Jonathan Thompson | Alpha Six Battalion | Veterans Growing America: täielik transkriptsioon

Because once you're in it, you're in it. 00:04:17.040 --> 00:04:30.240 But if you could, if you could see the waters are rocky, once you you kind of have like that fronthand knowledge, you start seeing the waters are rocky ahead, you're able to navigate the waters easier since you're already familiar with a set uh situation. 00:04:30.639 --> 00:04:31.439 Yeah, absolutely. 00:04:31.600 --> 00:04:32.959 Hey, let me ask you this though. 00:04:33.120 --> 00:04:37.439 I mean, you went through a lot of training, especially military, DOD. 00:04:37.600 --> 00:04:43.279 What are some of those experiences that led you into the journey of entrepreneurship? 00:04:43.680 --> 00:04:46.800 You know, different branches have uh different leadership style. 00:04:46.879 --> 00:04:54.639 I don't want to like paint a brush across all military, and even within the military, everybody has like their own leadership style. 00:04:54.800 --> 00:05:02.959 And I don't I I'm not saying this in a negative way, but we had a leader, a particular leader at one point where when we first met him, he came in and he came in hot and heavy. 00:05:03.040 --> 00:05:06.399 He was like, you know, I'm all about family, you know, I'm all about time off. 00:05:06.560 --> 00:05:16.800 If we do port side, starboard side, you know, port sides off, starboard side, man to shop, starboard side off, port side man to shop, you know, he came in with that, but like he never applied that. 00:05:17.040 --> 00:05:21.439 But that that concept that he he was talking about always stuck with me. 00:05:21.600 --> 00:05:32.959 Um But also when uh, you know, being a young troop and we was doing the work, I realized like a lot of the leadership, once they reach a certain point, they stop doing like that physical work. 00:05:33.279 --> 00:05:42.720 Being an NCO at the time I was E4 and I was helping my troops do the work, I always wanted to keep that aspect of not just tell, but you know, or show. 00:05:42.879 --> 00:05:46.800 How can I show you or just tell you if I'm not willing to do it myself? 00:05:46.959 --> 00:05:52.160 So I adopted that style, like, even though I might have to tell you or show you, I'm gonna help you with it. 00:05:52.240 --> 00:06:03.680 We're gonna do it together because if we're doing it together, we're pumping out more, more product, we're pumping out more um productivity from him, you know, even though, you know, the situation was what it was. 00:06:03.920 --> 00:06:07.199 After that, that particular meeting, I mean, that was our first time meeting him. 00:06:07.279 --> 00:06:08.560 He disappeared for a couple months. 00:06:08.639 --> 00:06:10.160 We thought he was he was TAD. 00:06:10.319 --> 00:06:12.319 Was like, well, what happened to the ward officer? 00:06:12.800 --> 00:06:14.240 Ward officer disappeared out of us. 00:06:14.560 --> 00:06:18.000 That at least that initial speech that he gave stuck with me. 00:06:18.079 --> 00:06:19.120 And I was like, I like that. 00:06:19.199 --> 00:06:29.360 I like, and then, you know, like I said, when we're into work, instead of just sitting back, browsing the internet, I see my troops humping, trying to push people out, PCS and out of the area, processing that paperwork. 00:06:29.439 --> 00:06:31.600 Why am I just sitting there, you know, watching them do it? 00:06:31.759 --> 00:06:32.959 Let me let's do it together. 00:06:33.040 --> 00:06:36.079 Let's crank out as many people as we can and and get it done. 00:06:36.240 --> 00:06:45.040 So that's that's pretty much how I adopted my leadership style as far as uh from military to to um entrepreneurship right now. 00:06:45.279 --> 00:06:45.839 No, that's good. 00:06:45.920 --> 00:06:50.079 In the army um uh disappearing is a warrant officer's superpower. 00:06:50.160 --> 00:06:52.160 So I'm with when you said that. 00:06:52.800 --> 00:06:56.000 Well, I mean, he came in and he did, he did have a young baby. 00:06:56.079 --> 00:07:00.480 The baby was probably maybe eight months at the time, so you know, it's understandable, you know. 00:07:00.560 --> 00:07:03.920 Yeah, like I'm talking about this guy was gone like months. 00:07:04.079 --> 00:07:07.439 But we didn't see him like when we walked by his office. 00:07:07.519 --> 00:07:09.040 The office was dark for months. 00:07:09.120 --> 00:07:10.720 Like, did he even move in? 00:07:10.879 --> 00:07:14.399 Like, I know he just got here, but we ain't seen this man at first. 00:07:14.800 --> 00:07:15.360 Oh yeah. 00:07:16.160 --> 00:07:20.240 That's why we call him the quiet professionals, because you don't see here or That's it. 00:07:20.560 --> 00:07:21.519 Right, right. 00:07:21.839 --> 00:07:28.000 So let's talk about even though he would he was MIA most of the time, he he did give me like an aspect. 00:07:28.560 --> 00:07:29.920 Like, I don't want to be like that. 00:07:30.000 --> 00:07:36.000 If I'm gonna tell my people, or if my people are looking at me to like lead, I want to be right there with them, you know. 00:07:36.160 --> 00:07:38.560 I don't want to just point and and say do, do, do. 00:07:38.800 --> 00:07:40.560 I want to be able to perform with them as well. 00:07:40.800 --> 00:07:43.040 Yeah, that's a great, that's that's a great NCR right there. 00:07:43.680 --> 00:07:45.519 So let's get let's get into business a little bit. 00:07:45.680 --> 00:07:48.800 What inspired you to start your own business? 00:07:48.959 --> 00:07:52.879 I mean, you know, because going to school, they don't school, they don't teach you business. 00:07:52.959 --> 00:07:55.040 You know, that's something that you have to go after on your own. 00:07:55.199 --> 00:07:58.160 So tell me a little bit about what inspired you to start your own business. 00:07:58.480 --> 00:08:02.079 So I guess again, it goes back to um to humor. 00:08:02.240 --> 00:08:11.519 When I left, when I first got out while I was on terminal, I went to school in New Jersey, but it was like it was like a mobile tech training type of

school. 00:08:11.600 --> 00:08:14.800 It wasn't like college credits, it wasn't like that. 00:08:14.879 --> 00:08:18.720 It was learning how to do car stereos, because I was into that stuff at the time. 00:08:18.959 --> 00:08:19.600 Fast cars. 00:08:19.680 --> 00:08:21.759 I still have a two-door car, you know, a little coop. 00:08:22.000 --> 00:08:24.879 Doing upholstery, installing uh car stereos. 00:08:25.279 --> 00:08:28.160 That's what got me into wanting to start a business. 00:08:28.319 --> 00:08:34.399 But again, at the time, you know, there was, you know, Best Buy, you know, there was Circuit City before Circuit City kind of dwindled. 00:08:34.480 --> 00:08:42.480 But they had a lot of heavy hitters, and even though I went to the school to learn how to do the work, I eventually wanted to like have my own shop. 00:08:42.639 --> 00:08:45.919 But then life happens, you know, you always have these plans, and then life happens. 00:08:46.080 --> 00:08:49.519 We moved, we went to Georgia, did the government thing, did the police thing. 00:08:49.600 --> 00:08:53.679 So like working on cars just wasn't, you know, feasible at the time. 00:08:53.759 --> 00:08:57.039 And then I eventually grew to a point where I didn't want to work on cars anymore. 00:08:57.200 --> 00:09:00.320 But I always had that itch where I wanted to start a business. 