Full Transcript for Casey Maxted on Veteran Entrepreneurship, Warrior Rising, and Building a Mission Beyond the Military | Security Halt! Podcast Ep. 455

doing now, but where it all started, man, because it's one thing to say, yeah, I was a green beret, then I became, you know, part of the FBI, then I went and became an entrepreneur. 00:02:16.319 --> 00:02:18.960 But it's like we have to be able to honor the entire journey, dude. 00:02:19.039 --> 00:02:21.120 So I want to dive into that whole thing. 00:02:21.199 --> 00:02:25.680 And what better way to kick it off than how did you find yourself as a Green Beret? 00:02:26.560 --> 00:02:29.840 Yeah, well, first of all, Denny, thanks for having me on here. 00:02:29.919 --> 00:02:32.879 And it's such an honor to be your teammate now. 00:02:32.960 --> 00:02:38.879 It's uh you came on here this year with Warrior Rising, and it's been so great to get to know you. 00:02:38.960 --> 00:02:46.800 We just did a trip to Normandy together, really uh got to know you really well there, and I'm just excited that we're on the same team now. 00:02:47.280 --> 00:02:50.639 Honestly, it makes me wish that we would have been teammates back in the day. 00:02:50.719 --> 00:02:52.719 I would have loved to been on a team with you. 00:02:52.879 --> 00:02:57.759 So um but to answer your question, like how how did I become a Green Beret? 00:02:58.240 --> 00:03:01.759 Um I was in college on 9-11. 00:03:01.919 --> 00:03:11.759 Um back in, I grew up in Iowa, went to college here, and uh I didn't really have a direction, didn't know exactly what I wanted to do when I was in college. 00:03:11.840 --> 00:03:19.840 I was just kind of like going through all the gen ed stuff, and I honestly was looking for the for the quickest way out the door. 00:03:19.919 --> 00:03:22.080 I didn't really care what my degree was in. 00:03:22.479 --> 00:03:26.960 And um, I was working at UPS and playing college football at the same time. 00:03:27.120 --> 00:03:31.680 I would go in in the mornings and load trucks at like four or five in the morning. 00:03:31.759 --> 00:03:38.159 I can't remember what, but um, on 9-11, um I went into my job. 00:03:38.319 --> 00:03:46.080 I got home at like I think 7:30 or something in the morning, can't remember, but it was really the first day that I ever went home and flipped on a television after work. 00:03:46.159 --> 00:03:49.199 I usually would just go back and sleep for a minute. 00:03:49.360 --> 00:03:54.479 Um, flipped on the TV and saw what was happening uh in New York. 00:03:55.120 --> 00:03:58.159 And I was, you know, a young college kid. 00:03:58.319 --> 00:04:02.879 I was, you know, shocked and like, you know, what's going on, all the things. 00:04:03.439 --> 00:04:06.800 Um my grandma had a huge part in raising me. 00:04:06.960 --> 00:04:17.040 So that day I remember I went outside, jumped in my car, and I was gonna drive home to just sit with her and make sure she was okay and all those things. 00:04:17.279 --> 00:04:19.439 And I was gassing my car up. 00:04:19.920 --> 00:04:22.240 I was in the Quad Cities, eastern Iowa. 00:04:22.639 --> 00:04:29.600 And uh while I was gassing my car up, if you remember that day they grounded all the flights, so there was no screens in the sky. 00:04:29.839 --> 00:04:40.319 Um, filling my car up with gas, and I looked up in the sky, and right over my head was Air Force One with a fighter jet escort, flew right over me. 00:04:40.560 --> 00:04:42.879 And like I instantly made the decision. 00:04:42.959 --> 00:04:45.279 I'm like, I'm signing up for the military. 00:04:45.600 --> 00:04:49.439 And so I it no, no lie, man. 00:04:49.519 --> 00:04:52.959 It just hit me all at once, and I was like, this is what I want to do. 00:04:53.120 --> 00:04:55.920 And so shortly thereafter, I went and signed up. 00:04:56.079 --> 00:04:58.480 They put me on a delayed entry program. 00:04:59.040 --> 00:05:07.199 Uh, so I finished my degree, and the day after graduation I left for basic and I went in with an Army Ranger contract. 00:05:07.600 --> 00:05:10.560 Um, so rip, all those things. 00:05:10.720 --> 00:05:23.199 And when I was in airborne school, they had this SF guy come by and he's like, hey, like a bunch of dudes bailed um on like uh can't remember the 18 x-ray contract. 00:05:23.360 --> 00:05:24.720 I need a couple guys. 00:05:25.120 --> 00:05:29.600 Gave us the spiel, and I was like, Yeah, well, that sounds really cool. 00:05:29.839 --> 00:05:39.839 Um, so I jumped on it and one thing led to another and ended up in selection and that and then um ended up that first group. 00:05:40.879 --> 00:05:43.279 Dude, that's a lot to glance over. 00:05:45.839 --> 00:05:50.720 I think the audience knows everything that it takes to go through that process, and it's not easy, man. 00:05:50.800 --> 00:06:04.639 It's not easy, especially when you're you're an athlete, you're from a part of America that has a strong community, a strong sense of service, a strong sense of being part of something bigger. 00:06:04.879 --> 00:06:11.759 I I was blown away by the caliber of people that were coming out of Iowa. 00:06:12.240 --> 00:06:20.560 The amount of people that truly love veterans, that want to help our nation get better, and that's a lot to walk away from. 00:06:20.639 --> 00:06:27.839 That's a lot of people in the community that love and support you, and to be willing to say, like, all right, I'm going to go serve. 00:06:28.000 --> 00:06:30.959 I'm gonna put, I'm gonna put it in, I'm gonna put it on the line. 00:06:31.120 --> 00:06:35.199 Like, that's a lot of Americans in that time period that chose to do the same thing. 00:06:35.360 --> 00:06:40.000 But I gotta imagine it was very difficult to bring that up to mom and pop. 00:06:40.560 --> 00:06:42.000 My mom was not happy. 00:06:42.079 --> 00:06:44.560 Um, I have a few funny stories from this. 00:06:44.800 --> 00:06:50.480 So, number one, you're talking about the patriotism that comes out of the state of Iowa, and it really is, man. 00:06:50.639 --> 00:07:00.079 Like I grew up uh idolizing the guys in my community, small town of 6,000,

