No Result
View All Result
Reserve & National Guard
SUBSCRIBE FREE
No Result
View All Result
Reserve & National Guard
SUBSCRIBE FREE
Reserve & National Guard

These Veteran Entrepreneurs Started Companies While in Uniform

Lizann Lightfoot
by Lizann Lightfoot
October 22, 2018
Markian Sich, a Marine Corps CH-53E pilot, founded Active Duty Passive Income to teach fellow service members how to use real estate investments to gain financial freedom.

Markian Sich, a Marine Corps CH-53E pilot, founded Active Duty Passive Income to teach fellow service members how to use real estate investments to gain financial freedom.

Last month, many veteran entrepreneurs gathered in Orlando, Florida, for the annual Military  Influencer  Conference. The conference brings together business owners, bloggers, and PR companies who all have connections to the military. Many are veteran entrepreneurs who started their own business after their military service ended.

However,  not  all  veterans  wait  until  their  service  has  ended  before  they  start  new  careers.  An increasing  number  of  service  members  are  finding  ways  to  establish  a  new  company  while  they  are  still  serving  in  uniform.  We  interviewed  several  inspiring  veteran  entrepreneurs  to  learn  how  they  made  time  for  the  ‘side  hustle’  of  starting  a  business  while  fulfilling  their  military  service  requirements.

How  do  you  balance  military  life  with  the  demands  of  starting  a  company?

Ryan Guina
Ryan Guina

Most  of  these  veterans  struggled  to  balance  a  company  while  serving  in  the  military.  Active  duty  veterans  insist  that  military  service  must  be  a  priority  over  any  business  venture.  Reservists  or  National  Guard  members  may  have  more  time  to  dedicate  to  a  business,  but  they  still  must  drop  everything  during  deployments  or  military  training.  That’s  why  Ryan  Guina  advises,  “I  recommend  all  small  business  owners  serving  in  the  military  find  ways  to  allow  your  business  to  continue  if  you  are  called  away  for  duty  and  have  minimal  access  to  your  business.”  Whether  that  means  establishing  concrete  practices,  streamlining  processes,  or  hiring  additional  help  depends  on  the  nature  of  the  business.

Some  veterans  say  that  they  were  only  able  to  start  a  new  business  due  to  sheer  grit  and  determination.  Whether  they  did  most  work  at  night,  on  weekends,  or  in  any  spare  moment,  they  balanced  crazy  schedules  and  worked  odd  hours  to  establish  their  dreams.

Markian  Sich  called  his  daily  commute  an  “automobile  university”  because  he  used  the  time  in  the  car  to  listen  to  podcasts  and  learn  new  skills  from  industry  leaders.

Dr.  Alba  said  she  was  able  to  establish  her  business  due  to  support  from  her  military  leadership  and  her  new  professional  network.

Dr. Alba

Do active duty, veterans make good business partners?

Many  veterans  choose  other  military  personnel  to  be  their  business  partners.  Even  though  it  can  make  work  schedules  more  complicated,  most  of  the  vetrepreneurs  we  interviewed  preferred  the  work ethic,  motivation,  and  experience  found  in  the  military  community.

Johnny  Cruz  Buckingham  explained  that  it  helps  a  lot,  “working  with  people  who  are  in  the  community  and  know  exactly  what  our  target  market  is  because  they’ve  been  part  of  it  and  have  friends  currently  in  it.”

Ryan  Guina  added  that  even  military  jobs  in  specific  or  technical  fields  can  help  make  veterans  successful  because,  “many  military  jobs  require  advanced  troubleshooting  and  problem-solving,  which  are  valuable  skills  every  entrepreneur  needs.”

What advice would you offer other veterans seeking to start a business?

The veteran  responses  here  are  mixed.  Dr.  Alba said, “Don’t do it, don’t do it!  If  you  still  aren’t  convinced,  be  prepared  to  work  really,  really  hard  and  learn  from  everyone.”

On the  other  hand,  Markian  Sich says,  “Just  start.  Put one foot  in  front  of  the  other.”

David and Sharon Gran  have  a  similar  message:  “Start  it  now.  Don’t  wait  for  the  stars  to  align.  Get  it  done  one  tiny  task  at  a  time.”

Reden Dionisio reminds  veterans,  “Stay  humble.  Seek  out  advice  from  others.”

David  Blanco  encourages  aspiring  vetrepreneurs  to  “have  a  good  business  plan  and  don’t  underestimate  your  budget  expenses.”

Ryan  Guina  advises,  “Just  like  when  you  joined  the  military,  starting  a  new  business  will  challenge  you  in  ways  you  can’t  imagine,  because  you  haven’t  yet  had  those  experiences.  Have  confidence  in  yourself  and  trust  in  your  ability  to  solve  problems.”

Although  starting  a  new  business  is  never  easy,  veterans  are  uniquely  equipped  to  handle  challenging  situations,  solve  problems,  learn  new  skills,  and  work  hard.