00:09:00.480 --> 00:09:06.159 So at the time of being a cop, they had a lot of t-shirt companies at the time, but they were all small. 00:09:06.240 --> 00:09:09.679 You know, the internet wasn't as big and prevalent as it is now, you know. 00:09:09.759 --> 00:09:13.279 The iPhones had had only just came out a, you know, four or five years ago. 00:09:13.440 --> 00:09:17.759 So I started designing police shirts at the time, because I was a cop, you know. 00:09:17.919 --> 00:09:21.840 And then companies like, I don't know if you guys remember them, Ranger Up came out. 00:09:21.919 --> 00:09:24.159 And then I was always rocking Ranger Up shirts. 00:09:24.240 --> 00:09:26.240 Like that, that was like my motivation. 00:09:26.399 --> 00:09:32.159 And then again, another seed in my head, like eventually I want to do something like this while I'm making shirts, et cetera. 00:09:32.320 --> 00:09:38.080 Even though it took me a long time, I finally made it to that point where that's what we do at Alpha Six Battalion. 00:09:38.159 --> 00:09:40.000 That's that's pretty much how it started. 00:09:40.159 --> 00:09:56.080 But then again, like I mentioned, while we were on the road with people asking us all these questions, I wanted to have apparel with a purpose, but also like the purpose was to provide like various resources to to people once they they separate, you know, service member and their family. 00:09:56.320 --> 00:10:00.720 Hey, so I I want to get into uh Alpha 6 Battalion. 00:10:00.879 --> 00:10:10.080 I want to talk about uh generally I know we we we touch based on it a little bit, but I want you to kind of dive in,

tell the people what it is, what you do, what's your unique business proposition. 00:10:10.320 --> 00:10:13.360 So Alpha 6 Battalion, the name, uh I guess I'll start with that. 00:10:13.519 --> 00:10:16.720 The name comes from the 6% of veterans. 00:10:16.879 --> 00:10:29.600 So I wanted to have that representation a way that resonates with, you know, not just military people, but you know, having the battalion in the name that kind of like has your ears kind of twingle like, what's this? 00:10:29.679 --> 00:10:34.799 You know, it's obviously military, but the six represents the six percent of Americans that serve. 00:10:34.960 --> 00:10:38.320 You know, the numbers technically are around 6.4. 00:10:38.720 --> 00:10:47.360 Like, you know, I round down, but also we have like uh an issue within our community where sometimes some people make permanent decisions off temporary problems. 00:10:47.600 --> 00:11:04.159 So by creating the name off of 6th Battalion and trying to provide some of the resources that we're playing in and that we already have, you know, with our aim is to help people when they feel like they're, you know, they're in certain situations where they feel like they they're you know they're feeling some kind of way. 00:11:04.399 --> 00:11:13.600 It might, we, you know, we obviously don't have all the answers, but we, you know, we want to have that network with VGA, other vet groups where we could reach out to someone. 00:11:13.759 --> 00:11:18.399 Somebody might know something to help a particular somebody in a particular situation. 00:11:18.639 --> 00:11:25.919 Came across um vet organization, she was telling me about habitats of uh of humanity here in uh Spotsylvania. 00:11:26.159 --> 00:11:29.279 They were accepting applications for a duration. 00:11:29.360 --> 00:11:35.279 I can't remember uh at the moment, but only one vet they're looking to place a veteran family in a house. 00:11:35.440 --> 00:11:38.399 And only one veteran family applied for the program. 00:11:38.559 --> 00:11:44.559 And it's like, you know, people can't find out about these things because sometimes they're just not looking for it. 00:11:44.799 --> 00:12:03.919 So, like our aim is even though we do apparel, you know, they might find something that they like, they might find a shirt with a saying that they like, but they might come across that information we're putting out that, hey, if you live in this area, you know, there's this veteran organization that's working with Habitats with Humanity, and they're trying to place someone in a home. 00:12:04.000 --> 00:12:06.799 And maybe they might need to be that person that wants to apply. 00:12:06.960 --> 00:12:07.919 They might need that home. 00:12:08.000 --> 00:12:10.399 They, I don't like where we live right now, we need to move. 00:12:10.480 --> 00:12:12.000 Maybe this might be for us, you know. 00:12:12.240 --> 00:12:13.120 No, I like that. 00:12:13.279 --> 00:12:21.759 Yeah, I like I like the fact that, you

know, not only are you supporting our veteran community with apparel, but you're also supporting them with information. 00:12:21.840 --> 00:12:22.000 Right. 00:12:22.159 --> 00:12:22.799 Let's talk a little. 00:12:23.120 --> 00:12:24.159 That's like the number one thing. 00:12:24.320 --> 00:12:26.000 Everybody has something to teach someone. 00:12:26.080 --> 00:12:36.320 You know, my wife was talking to um someone, uh, a vet, he was Marine Corps, he was telling her how the VA paid to get tents in his car because of this particular condition he has. 00:12:36.480 --> 00:12:37.600 I never even heard of that. 00:12:37.759 --> 00:12:50.080 So, like, we we all have a particular experience that we could pass on and we could, you know, help someone else that might have a similar condition where getting the VA to pay for their tents will help them. 00:12:50.240 --> 00:12:53.600 But we all don't know because sometimes we just don't talk to each other, you know. 00:12:54.320 --> 00:12:56.639 That happens a lot, especially when people get out. 00:12:56.799 --> 00:12:58.720 They kind of want to veer away from the military. 00:12:58.799 --> 00:13:01.679 You know, they I did 10 years, I did eight years. 00:13:01.840 --> 00:13:04.080 Let's say they had a negative experience. 00:13:04.159 --> 00:13:09.919 They just want to get, even though, you know, they might have honorable discharge, they just want to get away from the military entirely. 00:13:10.080 --> 00:13:13.440 And, you know, they're missing out on tons of information, especially if they're hurt. 00:13:13.600 --> 00:13:18.559 Like they don't even put in their VA claim and they just want to like completely check out. 00:13:18.879 --> 00:13:26.320 There's 20 years later, and they finally, you know, catch up with a veteran, and then you just start chopping it up, and they're like, I never even knew that. 00:13:26.399 --> 00:13:27.919 I didn't even know I could do something like that. 00:13:28.080 --> 00:13:29.679 Like, VA claim, what do you mean? 00:13:29.840 --> 00:13:31.039 I can't get a VA claim for that. 00:13:31.279 --> 00:13:32.799 Yeah, yeah, you can because I have it. 00:13:32.960 --> 00:13:38.639 Or, you know, I met this person where they have this condition and they're like, I've been suffering with that since, you know, XYZ. 00:13:38.799 --> 00:13:42.639 But information, like Donnell said, that's that's pretty much a pair of purpose. 00:13:42.720 --> 00:13:48.799 The purpose is information, passing on information, passing on resources to help people in in various situations. 00:13:49.039 --> 00:13:49.759 That's good. 00:13:50.000 --> 00:13:52.159 Yeah, information changes situations. 00:13:52.240 --> 00:13:56.960 Uh at Veterans Connect on Thursday, um, there was a guy that came in and this was new to me. 00:13:57.200 --> 00:14:10.320 He was telling me that if you're 30% or better, that you can go to urgent care and then provide that bill to urgent to the VA, and then the VA will pay for your urgent care visit. 