World War II veterans, Vietnam veterans. 00:07:00.160 --> 00:07:05.360 I mean, I look up to those guys and could reach out and be like, hey, tell me your stories, those type of things. 00:07:05.439 --> 00:07:06.560 And they would. 00:07:06.720 --> 00:07:18.800 And there were some incredible ones, but one thing that sticks out to me too when I think back on it now that I think is pretty incredible, um, my class was like a class of a hundred-ish, right? 00:07:19.279 --> 00:07:27.040 And my one of my good buddies uh became a Green Beret with me, and he also joined the FBI with me. 00:07:27.279 --> 00:07:34.959 And then a third, a third schoolmate ended up uh it was a Navy SEAL, and he's still in uh on a team. 00:07:35.120 --> 00:07:36.319 He's an officer now. 00:07:36.480 --> 00:07:50.399 Um, so from my tiny little stool, not only did we have a number of veterans, but we had three guys that are kind of like, you know, in that special operations family, network brotherhood, whatever you want to call it. 00:07:50.560 --> 00:07:54.160 Um, I think when you when you really think about it, that's pretty incredible. 00:07:54.240 --> 00:08:04.800 I mean, there's pictures of us in Little League together, like, you know, in our little chmucking hats, you know, um, skinny little kids, and then, you know, that's where we end up. 00:08:04.879 --> 00:08:06.720 I think that's a pretty cool thing. 00:08:06.959 --> 00:08:10.639 Um, my mom was none too pleased when I signed up. 00:08:11.120 --> 00:08:16.160 Um, and honestly, it made it tough for me because I knew how hard it was. 00:08:16.319 --> 00:08:36.080 And uh I'm gonna give my mom credit though, because when I left, um I literally left the day after I graduated college, and I would I remember flying to at Lingana and getting on this bus to go to Fort Benny, and I pulled a payphone or picked up a payphone and I called my mom and I was like, mom, I think I made a mistake. 00:08:36.159 --> 00:08:37.279 How do I get out of this? 00:08:37.440 --> 00:08:42.960 And she basically told me, stop being a bitch, and like hung up the phone on me. 00:08:43.279 --> 00:08:51.360 Now the great thing, the great thing that happened was it really was the conversation was you made a commitment, honor it. 00:08:51.600 --> 00:08:54.960 And it snapped me back like into focus. 00:08:55.120 --> 00:08:58.960 I hung it up, got on the bus, and like best decision I ever made. 00:08:59.120 --> 00:09:08.000 Uh, and it took a lot of guts, I'm a shirt for my mom, because I have kids now, I know it's gotta be incredibly hard to send your, especially like the era that we were kind of in. 00:09:08.320 --> 00:09:12.240 You know what's up, and um you know, she was tough. 00:09:12.399 --> 00:09:17.039 And she told me yesterday, she's uh we were just talking about this stuff, and she's like, I struggled. 00:09:17.200 --> 00:09:22.159 She's like, I had anxiety and all these things, and so it's hard on them, right? 00:09:22.480 --> 00:09:27.440 But always had support from them, support from teachers, support from friends. 00:09:27.679 --> 00:09:39.759 Um I grew up with a guy who he had an 18 X-ray contract, he went with me, he ended up in the 82nd, but we uh we were in basic at the same time. 00:09:39.919 --> 00:09:44.000 Like he was my high school quarterback, I was a receiver, we played basketball, baseball, all of it. 00:09:44.080 --> 00:09:45.120 He's one of my best friends. 00:09:45.200 --> 00:09:46.559 He's my college roommate. 00:09:47.039 --> 00:09:52.480 And uh I would always see him at basic down in Benning, and we would just start laughing. 00:09:52.559 --> 00:10:03.679 I mean, so I always had like this great support system, and I've always had like things I can fall back on and feel like, you know, like home's not that far away, I'm good, whatever. 00:10:03.840 --> 00:10:04.159 You know. 00:10:04.399 --> 00:10:04.720 Yeah. 00:10:05.200 --> 00:10:06.240 Dude, so true. 00:10:06.320 --> 00:10:21.840 We a lot of people think that if you're not part of the veteran community and you're, you know, a champion and and from the outside looking in, people tend tend to think it's a it's a journey that's solitary with with pockets of friends. 00:10:21.919 --> 00:10:34.639 And it's like, no, you the entire thing is earmarked, pockmarked with individuals that pour into your cup to fill you with strength when you're not doing well, or give you that gut check to stay in the fight and keep going. 00:10:34.879 --> 00:10:39.279 And and you know, looking back to to selection, I guarantee you had it there. 00:10:39.519 --> 00:10:45.039 That one or two guys that you could look at and be like, all right, he's not quitting, I'm not quitting. 00:10:45.360 --> 00:10:45.840 Yeah. 00:10:46.240 --> 00:10:52.480 There's a point, so it's interesting, and when you talk about selection and stuff, like it's physically difficult. 