How Entrepreneurs Can Learn From Veterans

Joshua Harris is an entrepreneur who is passionate about helping US Military Veterans become entrepreneurs. Harris is the founder of Agency Growth Secrets, a digital marketing company using cutting-edge technologies, such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, and data targeting. Agency Growth Secrets reviews how an entrepreneur can start a thriving business. Agency Growth Secrets’ established method has given their clients the advantage to make their business successful. Harris and Agency Growth Secrets created a website site dedicated to US Military Veteran entrepreneurs. Josh is a member of the Oracles, an elite society of entrepreneurs. He has been highlighted in Forbes and Entrepreneur. Harris lives in Florida where he loves to fish with wife and 2 daughters. Josh Harris honors US Military Veterans this Veteran's Day with his continued support and admiration for their entrepreneurial skills.

Natural Passion And Perseverance

Anyone with a spirit of entrepreneurship knows that it takes a really good idea backed by passion and perseverance.

If you’re thinking of suits and sky rises, think smaller. The title of entrepreneur isn’t just awarded to New York CEOs and San Francisco tech kings. It starts at the burger joint down the street. It’s your neighborhood mechanic. It’s the family member who works from home.

Forget where you are now. Think of the day when you were first inspired to start your business. Have you been nurturing the idea since you thought of it in middle school? Did the plan develop with a group of friends and potential business partners? Or are you still working out the details and waiting for the right moment to take action?

Wherever you are as a business owner, it all came from that first big idea. The thing is, not everyone is cut out to be an entrepreneur. And most people who had that first spark brushed it off and never bothered to try.

Just the fact that you’re in the mud gives you an edge. You didn’t push the idea aside or give up when it got hard…You acted on it.

Just taking that initial step shows that you have the right qualities. Qualities that rely heavily on passion and perseverance. When you indulge your sense of tenacity and enthusiasm--  success is sure to follow.

Characteristics Of A Qualified Entrepreneur

In my mind, our nation’s veterans show some of the best characteristics necessary to becoming a qualified entrepreneur.

Something about the things soldiers experience while in the military combined with unwavering determination makes them natural leaders.

I’m awestruck when I think about the sheer courage and self-sacrifice it takes to join the military. The middle-of-the-night training sessions, deployments away from family, and life-threatening career choice takes a certain type of person.

When their contract comes to an end, and they’re awarded those long-awaited separation papers, it’s time to face a new adventure. And because of their military history, entrepreneurship is an obvious choice.

Surviving Risk In Business

The great variable in becoming an entrepreneur is the unpredictable risk. Any number of external factors could cause the business to fail. These are things you can’t control, like tax changes, recessions, international trade issues, and a lack of interest.

But even that inherent risk isn’t enough to squash the dreams of many entrepreneurs just like yourself. You push through the challenges and overcome the obstacles, despite the possibility of failure. Risk isn’t enough to slow you down.

You do your best to maintain control in the tough times by adapting your strategy and improving operations. When you make it over the hurdle, you’re stronger for it and will be more prepared to face the next challenge.

If you’re a veteran who’s been kicking around a business idea, this story probably sounds familiar. All of that fighting to succeed is in your background. You already have what it takes!

Yes, the level of risk in business is a different animal than your experience in the military. But the military experience has already prepared you for the tough times (and everybody has them).

As a civilian, I have to admire and learn from our veterans in business. Handling conflict with confidence and pushing forward are great takeaways for overcoming risk.

If you’re a veteran running a more established business, you know that the risk doesn’t end. It’s ever-changing and always present, but that’s what makes entrepreneurship exciting. A little bit of risk creates a healthy amount of ambition. This can make all the difference in how fast your business grows.

Scaling Successfully

Whether you’re a veteran or a civilian, a great entrepreneur isn’t content with maintaining mediocrity. The goal is to continue pushing your business to reach as many people as possible.

This isn’t just to make more money, but because you saw some gap in the market for a product or service that people need. The bigger your business becomes, the more lives you can impact.

But scaling a business is a beast of its own. You could increase your marketing efforts, get involved in the community, trend on social media, or open another location. These are all great ideas and involve putting a focus on your schedule.

Carve time into your schedule that’s dedicated solely on scaling your business. Make time to create a strategy; try out new advertising tactics, invest in the customer experience, or boost employee morale.

I know you’re thinking there’s not enough time in the day. That you already have a ton on your plate. And that’s probably true.

But the only way to scale your business is to make time for the important task of fostering growth. Reorganizing your schedule or delegating some of your tasks could make the difference between success and failure.

Once you’ve taken time to layout a plan, you’ll probably run into questions or complications. There are valuable resources out there for you. Grants, business loans, online courses, and community meetups are a great way to develop your business continuously. These resources can solve a lot of problems and push you to the next level organically.

I believe we have a responsibility to our veterans to help them succeed if they take on the challenge of entrepreneurship. There are great business resources for veterans just waiting to be used. If you’re more average Joe than GI Joe, YouTube tutorials, informative blogs, online educational courses, and email subscriptions are filled to the brim with free or low-cost advice and training.

Beyond that, pay attention to business owners you admire. What do they do differently? What challenges have they overcome? What characteristics do they have that you might be lacking?

Carefully scrutinize they way they operate their business and borrow an idea or two. You’ll be amazed at how dedicating your efforts to growth can pay off. If you need a little inspiration here’s a list of veteran entrepreneurs sharing about their unique journey.

We recognize our nation’s heroes this upcoming Veterans Day over beer and brats. Let’s also applaud those who shifted from the military to business ownership that serves the community. Taking what they learned in the service and adapting it to successful entrepreneurship is a big achievement.