00:14:10.960 --> 00:14:12.000 I had no idea. 00:14:12.080 --> 00:14:19.600 I mean, think about the number of veterans that may go to urgent care without any type of medical insurance or anything like that. 00:14:19.840 --> 00:14:21.200 And they may be 30%. 00:14:21.840 --> 00:14:22.240 Yeah. 00:14:22.720 --> 00:14:26.960 And now they don't have to pay, you know, to go to the hospital or at least the urgent care. 00:14:27.200 --> 00:14:28.639 Yeah, that that's that's awesome. 00:14:28.720 --> 00:14:29.679 I didn't know that either. 00:14:29.759 --> 00:14:31.919 I I need to dig dig into that. 00:14:32.159 --> 00:14:32.559 Yeah. 00:14:32.799 --> 00:14:34.559 Just just to put the information out there. 00:14:34.799 --> 00:14:35.759 Yeah, that blew my mind. 00:14:36.000 --> 00:14:37.120 And he showed me a bill. 00:14:37.200 --> 00:14:40.320 He was like, I'm only at 30%, and this is what this is what I have. 00:14:40.480 --> 00:14:42.639 So that was just great information that he shared. 00:14:42.879 --> 00:14:43.679 Yeah, absolutely. 00:14:43.919 --> 00:14:52.240 So what type of challenges did you face in transitioning, you know, either from the military into the business world or to the business world as a whole? 00:14:52.399 --> 00:14:54.159 What's some of the challenges that you faced? 00:14:54.799 --> 00:14:58.799 I guess, you know, f you know, when you're in the military, you always have people. 00:14:58.960 --> 00:15:08.639 Whether you're you're you got your your E3 group, you know, the E3 mafia, E4 mafia, Lance Corporal Underground, you always had like a group of people to like rely on. 00:15:08.799 --> 00:15:15.919 If I if I know A through Z, you know, I'm sorry, A through P, you know, they got the other half covered. 00:15:16.080 --> 00:15:27.279 When you go into business, and it's often glamorized, like you'll see it on on social media, I'm an entrepreneur, you know, but like people don't don't realize like all the hard work it takes, you know. 00:15:27.519 --> 00:15:31.360 And often you you're your you're your number one fan. 00:15:31.519 --> 00:15:36.399 You know, many times you might do things that, you know, don't resonate with people. 00:15:36.559 --> 00:15:43.360 And if if this is like something that that's your calling, you you won't drop it regardless, whether it resonates with people or not. 00:15:43.519 --> 00:15:48.639 You'll find keep pushing until you find that group of people that that does resonate with. 00:15:48.799 --> 00:15:52.879 So I guess one of the things is, you know, often you're you're alone. 00:15:52.960 --> 00:15:58.480 You you're jam, you're cranking out resources, you're cranking out whatever, whatever you're doing. 00:15:58.559 --> 00:16:04.879 You know, if you're writing books, you're writing books alone, you know, and you're like, I want to send this copy to someone. 00:16:04.960 --> 00:16:10.240 And you know you'd have you you beat up your best friend a hundred times for another copy.

00:16:10.480 --> 00:16:13.840 I know it's two in the morning, I'm texting you, I just sent you another copy. 00:16:14.080 --> 00:16:16.399 Again, I need you to read, I need you to review it. 00:16:16.480 --> 00:16:26.320 And then you gotta like, I don't want to say you gotta like beat them up about it, because sometimes, and I again, because you you keep pushing it on them, you know they might get tired of you. 00:16:26.399 --> 00:16:29.600 So you you kind of you gotta kind of quiz them to see if they actually read it. 00:16:29.759 --> 00:16:36.320 Like, all right, I put a particular error in there on purpose to see if they actually caught it, to see if they actually read it. 00:16:36.399 --> 00:16:38.399 Because again, it's you, it's it's you on your own. 00:16:38.480 --> 00:16:45.279 If you're cranking things out, you your brain is gonna tell you it looks good, but when somebody else actually reviews it, they might catch those errors. 00:16:45.440 --> 00:16:54.960 But if you're beating someone up so bad to the point where they're tired of you and they they're tired of your copies, they're not gonna catch that error because yeah, yeah, I reviewed it, it looks good, everything's good. 00:16:55.039 --> 00:17:01.679 Yeah, but did you see that that error that I put uh where I purposely, you know, they're like, nah, nah, I didn't see that. 00:17:01.759 --> 00:17:03.679 I I guess I'll look at it again, you know. 00:17:03.919 --> 00:17:13.039 But again, you know, this world, it could be lonely because in the military, you always have people to help you get a particular task done, whatever that task may be. 00:17:13.119 --> 00:17:15.519 There's always going to be someone you could probably rely on. 00:17:15.680 --> 00:17:34.319 But within this, especially when when when it if if it's not working yet, you know, you're alone, you you're not getting any traction, you feel like giving up, and you know, you you're not getting any any smiles, you it's not resonating with people, it it could it could be discouraging, and you're like, all right, I don't really want to do this anymore. 00:17:34.400 --> 00:17:43.440 But if it's if it's in you and you know, like this is my assignment, I know, I know it is, because it's been X years and I haven't given up yet, you know? 00:17:43.599 --> 00:17:46.160 Everything will eventually start turning for you. 00:17:47.200 --> 00:17:55.839 Hey, what is a key lesson or or a piece of advice that you learned in the military that you now apply? 00:17:56.160 --> 00:18:00.720 Um I guess I'll say the same thing, like not giving up. 00:18:00.799 --> 00:18:04.640 Because like I said, some people might uh and it could be demographics-wise too. 00:18:04.720 --> 00:18:11.200 Like you could be in a particular area where your stuff don't resonate here, but then you go somewhere else, and then you're like, you know, your stuff is selling. 00:18:11.279 --> 00:18:12.799 It's like, oh, well, what what changed? 00:18:12.880 --> 00:18:15.039 You

know, you kind of change the location. 00:18:15.279 --> 00:18:19.680 That not giving up mentality that you you get from the military, you know. 00:18:19.839 --> 00:18:25.200 Somebody likes your stuff, you know, not just your family, not just your friends, you know what I'm saying? 00:18:25.519 --> 00:18:28.880 It just might take some time to find that crowd. 00:18:29.039 --> 00:18:33.519 And during that wait, that's when people, I don't know if you ever seen that image. 00:18:33.680 --> 00:18:40.880 It's like uh an image on top of each other's two guys, they're they're mining, and they're mining towards the diamonds. 00:18:41.039 --> 00:18:49.680 And like the the first guy, he's hungry, he's he's he's drilling and he's he's cutting at the the rock in order to get to the diamond. 00:18:49.759 --> 00:18:52.880 But the the guy on the bottom, he just had this much to go. 00:18:53.039 --> 00:18:55.920 And he in the image, he's turning around and he's giving up. 00:18:56.079 --> 00:19:00.960 But if he just pushed two, three more steps, he would have he would have hit his goal. 00:19:01.119 --> 00:19:07.039 And that's where that that's where that no give up attitude from the military helps push through. 00:19:07.200 --> 00:19:09.119 Because sometimes you're at that point. 