00:10:52.639 --> 00:11:01.039 And I felt like at the beginning, it was like, okay, I can do this, like I I can tough it out, I can recover quickly, all the things. 00:11:01.440 --> 00:11:11.200 But there you get to a certain point in the training where you're you've developed like such strong relationships with people that you're like, I'm not leaving this person, like I know they're not gonna quit on me. 00:11:11.360 --> 00:11:18.159 And it and it you're and that I think that's the whole point, you know, that's a big part of the course is the team aspect of it. 00:11:18.320 --> 00:11:24.000 And you know, you're fighting or uh battling with the guy in your left and your right, and there's something to that. 00:11:24.159 --> 00:11:27.600 And I I just got to a certain point where I was like, I'm not gonna quit on this person. 00:11:27.679 --> 00:11:31.120 And it's funny because you talk about those one or two people. 00:11:31.440 --> 00:11:49.759 Those one or two people to me are Ben and Jason, who were at Warrior Rising with now, those guys were in selection and the Q course with me, and

it's just it's it is nuts to think that 25 years later or whatever it is right now, that we're still together. 00:11:49.919 --> 00:11:56.000 Uh Jason and I's friendship started out on me being bored and wanting somebody to talk to you. 00:11:56.159 --> 00:11:58.320 Um, he walked by, I'm like, hey, do I know you? 00:11:58.480 --> 00:12:00.240 Fully knowing that I didn't know him. 00:12:00.480 --> 00:12:02.240 I just wanted a conversation. 00:12:02.399 --> 00:12:04.960 We started that conversation and never stopped. 00:12:05.039 --> 00:12:06.399 We've been friends ever since. 00:12:06.720 --> 00:12:11.519 Ben, uh Ben was in the Echo course with me, selection, all the things. 00:12:11.759 --> 00:12:23.440 Ben has a very distinct personality, and I I did not like him off the get-go because Ben's personality contributed to a lot of our pain and suffering. 00:12:23.840 --> 00:12:31.279 But after a while in the course and getting to know him, we became friends and now we're kind of like uh I'll say inseparable. 00:12:31.440 --> 00:12:33.679 Like he's he's my he's my best bud. 00:12:33.919 --> 00:12:38.399 Like we, you know, you see you've seen us at work together. 00:12:38.559 --> 00:12:40.399 We have a very unique relationship. 00:12:40.639 --> 00:12:47.039 If people walked into our meetings never knowing or never having met us, they'd be like, what is going on here? 00:12:47.360 --> 00:12:48.639 These guys are insane. 00:12:48.879 --> 00:12:58.000 But if you if you've been a part of it and you know the relationship, it just it's like one of those things where you just laugh and kind of it's it's what works for us, right? 00:12:58.159 --> 00:13:00.720 So yeah, it's a great dynamic. 00:13:00.799 --> 00:13:02.879 It's a great dynamic and it speaks. 00:13:03.039 --> 00:13:06.000 Um, I I can't stress it enough. 00:13:06.320 --> 00:13:07.919 Building the right team. 00:13:08.240 --> 00:13:17.679 Like I am, I am blessed to have met Triple Nickel at MIC all those years back, 20, 2021, 2022, 2021. 00:13:17.840 --> 00:13:39.679 Meeting Ruben Ayala, seeing the team that he created and built with Christopher McPhee, like that helped me understand that the the teammates you have in service, the people that you serve with, they can be the greatest asset you have for the rest of your life in every endeavor that you're going into. 00:13:39.759 --> 00:13:46.639 If you're building something, these are the individuals you can lean on or go to with an idea to create it. 00:13:46.799 --> 00:13:52.960 And then seeing that same mentality, seeing the same approach at Warrior Rising, it solidified that. 00:13:53.279 --> 00:14:00.960 It's important to understand that you're not in this fight alone while you're in, and certainly not in it alone when you're on the outside. 00:14:01.200 --> 00:14:09.919 Like, and it and it now like I it brings to mind that that one hurtful thing that every green beret and every service member is going to go through. 00:14:10.080 --> 00:14:22.960

When you get to the point where you're gonna walk away from the career, it is the hardest thing to take off that beret or that tab and uniform and go off into no matter what you go into, it's still difficult. 00:14:23.200 --> 00:14:26.159 When you made that decision, like take us through that. 00:14:26.240 --> 00:14:30.080 Like, why did you say, all right, I've had enough being a green beret? 00:14:31.279 --> 00:14:39.279 So that's a tough thing to answer for me because I didn't have the career that a lot of my colleagues had, so to speak, in the NSF. 00:14:39.360 --> 00:14:40.960 Like I was in first group. 00:14:41.200 --> 00:14:47.759 When I got there, the battalion I got assigned to had just returned, and we didn't have the op temple that other folks had. 00:14:47.840 --> 00:14:52.000 I did a lot of J sets and things like that, going in and out of Southeast Asia. 00:14:52.080 --> 00:14:58.720 So I got like the traditional, maybe pre-9-11 experience of being in Green Beret. 00:14:59.440 --> 00:15:05.840 And that's something that's bothered me over the years, but um I had an opportunity. 