- Pere Turner 
• “Find positive ways to interact with people and compel people to interact with you, and then you will find opportunities from that.”- Pete Turner 

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Today we will sit with Sergeant First Class (ret) and founder of Honoring the Heroes, Ryan Jones,  to share his wisdom and advocacy about helping the military community as well as the law enforcement community through  Honoring the Heroes. 

Episode Highlights:

• 01:03- Ryan Jones's role in the military 
• 03:26- What is Honoring Heroes about? 
• 06:19- A police officer has no decompressed time, unlike the military. 
• 8:190- What's next on the horizon for Ryan Jones? 
• 09:52- Honoring the Heroes is limited by funding.  
• 13:02-Networking- Ryan's secret in pulling it off 
• 16:40- Ryan's transition story 
• 21:20- What's next for Ryan in the coming years for Honoring the Heroes?

Key Points:

1. Honoring the Heroes gives tactical backpacks filled with resources for mental, emotional and spiritual health. 
2. LinkedIn is more than just a social media platform but an incredible platform to reach out to people and establish your network. 
3. Networking is the key that made Honoring the Heroes a success. 

Quotes:

• “One of the best things that we could do as veterans is to talk positively about our service. Don't sugarcoat the negative, but let's also emphasize the positive things that the military has given us.” - Ryan Jones
• “I am amazed how many people are willing to help if you would only ask, and Linkedin's been amazing for all of our tractions and everything going forward.” - Ryan Jones
• “Pick something that you enjoy doing even if it doesn't pay enough because if you're doing something but you're miserable, you'll only do it long enough until you think you can quit.” - Ryan Jones 

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Today we will have Dana Hughes, who retired from the AF as a CMSgt after 30 years AD in 2019. After eight months of personal sabbatical, she jumped into entrepreneurship and became the owner/operator of Hughes Healthy Vending. Today, Dana will share her exit game, how she navigated around it, and how she strategically executed her plans into entrepreneurship. 

Episode Highlights:

01:56- The sabbatical moment of Dana Hughes 

07:11- Dana's epiphanies 

09:27- Dana came across Vending, a billion-dollar industry 

14:18- Preparing for your early exit

18:00- How does the Vending industry work? 

11:52-What's next for Dana? 

3 Key Points:

1. Go out of your comfort zone and then find what works for you. 
2. Start early, know your numbers and address them accordingly. 
3. Be sensible about how you are spending your money.

Quotes:

• “If you wanted to do it, do it!”- Dana Hughes 
• “Preparing for your early exit is knowing your numbers, factoring different things in your life, and making adjustments as necessary. “ - Dana Hughes 

Veteran Wealth Secrets 17 with Christopher Butler - Listen, Learn, Be Humble

Today we will have Christopher Butler, a United States Army Veteran and Operations Manager of Asurion, to share insights about connecting with the military community, how he tackled his life in this modern economy, his employment success in the civilian world, and much more. 

Episode Highlights:

• 01:19- What's life like for Christopher Butler after his transition?  
• 03:21- The shift from military to the civilian world in the tech perspective.
• 06:15- Christopher’s epiphany 
• 08:50- How does veteran network via Linkedin helped Christoper in his post-military life? 
• 11:36- Strategies in  reaching out that leads to employment success. 
• 16:50- Christopher’s life with his leadership role in Asurion.
• 21:30- What's next for Christopher in the next three years. 

3 Key Points:

1. Do not be afraid to look like a clueless person. Take a step back with your ego and ask questions. 
2. Networking and reaching out to people help to lead to your job.
3. Start early in making connections and finding what people did that might fit your goals and what you wanted to do when you get out of the military. 

Quotes:

• “Every connection you make can set off a chain reaction that may lead you to a job.” - Christopher Butler
• “There's a business for literally everything, and there are so many options out there you just need to know the resources.”- Christopher Butler

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