00:19:09.440 --> 00:19:13.279 Donnell says it all the time when we uh van on the weekends, you know, this is hard. 00:19:13.359 --> 00:19:17.759 You know, sometimes if you don't show up for you, you know, nobody else is gonna show up for you. 00:19:17.920 --> 00:19:25.599 And and to have to have that no give up, keep fighting, keep pushing mentality that keep pushing drive to show up for yourself. 00:19:25.680 --> 00:19:28.960 That's when you start getting that breakthrough that people are looking for. 00:19:29.279 --> 00:19:29.759 Sure. 00:19:30.000 --> 00:19:30.480 Sure. 00:19:31.519 --> 00:19:34.960 You know, at VGA we say you're in business for yourself, but not by yourself. 00:19:35.119 --> 00:19:38.640 Um, and and that was evident, you know, on Friday, you know, when y'all met. 00:19:38.799 --> 00:19:41.839 I mean, I I jumped on the call and you guys was instantly jailing. 00:19:42.000 --> 00:19:43.519 You know Yeah. 00:19:43.920 --> 00:19:50.720 It's now we have a another community of people that can help you with your business, and your business is your superpower. 00:19:50.960 --> 00:19:55.119 Talk to us about what is what is your superpower, what is your business superpower? 00:19:55.279 --> 00:19:58.559 I think talking to people, you know, we do we do that a lot. 00:19:58.720 --> 00:20:00.799 I mean, that's primarily what we do. 00:20:00.960 --> 00:20:04.480 The shirts, the hoodies, all that stuff is stuff is for fun, you know. 00:20:04.720 --> 00:20:08.960 Somebody might see something that, oh, I was a ranger, you know, or I'm a vet, you know. 00:20:09.119 --> 00:20:15.839 I like to walk around that like our shirt, you know, it says veteran, noun, a person who saved you without asking questions. 00:20:16.000 --> 00:20:16.799 And people like that. 00:20:16.960 --> 00:20:26.559 They like that because, you know, they're walking around like hits, you know, that's all that stuff is fun and it is all for laughs and to make us feel good because we are only six percent. 00:20:26.720 --> 00:20:32.240 Like as many millions of people in the country, like only six percent of Americans have done it. 00:20:32.400 --> 00:20:33.599 That's that's wild work. 00:20:33.759 --> 00:20:39.440 But uh, I guess like having the ability to talk to people could be about anything, it could be about any music, you know. 00:20:39.599 --> 00:21:03.039 Being in the military, you get so much experience, not just work-wise, culture-wise, you know, various cultures, various music, it and it all like I mean, we used to go to like the bar, you know, and you would have the guys who, you know, they got that hip-hop vibe, and then you got the guy with the cowboy boots, and we're all just hanging out, and it's it's nothing. 00:21:03.279 --> 00:21:04.319 This is normal for us. 00:21:04.480 --> 00:21:16.640 You know, you even have the guy with the shorts, and he don't have no uh civilian shoes, so he'll still have on his regular military boots, and we're all looking good, and then hey, he comes, it's like, dude, you gotta stay. 00:21:16.720 --> 00:21:18.079 You you can't come with us. 00:21:21.200 --> 00:21:22.480 A couple of times, like, no. 00:21:22.960 --> 00:21:24.079 I mean, it never fails. 00:21:24.160 --> 00:21:28.720 There's only one and then it's like the socks pulled up, too. 00:21:28.880 --> 00:21:30.559 It's not even like he's wearing the boots. 00:21:30.720 --> 00:21:35.119 He got the boots pulled tight, it got the straps on, and the socks are pulled all the way up. 00:21:35.279 --> 00:21:36.799 It's like, you can't go with us. 00:21:37.440 --> 00:21:45.279 We're going to we're going to, you know, Dusty's down the road for some uh for some Drake, and here you are with your boots on. 00:21:45.359 --> 00:21:46.319 You ain't got no shoes, dog. 00:21:47.279 --> 00:21:48.079 You you gotta stay, man. 00:21:48.240 --> 00:21:49.440 You think you gotta be ready. 00:21:50.880 --> 00:21:59.599 But having that ability to like, it doesn't matter what what room, just being able to walk into any room and just know, like, I'm gonna walk into this area. 00:22:00.319 --> 00:22:10.160 And whoever comes across me, I'm able to have a conversation with them because we've been exposed to various different types of walks of life, all different kinds of culture, all different kinds of music. 00:22:10.319 --> 00:22:12.400 I only have to, my family's from the islands. 00:22:12.480 --> 00:22:14.480 My father, he only listens to reggae music. 00:22:14.559 --> 00:22:16.240 I don't have to only listen to reggae music. 00:22:16.319 --> 00:22:18.240 I can listen to my mom, she's from St. 00:22:18.400 --> 00:22:19.599 Lucia, from the islands too. 00:22:19.680 --> 00:22:20.880

She listens to country music. 00:22:21.039 --> 00:22:24.480 Don't even listen to reggae music unless, you know, my father's playing it. 00:22:24.640 --> 00:22:34.559 You know, I got the reggae, I got the cun, and having that ability to just talk to any person is like a superpower because and and I'm kind of introverted most of the time. 00:22:34.640 --> 00:22:39.119 I kind of, when I'm out and about in the world, I don't tend to say much if I don't have to. 00:22:39.200 --> 00:22:50.480 But when I'm like out there and I'm showing my stuff and I'm talking to people, I guess I tap into that other per other side of me because I can't just sit there and just hope people will, you know, come up to me and talk to me. 00:22:50.559 --> 00:22:56.720 I gotta be able to talk to people and bring them in and, you know, share what we do and why we do and who we do it for. 00:22:56.880 --> 00:23:06.799 You know, you have to have that ability to talk to anybody about anything about any time in order for them to like resonate with you to want to like buy like they say it all the time. 00:23:06.880 --> 00:23:10.319 Uh Donnell Jr., one of the things he says, people buy people, right? 00:23:10.400 --> 00:23:11.759 That that's his phrase, right, Donnell? 00:23:11.920 --> 00:23:12.400 Do I got it right? 00:23:12.720 --> 00:23:13.759 That is, that's 100%. 00:23:14.240 --> 00:23:14.640 Right. 00:23:14.880 --> 00:23:25.359 So, you know, if you're not able to adjust, not adjust who you are, just be able to be flexible and talk about anything with any culture, it doesn't matter who, it's gonna be a hard going. 00:23:25.599 --> 00:23:27.519 This is gonna be definitely a hard going for you. 00:23:27.680 --> 00:23:27.920 Yeah. 00:23:28.160 --> 00:23:33.039 It's super cool just to see the growth of of people, people's business. 00:23:33.359 --> 00:23:35.200 Would let me ask you this question. 00:23:35.359 --> 00:23:40.160 If you had to, you know, rewind and start all over again, what would you do differently? 00:23:40.480 --> 00:23:47.440 If I had to rewind, I'd say a lot of times people tell you, um, there's never a perfect time. 00:23:47.680 --> 00:23:51.279 You all you definitely always want to wait until I have this. 00:23:52.079 --> 00:24:00.720 If if I had to start all over or rewind, I'd definitely start sooner because I like I I've told you, I've had the idea for so long. 00:24:00.880 --> 00:24:15.200 And even though the the idea evolved and changed a little bit, I would have started something because it would have given me some of the experience that I needed earlier and learned some of the lessons that I know now that would have applied, you know, I could have learned years ago. 00:24:15.359 --> 00:24:19.599 But again, you know, that there's never a a perfect time to start. 00:24:19.839 --> 00:24:28.240 But also, if I was to start again right now, I I guess I would focus on the foundation, focusing on the website, trying to get that stuff established. 