Reden Dionisio
Reden Dionisio

Resources  for  aspiring  veteran  entrepreneurs

SCORE  is  a  non-profit  group  of  volunteers  that  help  small  business  owners  get  their  business  off  the  ground  and  work  through  problems.  They  also  work  with  veteran-owned  small  businesses.

Vetted  offers  veteran  entrepreneurs  education,  business  training,  financial  models,  marketing,  network  of  entrepreneurs,  mentorship,  capstone  projects,  professors  and  sponsors.  VAMP is  their  Veteran’s  Accelerated  Management  Program.

StreetShares provides  a  suite  of  specialty  finance  products  focused  on  the  military  and  veterans  market,  including  small  business  funding,  lines  of  credit,  and  alternatives  to  VA  small  business  loans  for  vet-owned  businesses.  StreetShares  offers  alternative  investments,  including  a  veterans  social-impact  investing  product  called  Veteran  Business  Bonds.

Military  Influencer  Conference  (MIC)  is  an  annual  conference  for  businesses  related  to  the  military  community.  Business  owners,  influencers,  bloggers,  and  PR  companies  gather  to  network  and  learn  new  business  skills.

Read comments
Tags: David BlanoDavid GranMarkian SichMilitary Influencers ConferenceRyan GuinaSCOREStreetSharesThe Military Walletveteran entrepreneursvetrepreneursVetted
Lizann Lightfoot

Lizann Lightfoot

Lizann Lightfoot is a military spouse, mom of four kids, and the voice behind the Seasoned Spouse blog. She authored the book 'Welcome to Rota' to help military families living overseas. Her favorite places to travel are in Europe, but she's happy being anywhere that her family is together!

Related Posts

OPINION: Individual Ready Reserve offers chance to ‘take a knee’

by Emily Solberg
3 weeks ago
0
Individual Ready Reserve

The Individual Ready Reserve (IRR) is a little-known option that could help with retention, according to one reservist and military...

Read more

‘Leave it to Beaver’ star Jerry Mathers recalls military service, KIA rumor

by Kari Williams
3 weeks ago
0
Leave it to Beaver

"Leave it to Beaver" actor Jerry Mathers stood on stage at the 1967 Emmys in full military uniform, shortly after...

Read more

New veterans head to Congress, including January 6-er

by Military.com
4 weeks ago
0
New veterans

New veterans will begin roaming the halls of Congress next week, contributing to one of the biggest classes of lawmakers...

Read more

Veteran’s dog-treat company honors fallen K-9s, supports canine causes

by Kari Williams
1 month ago
0
Canine

Jessica Harris began giving back to her canine companions through K9 Salute after she retired from the Washington National Guard.

Read more

The Hooligans’ Way: Air National Guard’s 119th Wing receives Air Force’s ‘outstanding unit’ award 23 times

by Bianca Strzalkowski
1 month ago
0
Hooligan

North Dakota airmen have produced the outstanding unit of the year 23 times. The 119th Wing attributes success to the...

Read more

NCNG’s first Black female pilot says goodbye

by AmeriForce Exclusive
1 month ago
0
NCNG

Capt. Lindsey Jefferies Jones looks back on her 17-year Army career as she bids farewell to the North Carolina National...

Read more

Ads

Let's get social

The RNG Drill

News delivered directly to your inbox

Let's connect!

ABOUT US

  • OUR STORY
  • OUR TEAM
  • OUR WRITERS

MAGAZINE

  • GET PRINT
  • GET DIGITAL
  • GET THE NEWSLETTER

GET RESOURCES

  • VETERANS TOOLKIT

ADVERTISE

  • GET OUR MEDIA KIT
  • PUBLISHER’S STATEMENT

SUBMISSIONS

  • PITCH US
  • SUBMIT YOUR STORY

Never miss out on the latest stories.

© 2021 Reserve & National Guard by AmeriForce. Privacy Policy | Terms | Site by Swiss Commerce

Thank you for your interest in The Reserve & National Guard Magazine!

Thank you for your interest in The Reserve & National Guard Magazine!

No Result
View All Result
  • NEWS
  • YOUR CAREER
    • UNIT TRAINING
    • DEPLOYMENT
    • PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
    • RECRUITING & RETENTION
    • ENTREPRENEUR
    • TRANSITION
  • EDUCATION
  • MILITARY LIFE
    • MILITARY SPOUSES
    • MILITARY KIDS
    • PARENTING
  • OFF DUTY
    • ENTERTAINMENT
    • TRAVEL
  • HEALTH
    • FITNESS
    • MEDICINE
    • MENTAL HEALTH
  • OPINION
  • HISTORY
  • MONEY
    • PERSONAL FINANCE
    • BENEFITS
  • GET THE MAGAZINE
    • PRINT MAGAZINES
    • DIGITAL MAGAZINES
    • GET THE NEWSLETTER
  • RESOURCES
    • VETERANS TOOLKIT
  • ABOUT US
    • MEET OUR TEAM
    • OUR AUTHORS
    • ADVERTISE WITH US
    • SUBMIT YOUR STORY
    • PITCH US
    • CONTACT

© 2022 Reserve & National Guard by AmeriForce. Site by SCBW