Posted on Sep 4, 2014
SFC Mark Merino
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Petrock
If I had my way I would have a slice of land and set up an outdoor rifle/pistol range. I have ZERO business skills so that isn't a reality for me, but it sure would be FUN! If you had a military ID I'd let you help police the range in lieu of membership fees! I'd have the reloaders on station doing their thing. I'd even have a coffee shop so I could have all my vices covered and co-located. Do you have a dream business? Are you already living your dream? You may already have the next great idea!
Edited 11 y ago
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Responses: 65
SGT Chris Birkinbine
3
3
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I would like to start my own small systems prototyping business some day. I think that would be a lot of fun. I like to tinker and build things.
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SFC Mark Merino
SFC Mark Merino
11 y
That sounds complex. Are you a "left brain" kind of guy SGT Chris Birkinbine ?
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Cpl Dennis F.
Cpl Dennis F.
11 y
You need to get a good 3D printer and hang up a sign.
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SGT Chris Birkinbine
SGT Chris Birkinbine
11 y
I am not sure I buy into the concept of "left brain/right brain" but I did get my degree in Physics, and have a lot of lab research experience if that is what you mean:P

I do own a 3D printer as well Cpl Dennis F. Guess I am well on my way! lol
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SPC James Mcneil
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I am in my dream business. Granted, times are tough now with no customers on the horizon. But I'd rather be doing what I'm doing now than anything else.

I am a motivational speaker and a corporate trainer in the fields of leadership, teamwork, and customer service.
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SPC Michael King
SPC Michael King
11 y
By the way, I just started Mikavexo Entertainment and am filming a Doritos commercial for the Doritos Crash the Superbowl Challenge. Wish me luck on that. Also, we just won a bid to film a series of industrial training videos, so the business is now generating some income. I'm very excited about this.
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SSG Tim Everett
SSG Tim Everett
11 y
SPC Michael King I'm operating an indie film studio out of Atlanta. I travel to Seattle where I have family (also: PAX Prime) every so often. I'm hoping to close a deal with a content provider like Netflix or Hulu for a web series I have been developing.
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SPC Michael King
SPC Michael King
11 y
Tim, anytime you are in the area let me know. I'm actually in the process of casting for my first short film. Also, Check out my website and let me know what you think. I'm not selling anything so it shouldn't be breaking any board rules by posting the link http://www.mikavexo.com
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SSG Tim Everett
SSG Tim Everett
11 y
SPC Michael King I am fresh out of upvotes for the day so I sent a connection request instead. hah...
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CPT Jacob Swartout
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Some kind of logistical business for moving or providing material, products, and other items. Similar to UPS, DHL, and FedEx or a business that supplies other stores. Last, maybe a hotdog stand in front of main street.
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SFC Mark Merino
SFC Mark Merino
>1 y
Hello.....marijuana....those puppies are going to be bacon wrapped and dipped in chocolate SSgt Gregory Guina Suggested asking price.....$28 each. Sold out in 10 minutes.
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SSgt Gregory Guina
SSgt Gregory Guina
>1 y
SFC Mark Merino chocolate dipped bacon wrapped hotdogs. Yeah that is my business right there.
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CPT Jacob Swartout
CPT Jacob Swartout
>1 y
SFC Mark Merino these will be the Nathans Famous hotdogs to see how many people can eat in 10 min as you see during the national hotdog eating contest.
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SFC Mark Merino
SFC Mark Merino
>1 y
CPT Jacob Swartout No can do, my brother. Now, CHEESESTEAKS are another story!
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SSG Pete Fleming
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3
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I tried my dream business but my financial partners backed out... I wanted to create a Veteran organization to raise money to support Veteran's in general with a larger goal geared towards 'The Arts'. I have met so many Vets who are artist, writers, singers... they just don't have an outlet. I created websites, and started the fund raising, wrote out all the copy, by-laws, business plan, conducted market and demographic studies... then poof my partners backed out and left me with so much debt... The primary website is still up (but not much longer) and if I ever clear my debt I might try again (http://www.truelanderdreams.com)
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CPO Jon Campbell
CPO Jon Campbell
>1 y
SSG Pete Fleming I wouldn't give up on it. I clicked around your site and was impressed with the things available. Maybe you could sell it to Etsy if you can't run it anymore, or maybe what you need is an ad link on RallyPoint.
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SSG Pete Fleming
SSG Pete Fleming
>1 y
CPO Jon Campbell, sir I greatly appreciate your confidence but as you saw the website is about to expire and I can't even afford to renew that. This was the main website, there was a second website which I had to let expire, it was the fundraising site. I do very much want to keep it alive and grow it into what I know it has the potential to be... but I just don't have the financial means, support, or credit to make it happen. I would try a crowdsource concept but I don't have the business address anymore nor the business bank account. I would to find a couple of partners who would be willing to take a chance... and that just hasn't happened. As far as selling it, well it was my dream but, it is a not productive concept that isn't worth much until I get it operational. At this juncture I have limited options. Again I greatly appreciate you taking to time to check out the site. I did all that, to include the videos... and so much more.
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CPO Jon Campbell
CPO Jon Campbell
>1 y
Well, if you should decide to revive it someday, you might want to look into doing something like Etsy and Novica have done by featuring items everyday in an email and social media post. This boutique business model seems to be working well. It sort of started with crafts and has moved into high end goods with sites like Gilt and Touch of Modern. I don't see why a veteran's themed internet boutique wouldn't take off. You have done a lot of the hard work of sourcing. Some tweaks to the business model and some speculative investment money and you might have Jeff Bezos offering to buy you out.
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SSG Pete Fleming
SSG Pete Fleming
>1 y
CPO Jon Campbell, that was one angle of the business model. I don't want to give away the farm... but it was three fold. I had the general site with free resources (the link I shared). Then I had one for fund raising. And one for selling sponsored and Veteran related products... By sponsored I mean things Truelander Dreams helped get created.