00:24:28.319 --> 00:24:36.559 Because going back sometimes to try to get it set up after you're rolling, but people ask you questions like, oh, so uh is your is this on your website? 00:24:36.720 --> 00:24:38.960 You're talking about it, but it's not on your website. 00:24:39.119 --> 00:24:40.799 No, it's it it'll be that no, no, no. 00:24:40.880 --> 00:24:43.279 You can't have it, it needs to be there, you know. 00:24:43.519 --> 00:24:44.559 So like that's one thing. 00:24:44.720 --> 00:24:48.559 Like, I don't like to tell people some of the things that we do or what we're working on. 00:24:48.640 --> 00:24:56.640 I don't, for one, because especially if it's taking a long time, because certain ideas that people have, uh, it takes a while to get it ironed out correctly. 00:24:56.799 --> 00:25:06.640 Sometimes you have all those wrinkles and bumps in the roads that you, you know, you don't foresee it coming until you're in it and you're like, okay, how do I refine this to make it better or sound better? 00:25:06.799 --> 00:25:07.519 XYZ. 00:25:07.680 --> 00:25:15.200 Now, if you told the thousand people that you you have this and now the next time they see you, it's been a couple weeks and they're wondering, well, where is it? 00:25:15.279 --> 00:25:17.200 You know, so I like to get that done. 00:25:17.359 --> 00:25:23.200 So like, I like to just not say any any projects that we're working with. 00:25:23.279 --> 00:25:24.160 I like to just have it. 00:25:24.559 --> 00:25:26.079 The next time they see me, it's ready. 00:25:26.160 --> 00:25:26.559 It's here. 00:25:26.720 --> 00:25:28.400 Or something new is here, at least. 00:25:28.640 --> 00:25:34.000 Oh, this I wanted to tell you about this the last time, but we were still ironing some things out. 00:25:34.079 --> 00:25:34.960 But here it is. 00:25:35.119 --> 00:25:38.720 This is what I've been working on for the last few weeks, uh, last two months. 00:25:38.880 --> 00:25:42.400 It's ready, it's meant to help these type of people, XYZ, you know? 00:25:42.640 --> 00:25:43.440 Oh, that's huge. 00:25:43.519 --> 00:25:44.079 That's huge. 00:25:44.319 --> 00:25:50.640 So, my final question is tell people about your experience at VGA and what why you're a member of VGA. 00:25:50.880 --> 00:25:58.720 So, and everywhere I go when I talk to people, I I always like, you know, if I'm talking about Alpha 6 Battalion, I always mention VGA. 00:25:58.799 --> 00:26:02.400 It's like kind of in the same sentence with the hyphen, it's right there, you know. 00:26:02.559 --> 00:26:06.240 Oh, where we work with a veteran group out of VGA, have you heard of them? 00:26:06.480 --> 00:26:08.480 And then it goes into the whole market thing. 00:26:08.640 --> 00:26:12.880 When I found VGA, um, I was actually kind of ironing out ideas. 00:26:13.039 --> 00:26:18.720 I was exploring ideas on and trying to compile a list of random businesses owned by veterans. 00:26:18.880 --> 00:26:24.079 My my intent at the time wasn't to start vending,

even though I had like stuff I already got made. 00:26:24.240 --> 00:26:27.279 I wasn't looking to go out to to vend anywhere. 00:26:27.519 --> 00:26:30.240 I was trying to figure out a way to like do foundation. 00:26:30.400 --> 00:26:32.960 How can we start getting traction on social media? 00:26:33.039 --> 00:26:38.880 So I was looking for veteran businesses to interview about their time when they separated. 00:26:39.039 --> 00:26:40.400 You know, how did that go? 00:26:40.559 --> 00:26:44.480 What are some of the things that people should look out for once they leave? 00:26:44.559 --> 00:26:46.079 You know, once they're getting out. 00:26:46.240 --> 00:26:52.559 What, you know, what did you learn, let's say five to ten years that somebody's getting out today should be aware of, right? 00:26:52.799 --> 00:27:00.720 Because the transition, um, taps class, transition retirement briefings, that stuff, it's just the tip, just the tip of the iceberg. 00:27:00.799 --> 00:27:07.279 There's so much more world experience that people experience, and you don't you don't run into it until years later. 00:27:07.599 --> 00:27:15.759 So as I'm getting this list together and I'm searching for veteran-owned businesses in my area, and my wife had previously told me about VGA. 00:27:15.839 --> 00:27:18.000 One of her uh co-workers goes there all the time. 00:27:18.240 --> 00:27:25.519 VGA comes up first, and I was like, you know, I'm asking her, I'm like, hey, babe, is this this uh the marketplace, the veterans marketplace that you told me about? 00:27:25.680 --> 00:27:26.880 She's like, yeah, yeah, yeah. 00:27:27.039 --> 00:27:28.799 I was like, oh, let me let me give them a call. 00:27:28.880 --> 00:27:29.680 It's Sunday, though. 00:27:30.000 --> 00:27:30.799 They're not gonna answer. 00:27:30.880 --> 00:27:32.880 Yeah, I'll probably have to call Monday or Tuesday. 00:27:33.039 --> 00:27:35.279 I just called just just for Grimms. 00:27:35.599 --> 00:27:39.680 And like half a minute later, half a second, I mean it rang like barely. 00:27:39.920 --> 00:27:40.880 Donnell answers. 00:27:41.039 --> 00:27:42.559 I wasn't even I didn't even know what to say. 00:27:42.640 --> 00:27:45.920 I wasn't prepared because I just knew in my mind nobody's gonna answer. 00:27:46.000 --> 00:27:47.119 It's a Sunday. 00:27:47.359 --> 00:27:49.119 And he answered immediately. 00:27:49.279 --> 00:27:54.799 He told me about it, and I got paperwork sent to me that day for me to vend the next weekend. 00:27:54.960 --> 00:28:02.079 So from the start, from the get-go, it was like, as soon as you tap into the community, if you're serious, you know they're they're serious. 00:28:02.319 --> 00:28:06.000 They're already, if you're serious, they show you they're serious right away. 00:28:06.079 --> 00:28:12.559 They they give you everything that you need for you to show up the very next week to start getting your stuff in front of people. 00:28:12.720 --> 00:28:15.519 And it's been a hitting the ground running ever since. 00:28:15.599 --> 00:28:25.519 Um, having uh vented in a little while, we had some things going on with work and then the baby, but um, we still get we still get uh people pushed to us through Donnell all the time. 00:28:25.680 --> 00:28:26.960 People talking about the hoodie. 00:28:27.039 --> 00:28:28.079 Hey, I need a hoodie. 00:28:28.319 --> 00:28:31.279 Okay, let me knock it out, I'll drop it off at the store for you. 00:28:31.440 --> 00:28:42.400 But like I said too earlier, it's a lonely realm, especially when you you're not getting the traction that you wanted, you're not getting hits on your website, people aren't watching YouTube videos. 00:28:42.480 --> 00:28:47.440 That that's kind of like a unicorn thing, especially uh for you to like blow up on social media. 00:28:47.599 --> 00:28:58.480 But like having VGA, having VGA behind you, get your stuff in front of like-minded people, especially if you're a veteran, service member, dependent, whatever the case may be. 00:28:58.640 --> 00:29:08.799 The people that's been in the same realm as you that are pulling in new people, because people that come to the store, they're just not, they're not all veterans, you know, they're not all service members, they're not all family members. 