Posted on Sep 4, 2014
Do you have a post-military deam business planned?
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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
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 65
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I started several businesses in my lifetime. I couldn't keep a job. I started my first when I was just seventeen, making boat cushions stuffed with the then new plastic foam to replace the foam rubber ones that were rotting and falling to pieces. I was a Sea Scout and had many connections that provided business leads. Unfortunately, my family was attracted by my success, involved themselves, and ruined it.
In later years I opened my own ad agency after working in a few others. It was successful for a time until govt regulations began driving manufacturing overseas and business dried up.
I ended my career as an independent IT consultant. Made a helluva lot of money until govt spending crashed the economy and I retired.
I don't know if I would recommend entrepreneurship these days inasmuch as govt interference makes it so difficult. Here in California, there is a myriad of bureaucrats ready to pounce on anyone with the temerity to start a business. I'd definitely go elsewhere to have a chance of success.
In later years I opened my own ad agency after working in a few others. It was successful for a time until govt regulations began driving manufacturing overseas and business dried up.
I ended my career as an independent IT consultant. Made a helluva lot of money until govt spending crashed the economy and I retired.
I don't know if I would recommend entrepreneurship these days inasmuch as govt interference makes it so difficult. Here in California, there is a myriad of bureaucrats ready to pounce on anyone with the temerity to start a business. I'd definitely go elsewhere to have a chance of success.
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CPT Jack Durish
Tempting, damn tempting. Unfortunately, my family is here and here is where I must stay. Grandchildren are involved. Let me explain... Grandchildren are God's reward for not murdering your children. They are the joy of our life and we get to enjoy them almost everyday. Indeed, I enjoyed them so much this summer that my writing projects suffered. Suffered. That's not the word. Languished. It's time to get back to the novel and finish it.
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SGT Chris Birkinbine
Living in Ca my self now, I often wonder how any business survives here. Then I see how they turn the costs on to the consumer at double or triple and then I realize how... I can't ethically do that.
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SSG Paul Headlee
Did you tell your family, "This boat cushion thing is over. We're all joining the Army. Fall in!"?
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There are a lot of big dreams posted and i am over thinking I just want to own a bar. Not a dirty dive bar but not too fancy either. Someplace everyone can be comfortable and it doesn't mater if you show up in shorts and t-shirt or a business suite, I want a place we can all have a good time but be responsible.
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PO2 Molly Burton
Every bar with a couple of pool tables and Darts with some interesting entertainment like pool and dart events, karaoke that keep people involved can bring in good revenue. A couple of folks i know opened up a bar together and only one of them runs it, one of them supports maintenance and the other one controls the kitchen & inspections. The one who manages the revenue also manages the staff and entertainment venues. I am sure if it was too much to do on your own, you more than likely have great friends that all have a strong suit. Fit jobs/responsibility to personality and you can have gold. It can happen. Good friends that are like minded can make it easier than to go it alone.
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SFC (Join to see)
Thank you PO2 Molly Burton, my wife and I have dreamed of this for sometime now. I have the capital to open one now but not to do it the way I want to. in two more years I will be in a position that will be more financially suitable to make the bar what I want it to be.
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PO2 Molly Burton
Sounds silly, but watch yourself a few bar rescues. Learn from other peoples mistakes in the bar ownership arena so you can hopefully AVOID the mistakes others have made. I am sure that some of the tips that John has to offer can help things generate in your mind to make things clearer on how to go and decide between what works and what doesn't. The biggest thing any business owner could possibly tell you is; 1. Know your market 2. Know your competition in the surrounding area. 3. Keep menus SIMPLE. Hiring people to make items on a menu should be easy. expect that people (employees) will be liquid over the years. Hopefully there will be staple employees. If you can invest in camera's and a Point of Sale system that is a huge leap to saving you from potential profit loss.
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SFC (Join to see)
PO2 Molly Burton I know it does sound a little silly but yes my wife and I have watched all the episodes to date. One trend I see in failing bars is absent oweners or oweners that treat it as a party place not a job. Thanks for the suggestion.
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SFC (R) Mark Merino, If you want, you can record all your coffee sales in that little green book from supply (NSN 7530-00-222-3521).
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SFC Mark Merino
I have some NSN's memorized too. If you order 1520-01-125-5476 you get an OH-58D...(missiles not included).
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SSG (ret) William Martin
I remember ordering CL9 wrist watches once or actually several times over the years when I worked in supply. I never received those watches.
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Wow if I had a business I would have to contract with the military to establish "Unit Grandmothers" within every military unit in our country. These retired grannies would hug you, love you, bake cookies for you, rock you to sleep, give you hopes, and just make you feel all warm and fuzzy inside! Just imagine, you got a junior troop straight up complaining about his life....guess what, Unit grannies got you covered(literally) with huggies and kissies. Morale increased 1071%! It works vertical too, you see ole SgtMaj cant wait to retire but everybody just keeps messin up...UNIT GRANDMOTHERS! "Its OK to cry, just do it with Granny on your side"....its all about the feels nowadays
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SSG (Join to see)
Every great idea was once considered crazy, Unit Grannies are the key to future success. And no more hurry up and wait! Hurry Up and get some granny love! Im all about it...
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I always wanted to be either in Law enforcement, Formula One Pilot, GP1 Pilot, or into bodywork fabrication of hot rods.
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SGT Michael Glenn
I always wanted to create things with cars, read car mags over and over and over, fell in love with Corvette Summer and what they did with that Vette, at the age of 15 I was pulling dents and welding like a maniac. When I was living in Germany I started dabbling with the idea of why I couldnt make my own body kits and paint like others did so I just started practicing, this winter Ill be playing with Carbon Fiber, my dream is to make a CF car.
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My dream business would be to own my own Craft Brewery. My friends and I already have a business plan, it's just a matter of securing funding. Since we are all Vets, we want to call it American Warrior Brewing. 10% of all profits will go to military charities who have an A rating or better.
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Military advisor/liason to Hollywood helping ensure an acceptable amount of realism and on the liaison side, contact the necessary military personnel to coordinate for use of things like bases as a filming location, use of tanks, trained soldiers as extras, etc.
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In an earlier response to this discussion, I mentioned that I spent my life creating businesses as an entrepreneur, some successful, some not, and encouraged veterans to consider it. At a VFW meeting last night I learned that there is an effort underway to amend the GI Bill to allow veterans to use these benefits as seed capital for small businesses rather than education. I suggest that we all write our representatives in Congress and get behind this movement.
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SFC Mark Merino
I'm behind that 100%! I'm tired of making these institutions rich. I have a degree. I'm unemployed. Let me use the money for exactly what I want and let me have more control of my future! Could you start a thread and bring this to everyone's attention? This news is HOT!!!
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SGT (Join to see)
SSG Keven Lahde , I should have specified: These are the businesses that I would own if I had the resources.
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SSG Keven Lahde
SGT (Join to see) If you have a kitchen, I will be more than happy to run it for you. I think I need to get back into that. I kind of miss cooking in a kitchen.
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I'm in my dream business - serving others! I get to help my military brethren, focus on keeping marriages strong, and promote healthy families. What more could I ask for?
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