00:15:06.000 --> 00:15:17.200 Um, I met some guys when I was overseas, and uh, you know, I think it was I can't remember, I think I was in the Philippines, and they said, hey, like you should consider applying at the FBI, here's why. 00:15:17.440 --> 00:15:31.840 And I did, and uh, I didn't think anything of it, and sure enough, they picked me up, signed it up at the FBI, and I actually deployed more as an FBI agent with special forces and the SEAL teams than I did when I was actually in. 00:15:32.320 --> 00:15:38.000 So that was a tough ish to scratch, and and still today I don't know that I got the whole experience. 00:15:38.159 --> 00:15:51.360 I will tell you this um there is no uh job team brotherhood like there is in the NSF, or maybe the Rangers and SEAL teams, or just the military in general. 00:15:51.440 --> 00:15:53.200 I never found it anywhere else. 00:15:53.360 --> 00:15:56.480 I thought maybe the Bureau would be a place like that. 00:15:56.639 --> 00:16:07.440 And I think when you're in law enforcement, maybe SWAT teams, HRT, things like that, you can find that brotherhood, but in general, in the Bureau, no, it's not there. 00:16:07.600 --> 00:16:10.159 Um, so it's something that I always missed. 00:16:10.559 --> 00:16:22.799 Um so that that transition was difficult, but it was I also um, you know, when uh looking at things holistically now and the experiences my friends have had, I had a plan. 00:16:23.039 --> 00:16:28.000 And so I executed that plan when I left the military. 00:16:28.240 --> 00:16:31.440 And so I didn't go through the struggles that a lot of people go through. 00:16:31.519 --> 00:16:34.399 And I think it's important, I think it's important to have a plan. 00:16:34.559 --> 00:16:47.360 And a matter of fact, my commander, when I was in SF, I had deployed with them as an FBI guy, and he came up and he told me one day, he goes, I never worried about you like I worry about some of the other guys because I know you had a plan. 00:16:47.519 --> 00:16:49.360 I'm so glad to see you here today. 00:16:49.519 --> 00:16:51.039 And that meant a lot to me. 00:16:51.279 --> 00:16:53.440 Um, his name was Mike Lackman. 00:16:53.519 --> 00:16:59.679 I don't know if you know him or not, but um he was a great leader, and I I really uh looked up to him. 00:17:00.399 --> 00:17:09.839 But uh um had a plan, executed it, and got all the things that I wanted to get out of my law enforcement career in that transition period, too. 00:17:10.079 --> 00:17:18.799 And quite frankly, like the the experience I had with SF and SEAL teams and stuff like that as a B-Rail guy, um, I wouldn't trade them for anything. 00:17:19.039 --> 00:17:20.000 They were great. 00:17:20.160 --> 00:17:22.400 Um, I got to work a case. 00:17:22.640 --> 00:17:29.440 Uh uh two of my buddies, well, two of my uh buddies from First Group were killed in a bombing in the Philippines. 00:17:29.599 --> 00:17:36.400 One of them was actually a friend of mine, the other one I didn't know, but I can obviously consider him a brother, Chris Shaw and Jack Martin. 00:17:36.559 --> 00:17:42.000 I got to work that case and have an impact on bringing some of the people responsible for that to justice. 00:17:42.160 --> 00:17:45.920 And that that I you can't replace that feeling. 00:17:46.079 --> 00:17:55.759 You know, walking into a prison cell in the southern Philippines and interrogating a guy that's responsible for killing one of your buddies, I'll never forget the look on their face. 00:17:55.920 --> 00:17:57.920 And that just meant so much to me. 00:17:58.160 --> 00:18:11.920 So to the veterans out there that are going through this transition period and stuff like that, as long as you have a plan and and make the steps to execute it, that's a huge thing in making your transition successful. 00:18:12.240 --> 00:18:23.599 Um, and then just to go a little bit deeper, uh, Danny, one of the things uh I was on an eight-man ODA, uh, and two of my buddies died uh are passed on both to suicide. 00:18:23.759 --> 00:18:32.000 And when I went to the services for them, uh the the common thread was loss of purpose, loss of community. 00:18:32.319 --> 00:18:38.559 And so I when I was talking to parents and one of their brothers, I was like, what could we have done? 00:18:38.880 --> 00:18:45.519 And um just coincidentally, Jason had started Warrior Rising at that time, and I was like, this is the answer. 00:18:45.599 --> 00:18:52.640 I'm like, community, the Warrior Rising community and network, purpose, purpose through business ownership. 00:18:52.720 --> 00:18:54.400 I'm like, I can get behind this. 00:18:54.640 --> 00:19:07.519 And what was started off as just kind of a passion project that turned into something that I just became obsessed with and now do full time, and and that's really when you boil down the why, that's why I do it. 00:19:07.599 -->

00:19:19.359 I do it in honor of my two teammates, and I try to prevent what happened to them from happening to anybody else by giving them an opportunity, and and that's why I do it. 00:19:19.680 --> 00:19:20.079 Yeah. 00:19:20.319 --> 00:19:37.599 Now I want to pause and I want to dive into that a little bit deeper because I've been in this fight for a while now, and I always address mind, body, and spirit, and I talk about the mental health resilience that we need to build within ourselves and the importance of being vulnerable and asking for help. 00:19:37.920 --> 00:19:47.039 And people always forget that that's directly tied to the financial burdens that veterans are going to experience when they're transitioning out. 00:19:47.359 --> 00:19:53.440 We can't just continue with the idea that if I take a guy fishing, it's gonna save him for the rest of his life. 00:19:53.680 --> 00:19:55.279 Like it's a great thing. 