00:29:08.880 --> 00:29:21.519 It's just regular average Joes, regular average citizen that comes in that loves the military, loves to support, and they walk in and they see things that, you know, veterans are are making and they want to purchase from them, you know. 00:29:21.680 --> 00:29:26.000 And a lot of things, you know, it's so impersonal when you buy from like these big name companies. 00:29:26.079 --> 00:29:29.200 These people don't, you know, they don't, it's just margins for them. 00:29:29.359 --> 00:29:36.480 But like when you look at VGA, the people that come to VGA, it's like I'm actually supporting someone that's done something for the country. 00:29:36.559 --> 00:29:52.319 You know, whether I've done it or not, whether I'm part of that 6% or not, I want to buy from them because they've done something that I'm grateful for, or they have products where they actually care about what they're making instead of just churning out, you know, random junk garbage for profit. 00:29:52.400 --> 00:30:00.880 You know, there's a lot of care behind the things that people do at VGA, and people could tell right away, you know, as soon as somebody walks into the door, we have new family, we have return of family. 00:30:01.279 --> 00:30:08.960 And, you know, it makes people feel welcomed, whether you which is not the case when you walk into like a random Walmart or whatever the case may be, you know. 00:30:09.119 --> 00:30:09.519 Absolutely. 00:30:09.599 --> 00:30:13.440 In fact, Walmart asks me extra stuff when I'm leaving, they make me feel like I'm stealing. 00:30:13.519 --> 00:30:18.640 I know I just a party. 00:30:18.880 --> 00:30:19.279 Can I see? 00:30:19.359 --> 00:30:20.160 Can I

see the receipt? 00:30:20.240 --> 00:30:22.079 Yeah, but brilliant things on the receipt. 00:30:22.160 --> 00:30:24.079 You're not gonna see everything on the receipt. 00:30:24.559 --> 00:30:27.039 They just put a line through it like they looked at you ain't look at it. 00:30:27.279 --> 00:30:28.079 You ain't looking at it. 00:30:28.160 --> 00:30:28.640 You ain't look at it. 00:30:29.359 --> 00:30:30.960 Where's the toilet paper that's at the bottom? 00:30:31.039 --> 00:30:33.119 Show it, show it to me on the on the list on the list. 00:30:33.200 --> 00:30:37.039 Show me the toilet paper on the list since you just looked at it that fast. 00:30:37.119 --> 00:30:37.599 Let me see. 00:30:37.680 --> 00:30:39.039 Show it to me so I can see. 00:30:43.200 --> 00:30:43.680 They don't care. 00:30:43.759 --> 00:30:46.079 They're like, uh uh, whatever. 00:30:46.640 --> 00:30:47.759 AJT, man. 00:30:47.839 --> 00:30:52.559 So before we close out, what I want to do is give you um the floor and the opportunity. 00:30:52.640 --> 00:31:05.279 Um, we have viewers and listeners, some of them may be veterans just interested in entrepreneurship, some of them are entrepreneurs trying to get started, and some people got the itch um and they got the bug, but they haven't got started yet. 00:31:05.359 --> 00:31:10.240 What are some uh um you know, advice and things that you would have for them? 00:31:10.400 --> 00:31:14.480 And and a lot, and I also open the floor just for you to give some last words. 00:31:14.720 --> 00:31:21.920 So a lot of, especially if they're veterans, a lot of what we're missing when we leave the service is is systems and structure. 00:31:22.160 --> 00:31:34.319 Finding someone to be accountable to, especially when you're doing this, especially when you're when you you decide you want to be an entrepreneur, you're you're accountable to the customer, but it's hard to show up if you're not accountable to yourself. 00:31:34.559 --> 00:31:37.759 So for me, we talked about it before we started. 00:31:37.920 --> 00:31:39.680 I don't use the title CEO. 00:31:39.839 --> 00:31:44.160 I give the title CEO to God because that helps me stay accountable. 00:31:44.319 --> 00:31:47.680 So if I feel like I'm reported to God, I'm working for God. 00:31:47.839 --> 00:31:59.039 So that gives me, especially because I do these these weekly meetings, and then if you're familiar with project management, I do like a daily scrum where even though it's two or three minutes, I'll list off a couple of the things. 00:31:59.200 --> 00:32:02.799 And what I do, I speak this into Chat GPT too, to kind of like map it out. 00:32:02.880 --> 00:32:03.839 And it helps me. 00:32:04.000 --> 00:32:05.680 I'll put, I'll have a chat for Scrum. 00:32:06.000 --> 00:32:07.519 I'll speak into certain tasks. 00:32:07.599 --> 00:32:15.599 Hey, Monday I did this, Tuesday I did this, this, and then I'll take that, consolidate it, and then I'll put it into my weekly meet and chat with God. 00:32:15.759 --> 00:32:25.680 And then that gives me like some of like my overview and kind of helps me keep structure and helps me, okay, I should probably focus on this this week. 00:32:26.079 --> 00:32:31.519 But having that structure helps you because it gives you someone to be accountable to. 00:32:31.599 --> 00:32:35.680 A lot of times people like, I want to do this, but I just have to I have a hard time showing up. 00:32:35.759 --> 00:32:39.119 You you have a hard time showing up because you feel like you're not accountable to someone. 00:32:39.200 --> 00:32:40.960 You just it's almost like a hobby. 00:32:41.039 --> 00:32:44.720 And if it's just a hobby, you're not showing up the way you need to. 00:32:44.799 --> 00:32:52.240 You're not basically performing like the way you can, you know you can, but it's just hard to get that structure, that system going for yourself. 00:32:52.400 --> 00:32:56.400 So I would say, uh, to anyone looking to get into it, find a structure. 00:32:56.559 --> 00:32:59.680 Find a way to, because you can say it all day, I'm going to the gym. 00:32:59.759 --> 00:33:02.480 And then you know you're supposed to go to the gym, but you don't go to the gym. 00:33:02.640 --> 00:33:03.440 Shoot, I do it now. 00:33:03.519 --> 00:33:09.119 I've I've been slacking the last couple months I was on it, but like the last few weeks because of the holidays and stuff, I I've fallen off. 00:33:09.200 --> 00:33:10.240 I gotta get back on it. 00:33:10.400 --> 00:33:19.359 But uh having that for me, having the higher power that I'm working for helps me keep that structure to keep accountability to myself and the business as well, you know? 00:33:19.519 --> 00:33:20.559 No, that's really good. 00:33:20.720 --> 00:33:31.759 And definitely you bringing up the structure with kind of treating it like a scrum and just ensuring that everything that you're doing is aligned in your your sprint and your sprint in life, right? 00:33:32.000 --> 00:33:36.880 So like when you do that, and that type of structure, man, will definitely keep you driven. 00:33:36.960 --> 00:33:43.359 I I appreciate you for sharing that because I never thought to apply that, you know, outside of the structure that I use it in now. 00:33:43.519 --> 00:33:48.640 But I mean, if I did use that type of structure, I would be on Glypath every single time. 00:33:48.720 --> 00:33:49.200 That was dope. 00:33:49.440 --> 00:33:49.920 Thank you for sharing that. 00:33:50.079 --> 00:33:50.480 Yes, sir. 00:33:50.640 --> 00:33:51.200 Yes, sir. 00:33:51.279 --> 00:33:51.920 No problem. 00:33:53.119 --> 00:33:56.079 So before we get out of here, how do the people get a hold of you? 00:33:56.160 --> 00:33:56.960 What's your socials? 00:33:57.039 --> 00:33:58.400 How do they get some of the gear? 00:33:58.480 --> 00:34:00.000 How do they get some of the resources? 00:34:00.240 --> 00:34:08.800 So our website for the resources is Alpha VI Battalion, Alpha6, but Roman Numero 6Battalion.com.