It was/is a sound concept I need some assistance to make it happen... the problem is my credit current debt... (I am just being honest, rare these days I know).

If I can find stable employment and get things in check perhaps I will try again.
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MAJ Jim Woods
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I'm Livin' It! Was a State Police Officer for 20 years after the Army then retired and am doing polygraphs for 14 separate LE Agencies in South Central Idaho. I also teach at polygraph schools throughout the world for DOD and DOS (headed to Nepal mid January).
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SFC Mark Merino
SFC Mark Merino
11 y
Badass. Do you need an assistant?!
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MSgt Electrical Power Production
MSgt (Join to see)
11 y
Mark is right badass!
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SSG Jeffrey Spencer
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2
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I really only thought about public service. My next career focus is to be a city manager or county administrator. I have gathered all the experience from a variety of fields.

I guess the only other thing I have thought about is to own a themed bed and breakfast inn. I love to cook and I love to build. What would be more natural?
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SFC Mark Merino
SFC Mark Merino
11 y
What theme?......or is that a classified trade secret...lol
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SSG Jeffrey Spencer
SSG Jeffrey Spencer
11 y
I want to design/decorate each room to be a major city. French-themed New Orleans room, Golf-themed Carmel room, or a Blues-themed Chicago room, etc. I'd change it out after a year or two just to keep it interesting.
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SFC Mark Merino
SFC Mark Merino
11 y
That sounds badass.
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SFC Chad Kozdra
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Yes but I have had issues finding investors, I have done all the research and am ready but do not have enough saved to have "skin in the game".
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SFC Mark Merino
SFC Mark Merino
11 y
One of the previous threads on RallyPoint talked about using GI Bill funds for small businesses (or plans to pass legislature, I can't remember). That would help quite a few of us.
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SFC Chad Kozdra
SFC Chad Kozdra
11 y
Certainly would, I am planning a military themed pub. I have two other retired service members as partners, we just got to get the funds!
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SPC Charles Estes
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Breeding oddball tropical fish. Polypterus species in particular. Captive bred fish are the most sustainable, you don't have to worry about the supplying country changing laws, or in the worst case scenario going to war. Captive bred means not reducing wild populations to extinction.

I would like to see Asian Arowanas allowed in the US again, while still threatened in the wild, there are thriving captive bred populations now, they are big enough to be chipped(and are, anywhere they are legally kept.

Personally, I'd love to have some rainbow snakeheads, but the entire family of fish have been demonized, so I've had to give that particular dream up, unless I want to go live in the Philippines. Not likely, I see too little of my extended family as is, lol.
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SFC Mark Merino
SFC Mark Merino
11 y
I saw them featured on River Monsters.
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SPC Charles Estes
SPC Charles Estes
11 y
Rainbow Snakeheads or Northern Snakeheads? Rainbow Snakeheads are tropical and get about twelve inches. Northern snakeheads are temperate and get MUCH bigger. Game and food fish in Asia, which is how they ended up here, it was an intentional release. Not like morons releasing fish that get too big for their aquariums. Both are stupid AND illegal in most states, no matter what species. Even if the fish itself can't survive in our waters, it may carry a pathogen that CAN.
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SFC Mark Merino
SFC Mark Merino
11 y
They featured the ones in Asia, but I think they took over Florida now?
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SPC Charles Estes
SPC Charles Estes
11 y
I think those were Bullseye, semi-tropical. Snakeheads are native to Asia and Africa.
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PO2 Jonathan Scharff
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My wife and I own and operate a physical, occupational and speech therapy practice. That is what our dream was. I say was, because I really don't know if I would ever do this again. After 15 years I am so disheartened. Between constantly reducing reimbursements and consistently increasing taxes and costs to a small business I would never recommend this to anyone. We love what we do, helping people, often treating Vets and disabled people, but if you can't make a living and just add overwhelming stress to your life it isn't worth it.

We both say we shoulda opened up a Dairy Queen. lol No one complains about paying for an ice-cream cone but they complain about paying $20 for a one hour treatment by someone with their doctorate that I have to pay an exorbitant salary to! Sorry for the rant...it's been a long few months. :( Anyone know those 6 numbers we all need?
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SFC Mark Merino
SFC Mark Merino
11 y
That bites! If you own a Dairy Queen near me you will be able to retire in no time. I could see if the VA could pay you my disability directly.
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PO2 Jonathan Scharff
PO2 Jonathan Scharff
11 y
SFC Mark Merino too funny! I don't want to be responsible to that new beautiful wife of yours for taking all your disability $! lol In good conscience I'm gonna have to stay far away. lol
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SFC Chemical Biological Radiological and Nuclear Operations Specialist
2
2
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I always had ambitions to own a city sized piece of land and open a year round Medieval Village, as authentic as possible.
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SFC Mark Merino
SFC Mark Merino
11 y
I take it you frequent the Renaissance Fair quite a bit? My daughter goes every year.
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SFC Chemical Biological Radiological and Nuclear Operations Specialist
SFC (Join to see)
11 y
For sure! I love them.
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