00:19:55.440 --> 00:20:03.519 It's it there's a place for it, but the reality is he needs and or he or she needs to figure out what they're gonna be doing with their lives. 00:20:03.680 --> 00:20:06.720 Your mission isn't over, it's another chapter. 00:20:07.039 --> 00:20:19.519 And by and large, every transition program that I was presented with never presented something that I was actually passionate about or give me the ability to say, I'm gonna bet on myself. 00:20:19.759 --> 00:20:28.799 Everything was curated towards this demographic or going into this type of sales environment or going into HR or, hey, how about this? 00:20:28.960 --> 00:20:30.880 You can come work for this guy. 00:20:31.119 --> 00:20:33.039 And yeah, maybe I could have done that. 00:20:33.200 --> 00:20:35.440 Maybe I could have been successful in those places. 00:20:35.519 --> 00:20:37.680 And some of my brothers or sisters could have done well. 00:20:37.920 --> 00:20:41.200 But there's a vast majority of veterans that have an idea. 00:20:41.279 --> 00:20:46.480 They have a concept, they want to get into business, but most importantly, they want to bet on themselves. 00:20:46.720 --> 00:20:49.680 They're tired of somebody dictating their future for them. 00:20:49.839 --> 00:20:59.200 And this is the one thing that made me fall in love with Warrior Rising is like there's it's the only person, it's the only entity out there, it's the only nonprofit that's saying, I believe in you. 00:20:59.440 --> 00:21:04.240 You may need some skills, you may need somebody to proofread the business plan. 00:21:04.319 --> 00:21:09.119 But if you're willing to sit in, if you're willing to dial in, if you're willing to sign up, I believe in you. 00:21:09.279 --> 00:21:10.799 And we need more of that, man. 00:21:10.960 --> 00:21:26.319 Like, and and looking at your story, like, I don't know what it takes to build a spirit company or go into a premium vodka space or go into the alcohol business, but like, how did you find yourself building Cold Zero, man? 00:21:26.799 --> 00:21:28.079 So it's interesting. 00:21:28.240 --> 00:21:33.519 Um, I've got my hands in kind of multiple companies, um, startups, stuff like that. 00:21:33.680 --> 00:21:36.960 The spirit one is by by far the most difficult. 00:21:37.200 --> 00:21:39.920 Um, and it's just not a good market today. 00:21:40.079 --> 00:21:46.880 It's there's a lot of things that are stacked against you, but we were able to learn a lot of lessons in building that company. 00:21:47.359 --> 00:21:50.640 Um and honestly, that thing started just kind of off. 00:21:50.960 --> 00:21:51.920 It was a fluke. 00:21:52.000 --> 00:21:54.720 It was somebody asking me to do a beer company. 00:21:54.880 --> 00:21:55.920 I wasn't that interested. 00:21:56.000 --> 00:21:59.759 One thing led to another, long story short, and I partnered with a company. 00:22:00.559 --> 00:22:04.880 Out here in Iowa, a distillery that produces that product for us. 00:22:05.119 --> 00:22:11.039 And my team is all old teammates of mine or friends of mine from the military. 00:22:11.440 --> 00:22:18.799 A couple Medal of Honor recipients, Earl Plum Lee, Leroy Petrie, my buddy Ned from First Group, yeah, Bennin. 00:22:19.519 --> 00:22:22.640 And then my buddy Josh, who's an Air Force veteran. 00:22:22.880 --> 00:22:26.079 But yeah, we just all kind of came together and we're like, let's start this brand. 00:22:26.160 --> 00:22:30.720 And cold zero is something that just kind of came to me one day. 00:22:31.279 --> 00:22:35.200 It was actually a term coined by a hostage rescue team guy from the FBI. 00:22:36.319 --> 00:22:40.960 Your first shot on a cold barrel at the range, wherever that round hits, that's your cold zero. 00:22:41.039 --> 00:22:45.200 So I thought, cold zero is your first shot, first shot at the bar, that type of thing. 00:22:45.599 --> 00:22:47.680 That's where that whole thing kind of came about. 00:22:47.839 --> 00:22:50.079 It's a great brand, a great product. 00:22:50.240 --> 00:22:56.240 I learned a ton because that's really the first time I ever tried building a business, and I learned a lot from failure on that one. 00:22:57.519 --> 00:23:02.000 But, you know, the the you you kind of hit on a couple things you were just talking. 00:23:02.160 --> 00:23:12.079 When you're a veteran coming out of the service, you've got all these great skills that you've built up through your time in the military, put them to use, be a business owner. 00:23:12.160 --> 00:23:14.799 You're kind of predisposed to being a business owner. 00:23:14.960 --> 00:23:22.240 And my thing is like, do you want to go work for somebody else and and support their dream, or do you want to build your own dream? 00:23:22.400 --> 00:23:24.720 I personally would want to build my own dream. 00:23:24.880 --> 00:23:30.319 Um, that's not to say that going out and working for like a you know a great company is a is a bad move. 00:23:30.480 --> 00:23:32.160 Do that if that's what you want to do. 00:23:32.319 --> 00:23:36.000