00:34:08.960 --> 00:34:12.880 Our store is alpha6 battalion.store. 00:34:13.119 --> 00:34:15.679 Same thing from the website, uh, the main website. 00:34:15.840 --> 00:34:20.400 You could get to the store, you can find the resources, you can find some of the things we have in the pipeline. 00:34:20.480 --> 00:34:25.119 Our social media, same thing, Instagram, TikTok, Alpha VI Battalion. 00:34:25.199 --> 00:34:26.320 You'll see our character. 00:34:26.480 --> 00:34:28.400 We got our character, Alpha Wolf. 00:34:28.480 --> 00:34:29.679 I created this character. 00:34:29.840 --> 00:34:31.440 It's almost like a like a G.I. 00:34:31.599 --> 00:34:34.480 Joe-esque universe I'm building with the characters that I have. 00:34:34.639 --> 00:34:43.440 Everybody is like various veterans, but the wolf, I made it, I made it a wolf to represent the brotherhood from the military, the wolf pack, right? 00:34:43.760 --> 00:34:50.800 There's even units, one of the uh She Vens with her daughter at VGA, and she said her unit in the Air Force was called the Wolf Pack. 00:34:50.880 --> 00:34:54.400 So she she bought one of my first uh Alpha Wolf hoodies. 00:34:54.480 --> 00:35:00.079 Uh at the time, I didn't even have an idea to like use him or to even make him. 00:35:00.159 --> 00:35:04.239 I just did a random hoodie with a wolf on it, and she's like, Oh, I like that. 00:35:04.320 --> 00:35:06.079 That our unit was called the Wolf Pack. 00:35:06.159 --> 00:35:09.599 And then I was like, you know, that kind of like started getting the gears turning. 00:35:09.760 --> 00:35:18.000 Yeah, and then I ended up coming up with the character that represents the veteran getting out of the military, and he's in awkward civilian situations, you know. 00:35:18.159 --> 00:35:24.000 A lot of what you'll see is random adventures that, you know, some of it is bringing our our designs to life. 00:35:24.079 --> 00:35:26.400 Not everything is like transition related. 00:35:26.559 --> 00:35:37.280 A lot of it is just for comedy, a lot of it is just for um, you know, laughs and giggles and bringing our ideas to life, like some of our Halloween characters ended up, you know, hunting my boy. 00:35:37.440 --> 00:35:37.679 No. 00:35:38.480 --> 00:35:44.480 And, you know, he did something that pissed someone off, and then all of a sudden he has these bounty hunters after him, you know. 00:35:44.719 --> 00:35:55.679 So um you'll see a lot of him on our social media, but there's a lot of videos where he's explaining various things, and it seems like comedy, but it's actual like real life scenarios. 00:35:55.760 --> 00:36:01.440 You know, I I did a video where all uh a couple of the consolidated stories that I got from people buying houses. 00:36:01.519 --> 00:36:07.119 They bought a house, all the water was turned off in the house, except for the half bathroom. 00:36:07.199 --> 00:36:13.119 And people probably think uh searching the house or when they're inspecting the house, this is only to save

water, right? 00:36:13.280 --> 00:36:17.199 But when they closed on the house, they turned all in the water throughout the house, the house flooded. 00:36:17.280 --> 00:36:19.039 So I did a video about that, you know? 00:36:19.199 --> 00:36:20.000 I did a video. 00:36:20.159 --> 00:36:33.440 We had before we moved here uh from Laurent our AC seized, and um the part ended up being 17 years old, which was out of, you know, out of circulation, decommissioned or discontinued. 00:36:33.599 --> 00:36:42.960 So I did a video about that, you know, him complaining about old ACs, you're buying a house, and now you know you find out you to in order to repair it, you need a brand new one. 00:36:43.360 --> 00:36:49.519 So I use him to to to paint a lot of our our real life scenarios in a comical way. 00:36:49.679 --> 00:36:55.840 And it's been reaching a lot of people, probably will never even entertain anything veteran-related, America-related. 00:36:55.920 --> 00:37:05.760 They see it, you know, but they're they're getting these real life stories from this character's perspective, and they're like, oh damn, you know, in their mind, they're probably thinking, and they're sticking around. 00:37:05.840 --> 00:37:07.280 So I know it's resonating with them. 00:37:07.360 --> 00:37:09.840 You know, they might not all comment or say something. 00:37:10.000 --> 00:37:15.920 I got a couple of loyal people that's constantly speaking and saying things and sending me messages, and you know, we go back and forth. 00:37:16.079 --> 00:37:25.440 But for the majority of them, you know, they're they're getting a dose of the 6% that they probably never would have thought of before because of the character that we're using. 00:37:25.599 --> 00:37:27.840 You know, like I said, he's the only wolf. 00:37:27.920 --> 00:37:35.039 Everybody else is there's a couple other characters that are animals, but you know, we have just regular humans amongst them, you know. 00:37:35.199 --> 00:37:42.159 And like I said, it's kind of like an old school 90 street sharks vibe that I'm kind of depicting here. 00:37:42.239 --> 00:37:52.639 You know, it's wacky and funny scenarios, but ultimately it's pushing like real, real issues, especially when I was talking to the the 22 a day uh scenario. 00:37:52.719 --> 00:38:05.199 And, you know, again, people that would never even begin to entertain the plight of a veteran or even under begin to even care or understand anything about us or tune it in and learning things that they probably would have never thought of in their life. 00:38:05.519 --> 00:38:06.639 No, I love that. 00:38:06.719 --> 00:38:12.239 After we shut down the show, I I have a not really an idea, but it did spark is an idea. 00:38:12.400 --> 00:38:15.119 But it sparks something when you said something about the character. 00:38:15.280 --> 00:38:21.199 So I'll just kind of put a bug in your ear and maybe you can use that bug to kind of reset some of the stories as well. 00:38:21.440 --> 00:38:21.840 Yeah. 00:38:22.000 --> 00:38:22.880 Definitely, Bob. 00:38:23.039 --> 00:38:24.480 Definitely appreciate you sharing that. 00:38:24.639 --> 00:38:28.480 Definitely appreciate you for sharing your time um and experience with us. 00:38:28.800 --> 00:38:31.360 Truly appreciate you uh taking the time out. 00:38:31.599 --> 00:38:32.320 Yeah, no doubt. 