Posted on Dec 7, 2015
COL Mikel J. Burroughs
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For military veterans who want to become entrepreneurs, did you know the first steps are usually the hardest?

RP Members here are a few other veterans from South Florida who have stepped up in the world of entrepreneurship:

What are your thoughts and recommendations for other veterans that want to become entrepreneurs?

http://www.miamiherald.com/news/business/biz-monday/article48340485.html

Veterans, who make up about 8 percent of the U.S. population at more than 21 million, are twice as likely to jump into entrepreneurship as civilians. Today, one in 10 small businesses is started by a veteran, and about 20 percent of small business employees work for veteran-owned businesses, according to the Small Business Administration.

According to the most recent national statistics available from the Small Business Administration, most veterans start businesses in finance and insurance, followed by transportation and warehousing; mining, quarrying, oil and gas; construction; and professional, scientific and technical. In South Florida, Crews says veterans start a wide variety of companies that include lawn care maintenance, cell phone repair, financial services, dog grooming, personal training and providing person chef services.
Edited >1 y ago
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Responses: 17
LTC Stephen F.
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COL Mikel J. Burroughs it takes courage, vision and perseverance to become an entrepreneur. Learning to overcome disappointment and keeping your eye and mind focused on where you are striving to go is critical because each entrepreneur will face difficulties.
It helps if you are a self starter but this is not critical especially if you are in a business partnership.
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COL Mikel J. Burroughs
COL Mikel J. Burroughs
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LTC Stephen F. I've started two companies - the first I sold my interest because I was deploying and the second I had for about year and half doing very well, but had a partner who stold from the company and I had to shut it down, so I could save my contacts and clients (not allow the other partner) to ruin my reputation in the business world. He stoled money from within the company that should have been paid out to us based on our parternship and put back into the business for future operating cash. I closed it before it affected any clients. I learned some valuable lessons from that experience with (with fiscal money controls, checks and balances, and always do some background investigation or screening of potential partners - reference checks). It is what it is! I'm still an entrepreneur and really like to create things and startups.
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COL Mikel J. Burroughs
COL Mikel J. Burroughs
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SP5 Christine Conley That is awesome!
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SSgt Bioenvironmental Engineering
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The are a lot of veterans getting forced out or who will be getting forced out due to High Year Tenure (HYT), who are unable to join the reserves or guard. Just good solid workers who couldn't test well. I would love to open a company called "HYT" that brings those folks in, in whatever specialty they were released from and create a company of some sort.
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SPC Margaret Higgins
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I am a photographer. I got started when my mother gave me a camera for Christmas; one year.
It was a professional camera.
Then I bought a cheap camera with a telephoto lens built in- in a PX.
I loved using the telephoto part of the camera; and used it almost exclusively.
For one thing, I passed by a Fine Arts Gallery. The receptionist there, suggested that I apply to get into the gallery. I thought to myself: "No way am I good enough to even apply."
The rest is history. I became a member of said gallery. I made money by selling my photographs; but the gallery took 35% of my earnings.
I then went to a hardware store and a bookstore and inquired whether I could sell my photos there.
The owners of both places said that I could sell my photographs on commission.
I sold $980.00 worth of my photographs; downstairs in my church.
I want you to please remember that the sky is the limit; when you are thinking about being an entrepreneur.
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COL Mikel J. Burroughs
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SPC Margaret Higgins
SPC Margaret Higgins
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Thank you, Colonel!
COL Mikel J. Burroughs
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SGT James Hastings
SGT James Hastings
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It just proves that those who chase their dreams are more likely to succeed than those who just dream.
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CPT Military Police
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COL Mikel J. Burroughs
This is a great article. Thanks for getting the information out. How many times have you thought, "I wish I had known this in the beginning,"? I know I have had that thought.
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