But if you have like the itch to be an entrepreneur, give yourself that shot. 00:23:36.160 --> 00:23:48.480 And the greatest thing about Warrior Rising, we're in our 11th year now, is that uh believe it or not, uh I'm I love wildlife and and white-tailed deer, especially. 00:23:48.720 --> 00:23:57.440 And I always compare the veteran, yeah, I always compare the veteran entrepreneur to a baby fawn. 00:23:57.680 --> 00:24:05.920 And they kind of they get out of the military and they're kind of trying to get their footing and they're wobbly and they're just like falling into their mom and all that stuff, right? 00:24:06.400 --> 00:24:16.880 Well, they come in and they go through the Warrior Rising program and they learn the skills they need to develop, you know, a business plan, pro forma, they get a mentor, they do all these things that build business, right? 00:24:18.000 --> 00:24:23.119 Almost to a person, they will come back to subsequent events at Warrior Rising. 00:24:23.279 --> 00:24:28.559 And every time I see them, I see them getting a stronger footing, um, more confidence. 00:24:28.720 --> 00:24:36.960 And there's some of the people, like the guys that have been, uh, men and women that have been a part of our program for like 10 years, they come here and they're pros now, right? 00:24:37.039 --> 00:24:39.599 They're the bucks standing in the field, like, what are you doing here? 00:24:39.680 --> 00:24:40.559 Everybody get out. 00:24:40.720 --> 00:24:46.559 You know, it's like that's how I look at them, and it's like you see them get their footing under them, you see them build confidence. 00:24:46.799 --> 00:24:49.519 And at that point, I'm like, they're good, they're gonna be good. 00:24:49.680 --> 00:24:50.319 You know what I mean? 00:24:50.480 --> 00:24:53.279 And that's really that that's the reward for me. 00:24:53.440 --> 00:24:55.599 Like Justin Clapsaddle comes to mind. 00:24:55.680 --> 00:24:58.559 Like he's a nice company, he was out Carolina. 00:24:58.720 --> 00:25:02.880 Um, he was in the first cohort uh at at Warrior Rising. 00:25:03.119 --> 00:25:16.079 He has a thriving business now, and you see the confidence, and and like he's actually passing on the lessons learned now to the new group of veterans that are coming through our program, and that's that's really what I love about it. 00:25:16.799 --> 00:25:17.440 Yeah, you know. 00:25:18.160 --> 00:25:37.119 It's the thing that blows my mind is a lot of us when we start dipping in our toes into that idea of becoming a business owner, we don't necessarily understand what the environment's gonna be like, what what how to build a business plan or or need to see something, a PDSS. 00:25:37.359 --> 00:25:42.880 I always say it's a it the greatest thing about this show, it's a pre-deployment site survey. 00:25:43.039 --> 00:25:48.799 That's what it stands if you guys aren't in the know, uh, to what you can do after military. 00:25:48.960 --> 00:26:10.640 And when you go to Warrior

Rising's website and you look at the previous, you know, community members, the guys that came before you, the guys and gals that came before, and you look at the businesses, it allows you to not just see what the possibilities are, but see a ground, a proven track record of how you can get there. 00:26:10.960 --> 00:26:23.119 Like nobody wants to tell you to bet on yourself and to dream big, but like if you look at the people that have gone through Warrior Rising, it's a mix of different industries, different ideas. 00:26:23.279 --> 00:26:25.519 You got grind ops, toothpaste. 00:26:26.480 --> 00:26:31.039 If you're thinking that you could be the next entrepreneur, that's a first step. 00:26:31.200 --> 00:26:35.920 Go there for inspiration, go there for ideation, go there and look at what other people are doing. 00:26:36.160 --> 00:26:38.240 Like it doesn't have to be one thing. 00:26:38.400 --> 00:26:39.519 You can develop an app. 00:26:40.160 --> 00:26:41.359 You're 100% right. 00:26:41.519 --> 00:26:49.680 We've got toothpaste companies, we've got cookie companies, we've got medical device companies, we've got tech, we've got outdoor industry, it's everything, right? 00:26:50.000 --> 00:27:02.319 And yeah, you know, the this whole thing started uh because a veteran said, you know, uh, I just went on this hunting trip and yada yada, and and we were like, that's awesome. 00:27:02.559 --> 00:27:06.480 And they were like, yeah, but and we're like, well, what's going on? 00:27:06.640 --> 00:27:08.000 You know, what's what's bothering you? 00:27:08.079 --> 00:27:09.279 Well, I want to start a business. 00:27:09.440 --> 00:27:11.200 And we started asking questions. 00:27:11.359 --> 00:27:12.240 Do you have a business plan? 00:27:12.319 --> 00:27:13.119 Do you have a performer? 00:27:13.440 --> 00:27:14.000 What's that? 00:27:14.160 --> 00:27:17.200 And and that's when Jason was like, hey, I can I can help here. 00:27:17.599 --> 00:27:22.079 And that's really what spurred the whole concept of Warrior Rising. 00:27:22.400 --> 00:27:23.680 And, you know, you're good. 00:27:23.920 --> 00:27:30.559 The great thing about for veterans out there that are looking at Warrior Rising, the great thing is like our staff are predominantly veterans, right? 00:27:30.640 --> 00:27:36.240 There's a few that aren't, but they're a law enforcement or they're married to a veteran or one of those things. 00:27:36.400 --> 00:27:39.519 They understand where you're coming from at a minimum, right? 00:27:39.680 --> 00:27:42.960 But by and large, we're all veterans, so we know exactly what you're going through. 00:27:43.119 --> 00:27:49.920 So you're gonna come in and you're gonna get that that feeling of like, hey, you're where you belong because you're with your brothers and sisters, right? 00:27:50.000 --> 00:27:51.440 So you got that number one. 00:27:51.599 --> 00:27:55.200 We've built out a great network of people who come in as mentors. 