00:38:32.400 --> 00:38:33.199 Well, appreciate that. 00:38:33.280 --> 00:38:34.320 Uh nail throws. 00:38:34.719 --> 00:38:35.920 Definitely open to any ideas. 00:38:36.000 --> 00:38:43.119 I tell people all the time if they have an idea, if they have a various, you know, military scenario they want me to do a video about, well, send me a comment. 00:38:43.280 --> 00:38:47.760 Drop me a uh drop me a comment, send me a message, hey, do a video about this. 00:38:47.920 --> 00:39:00.000 It might take me a while because sometimes dealing with the AI can be a little wonky, but I'll get to it and then I'll I'll make sure to do it in a funny way to make sure it brings light to the situation, but also some humor. 00:39:00.480 --> 00:39:00.960 Sure. 00:39:01.920 --> 00:39:03.119 Appreciate you, brother. 00:39:03.280 --> 00:39:07.440 Hey, Donnell, how can people find VGA? 00:39:07.679 --> 00:39:14.079 Well, we before we get into that, let's talk to them a little bit about Coach R L and and and what you offer to the table. 00:39:14.159 --> 00:39:15.519 So let's talk a little bit about that. 00:39:15.599 --> 00:39:16.480 Tell them about you. 00:39:16.880 --> 00:39:17.440 I love that. 00:39:17.519 --> 00:39:20.239 Thank you for allowing me to share this platform as always. 00:39:20.480 --> 00:39:27.519 I help people individualize and personalize and understand their finances simply. 00:39:27.760 --> 00:39:29.519 I break everything down simply. 00:39:29.679 --> 00:39:34.719 My favorite thing to do in coaching is to be the translator of everything that you hear. 00:39:34.800 --> 00:39:44.159 So some of the things you see on social media, some of the ideas you have, and a lot of us haven't even had financial literacy anywhere, not in our curriculums in high school, not in college. 00:39:44.400 --> 00:39:50.400 You're definitely not, I'm not gonna say definitely, but most likely not gonna get it when you're enlisted unless you go out and seek it. 00:39:50.559 --> 00:39:53.280 And those are the things that I like to provide. 00:39:53.519 --> 00:39:58.960 In fact, I am pushing out the 2026 curriculum in March. 00:39:59.199 --> 00:40:03.199 In March, brand new book is called Growth Over Average Thinking. 00:40:03.360 --> 00:40:08.159 It's a money mindset book that is going to be on fire. 00:40:08.559 --> 00:40:09.679 Back to you, Donnell. 00:40:09.920 --> 00:40:15.039 So uh before we get into VGA, I did want to shout out Alpha 6 Battalion for this hoodie. 00:40:15.119 --> 00:40:15.679 Check this out. 00:40:15.760 --> 00:40:30.400 So it has my last name on there, the United States Army on here, the VGA logo over

the heart, has Veterans Growing America on the sleeves, the rank I retired at, and then on the back it says leaders, it says heroes, it says entrepreneurs, and it says human beings. 00:40:30.559 --> 00:40:34.880 And uh this was an idea that I had, and I would just I just brought it to Jonathan. 00:40:35.039 --> 00:40:42.480 I was like, man, I would love to have a have a hoodie that represents my time and service and my organization. 00:40:42.559 --> 00:40:43.920 Um and he brought it to life. 00:40:44.079 --> 00:40:47.119 So thank you, Jonathan, for bringing this to life. 00:40:47.360 --> 00:40:51.280 Every time somebody sees it, they're like, I gotta get my VGA hoodie like that. 00:40:51.519 --> 00:40:58.239 And so if y'all want to get a hoodie like this, y'all gotta go to Alpha 6 Battalion uh and they can they can mock it up for you. 00:40:58.320 --> 00:41:08.719 Uh and it doesn't have to be Army on there, it could be Air Force or whatever uh branch of service that you served at, but Alpha 6 Battalion is the one that uh created this hoodie. 00:41:08.880 --> 00:41:11.599 And uh we want to just thank y'all for doing that. 00:41:11.920 --> 00:41:12.480 Yes, sir. 00:41:12.639 --> 00:41:12.960 Yes, sir. 00:41:13.119 --> 00:41:13.519 I love that. 00:41:13.679 --> 00:41:14.239 Appreciate it. 00:41:14.320 --> 00:41:18.880 You you gave me the idea, took a little bit of time, but we got it ironed out, and it looks good. 00:41:19.119 --> 00:41:20.159 Yeah, it looks good. 00:41:20.639 --> 00:41:22.159 It looks real, real good. 00:41:22.559 --> 00:41:25.840 And so, how do people get in touch with VGA and get involved? 00:41:26.000 --> 00:41:36.960 So, number one, I want y'all to go to my uh website, veteransgrowingamerica.com, and go to our directory because you'll find more businesses like Alpha Six Battalion and Coach R.L. 00:41:37.039 --> 00:41:44.000 Simmons, where they're putting out information that they found not only their business, but the type of stuff that they have to offer. 00:41:44.159 --> 00:41:45.920 In addition to that, visit our store. 00:41:46.159 --> 00:41:55.360 We have a store in Wheelbridge, Virginia, where we showcase veteran and military spouse entrepreneurs, and we have tons of events where you can come out and support entrepreneurship from our community. 00:41:55.519 --> 00:42:00.079 And when you walk through those doors, bring your wallet because we want you to shop, baby. 00:42:00.320 --> 00:42:01.440 Sha, baby. 00:42:01.679 --> 00:42:02.960 Sha, baby. 00:42:03.280 --> 00:42:05.920 We appreciate you, Jonathan, for uh being here. 00:42:06.079 --> 00:42:10.320 Thank you for taking time to be on the Veterans Growing America podcast. 00:42:10.480 --> 00:42:13.280 It's an honor to be able to showcase the work that you do. 00:42:13.440 --> 00:42:17.599 And by the way, the wolf, we were the wolf pack uh in my basic training unit. 00:42:17.760 --> 00:42:21.199 So yeah, it was seeing that, yeah. 00:42:22.000 --> 00:42:27.599 That's another reason why I came up with him, because you know, people that get out, you know, they want to be a lone wolf. 00:42:27.679 --> 00:42:30.000 It's like, you know, come back to the pack, you know. 00:42:30.159 --> 00:42:32.159 Yeah, come back to the package as a pack. 00:42:32.400 --> 00:42:38.400 Whether it's one or two veterans that buddies that you have, you're stronger together than you are navigating through life alone. 00:42:38.559 --> 00:42:38.800 Yeah. 00:42:39.039 --> 00:42:39.519 Well done. 00:42:40.159 --> 00:42:42.800 Well, again, thank you for your time, Donnell. 00:42:42.960 --> 00:42:44.639 Thank you for sharing the platform. 00:42:45.039 --> 00:42:47.280 We are over and out. 00:42:48.400 --> 00:42:48.960 Appreciate it. 00:42:49.199 --> 00:42:50.000 You already know.