March, this year, really challenged entrepreneurs to appreciate what it means to pivot. The Veterans Lounge, produced by DreamState Entertainment and Platinum TDM, captured in real time how capably Veterans make such changes; and in doing so, proved that staying focused on the mission of an effort, despite adversity, keeps us on track to accomplish something.
Our work to produce Funded House, specific programming and a platform that helps focus conferences and trade shows on the objectives of Venture Capitalists at such events, this past March, looked to The Veterans Lounge to connect Veterans with VCs during SXSW. As in-person plans were prompted to change, the incredible media producers, behind the scenes, pushed the live event to a livestream and produced show; the talk we hosted about Veterans in Entrepreneurship, is formally live.
Veterans in Entrepreneurship
12 Fox Beer Co in Dripping Spring, Texas, turned on a dime to host a handful of guests at Vista West Ranch, for discussions of what it takes to transition from service in the military, to find work in today’s economy, to the persevere through challenges and opportunities of entrepreneurship, and to celebrate one another.
Hosting the talk, MediaTech Ventures was joined by 12 Fox Beer Co’s Joe Hogge, Natalie Felder with Keller Williams, Mylo Villanueva of MYLO Obstacle Fitness, LifePod Corps‘ Dakota Stewart, photographer Nathan Schultz, and Dave Spanton of Blackhawk Lending.
A few of their thoughts, to encourage you spend some time with the panel discussion and to encourage you reach out to everyone to get to know the work they’re doing…
“If you have a weakness, don’t try to conquer it. Because as a business owner, you’re the accountant, you’re the bookkeeper, you’re the maintenance guy, you do it all; you wear all the hats. If you have a shortcoming, go get good help.”
– Joe Hogge
“If you show that passion, you show that caring for other people, those people will. I’ve had things pop out of know where just by being nice, by giving back.”
– Mylo Villanueva
“The biggest and most important piece is the team. The people behind it. Having a strong mission and vision from the beginning, genuinely attracts the people into your organization. Get out there, network, talk, talk your businesses.”
– Dakota Stewart
“Just reach out. Reach out to the people you know; to the friends you have in the industry, ‘hey, let me try taking photos of your new vest or you new weapons system.’ Use contacts that you have from the military, use your friend base. Take leap. It’s one single person who is a teacher or mentor in the industry.”
– Nathan Schultz
“Have a really solid group of people behind you, that backs you up, that reminds you why you started in the first place. Entrepreneurship is not a straight road. It is up. It is down. When it’s down, you genuinely don’t believe you’re ever going to be up again. And when you’re up, it’s the top of the world and all you want to do is change it. Stick to your most immediate network.”
Natalie Felder
“You have to first understand what you’re doing. You have to find that ROI for people. And once you find out what that ROI is, then it’s really easy to talk to anybody about what you’re doing. As long as you approach it as an ROI discussion, people will see your passion, and now you’re helping them instead of asking them for something.”
Dave Spanton
These Veterans and entrepreneurs say it best, in their own words, so spend some time with the video above or join us with 12 Fox Beer Co on Facebook.