00:27:55.519 --> 00:28:06.160 So not only are you going to have your veteran uh uh you know, brotherhood there, you're we've brought in people who have been there, done that, and they're gonna mentor you through the process, right? 00:28:06.240 --> 00:28:22.240 And you're gonna get assigned a mentor, you know, and then uh I guess the the one of the things that really means a lot to me, too, is like your the previous, we're at a point now where the cohorts that have come before are now acting as mentors to the veterans. 00:28:22.319 --> 00:28:25.200 So they've actually gone through our whole entire process. 00:28:25.359 --> 00:28:29.839 They've gone through our Warrior Academy or Warrior University, led by Reggie and Sammy. 00:28:29.920 --> 00:28:37.279 Reggie's a veteran, Sammy's a former law enforcement, um, and they do such a good job with our programs, right? 00:28:37.599 --> 00:28:40.400 So you know you're in the right place with those people. 00:28:40.480 --> 00:28:41.920 They're not gonna steer you wrong. 00:28:42.000 --> 00:28:46.960 And they have the experience at this point, and we have the professionals in there at this point. 00:28:47.119 --> 00:28:52.400 Um, and so when you get in there and you go through that and you buy in, that's one thing. 00:28:52.559 --> 00:29:02.160 The one thing that I always tell the veterans that I talk to, though, is every now and then you'll run into a vet that maybe feels like something's owed to them. 00:29:02.240 --> 00:29:07.599 And I'm like, hey man, uh nobody owes you anything but an opportunity, and this is your opportunity. 00:29:07.759 --> 00:29:09.359 You still have to come in here and work. 00:29:09.599 --> 00:29:15.039 You have to put in the sweat, you have to put in the hours, because if you don't, it's just gonna, you're, it's gonna tank. 00:29:15.200 --> 00:29:22.240 So there's, you know, you know that, you see that sometimes, and I hate to say it, but it's just it's honest, and I just want to be honest with people. 00:29:22.319 --> 00:29:26.000 Like, you still have to work, you know, and and put in the effort. 00:29:26.079 --> 00:29:34.240 And if you do, though, all the pieces of the program are there for you to take uh advantage of and and ultimately have a success with business. 00:29:34.799 --> 00:29:36.480 Yeah, no one's gonna build it for you. 00:29:36.559 --> 00:29:37.920 That's that's up to you. 00:29:38.079 --> 00:29:39.440 You have to do the work. 00:29:39.759 --> 00:29:43.920 And it we have, we've done it to ourselves. 00:29:44.160 --> 00:29:59.680 We have the the broken vet um image that's being sold and pushed to a lot of people that then gives ideas, gives a wrong impression idea to other veterans to say, okay, this is what I'm supposed to be like, this is what I'm this is what's going to get me attention and take care of me. 00:29:59.759 --> 00:30:01.119 It's like, no, no, no, no, no. 00:30:01.359 --> 00:30:01.680 No. 00:30:02.079 --> 00:30:08.880 You never want somebody to make you feel like being weak is a

power move. 00:30:09.039 --> 00:30:09.759 It's not. 00:30:10.079 --> 00:30:13.920 Ask for help, be vulnerable, admit what you don't know. 00:30:14.160 --> 00:30:18.960 But once they give you the information, be willing to work, put in the work, start building. 00:30:19.119 --> 00:30:20.880 It's gonna look like dog crap. 00:30:21.039 --> 00:30:24.079 I built my first business plan and it was horrible. 00:30:24.240 --> 00:30:31.599 And uh I need, and I was blessed to have a friend that was, you know, I didn't have the programs I went to weren't business minded. 00:30:31.759 --> 00:30:33.519 They're trying to get you employed by somebody. 00:30:33.599 --> 00:30:35.359 And those are great to have a place in there. 00:30:35.519 --> 00:30:43.200 When I made the decision to bet on me, I had to do a lot of stuff over and over again, a couple times over again. 00:30:43.519 --> 00:30:45.359 But I fell in love with the process. 00:30:45.599 --> 00:30:50.400 Even now, I always tell people I'm a dog shit entrepreneur, and I'm proud of it. 00:30:50.559 --> 00:30:54.720 I've built this thing janky as can be, but boy, it's working. 00:30:54.880 --> 00:30:56.319 But you don't have to do it by yourself. 00:30:56.480 --> 00:30:59.839 You can enlist and what you can right now, you can sign up for Warrior Rising. 00:30:59.920 --> 00:31:04.799 And uh, spoiler alert, to click the link will be in the episode description for you to sign up. 00:31:05.119 --> 00:31:09.519 Because what I've learned is I don't want you to do it by yourself. 00:31:09.680 --> 00:31:11.440 I want you to find a community. 00:31:11.599 --> 00:31:12.960 That's the whole thing. 00:31:13.200 --> 00:31:24.880 The community, the individuals that are there, that maybe the business plan and the ideas aren't the same, but there's a lot of common aspects of building a business that are similar. 00:31:25.039 --> 00:31:29.920 And you can have guys like Casey at your fingertips that are willing to say, yeah, man, let's talk. 00:31:30.240 --> 00:31:44.960 That's the one the most impressive thing out of my my time with Warrior Rising so far is I have yet to see an email that doesn't get answered when I introduce somebody that wants to come on Warrior Rising that already has a business. 00:31:45.200 --> 00:31:48.799 Like the amount of people that reached out, it's like, oh man, you're connected with Warrior Rising. 00:31:48.960 --> 00:31:50.240 Can you introduce me? 00:31:50.480 --> 00:31:51.359 Absolutely. 00:31:51.680 --> 00:32:02.640 Every single team member, even if they're not CC'd initially, replies back to that entrepreneur congratulating them, letting them know that they checked out their website, letting them know they believe. 00:32:02.720 --> 00:32:04.480 They believe in their mission. 00:32:04.640 --> 00:32:08.319 And let me tell you, that's one of the most important things out there. 00:32:08.480 --> 00:32:13.279 Just having somebody that's willing to look at your website and say, hell yeah, dude,

let's do this. 00:32:13.440 --> 00:32:14.319 Come on board. 00:32:14.480 --> 00:32:15.599 Like that's not out there. 00:32:15.680 --> 00:32:17.680 That is unique to this company. 00:32:18.160 --> 00:32:18.960 Absolutely. 00:32:19.119 --> 00:32:21.119 And you kind of hit on it a little bit. 00:32:21.279 --> 00:32:25.680 Um, what's really the strength of Warrior Rising is the community and the network. 00:32:25.839 --> 00:32:35.680 So we do these gallas, you know, uh quarterly throughout uh throughout the year, and we bring in veterans and they compete for a grant, and some of them that are pretty sizable. 00:32:36.079 --> 00:32:46.880 And we always I always tell them, we always tell them, like, look, you're you're competing and you may win 25,000, 50,000, whatever it is, you may win that tonight. 00:32:47.039 --> 00:32:48.640 This is a drop in the bucket. 00:32:48.880 --> 00:32:54.559 This does it, this is insignificant compared to the network that's in the room here. 00:32:54.799 --> 00:32:57.759 Um, these people are what's gonna sustain your company. 00:32:57.839 --> 00:33:03.920 They're gonna be customers, they're gonna be mentors, all that they're gonna pick you up because inevitably you're gonna swing and miss on something. 00:33:04.000 --> 00:33:05.279 I've done it, everybody's done it. 00:33:05.440 --> 00:33:07.839 When you're building a business, there will be failure. 00:33:08.000 --> 00:33:10.720 Um, these are the people that will get you through. 00:33:10.880 --> 00:33:16.720 And to that extent, I remember uh there there was a perfect example in Iowa a few years back. 00:33:16.880 --> 00:33:20.079 We had a company that they won$25,000. 00:33:21.119 --> 00:33:23.839 And great, that's really cool. 00:33:24.160 --> 00:33:32.799 But they had such an impression on the people in the crowd, on the people that they were networking with, that they were able to get a million-dollar investment for their company. 00:33:32.960 --> 00:33:38.160 And I'm not gonna tell you what their company's evaluated at now, it's not in the business, but it's significant. 00:33:38.640 --> 00:33:57.279 And those are the things like if you take the time and invest in the relationships uh at our gallas, at our the special events that we do, um, just picking up a phone and calling somebody you met at one of our events, that's where the that's where the value is in this whole thing. 00:33:57.440 --> 00:34:01.119 It's in the network, it's in the community, uh, quite frankly. 00:34:01.279 --> 00:34:05.759 So Yeah, that's 100% that that is the absolute truth. 00:34:06.000 --> 00:34:09.519 Money and winning and winning a pitch competition, it's incredible. 00:34:09.679 --> 00:34:20.159 Um, but the reality is I have had more success and more wins from individuals I've connected with. 00:34:20.320 --> 00:34:21.440 Because the money's great. 00:34:21.599 --> 00:34:29.280 Like it, yes, being able to immediately go after a new hire or new marketing spend, that's all great. 00:34:29.440 --> 00:34:40.000 But let me tell you, when you have heavy hitters in your in mail or your email box, your phone number that reach out just to talk and see how you're doing, that's the win. 00:34:40.159 --> 00:34:47.360 That's the absolute win right there because they're championing you in rooms that you're not even in, in discussions that you're not privy to. 00:34:47.519 --> 00:34:48.719 And that's what you want. 00:34:48.880 --> 00:34:51.840 That's what every veteran entrepreneur desperately needs. 00:34:52.000 --> 00:34:57.039 Individuals that are fighting on your behalf and you don't even know it. 00:34:57.280 --> 00:35:04.239 You're you're at home busy working on your business, and you got dudes walking in the meeting saying, Hey, have you heard of this guy? 00:35:04.400 --> 00:35:05.599 Have you heard of this business? 00:35:05.840 --> 00:35:07.199 They need to be on your radar. 00:35:07.280 --> 00:35:07.920 Check them out. 00:35:08.079 --> 00:35:09.679 In fact, I'm gonna do an intro. 00:35:09.840 --> 00:35:11.199 Let's get you guys a meet. 00:35:11.360 --> 00:35:19.119 And it sounds wonderful and it seems like fairy tales, but that's the honest truth. 00:35:19.280 --> 00:35:23.119 Because if it's happened for me, it's going to happen for you if you're willing to bet on yourself. 00:35:23.280 --> 00:35:35.599 If you're willing to be the best version of yourself and dedicate the time it takes to build something and do the hard work of sitting down and studying and learning from individuals like Reggie, um, it's going to happen. 00:35:35.760 --> 00:35:38.320 It's a it's a matter of being focused on the craft. 00:35:38.400 --> 00:35:40.880 The stretch Stephen Pressfield talks about it. 00:35:40.960 --> 00:35:46.400 Like in influential individuals have already put the legwork into what it takes. 00:35:46.480 --> 00:35:48.480 And it just takes commitment, man. 00:35:48.639 --> 00:35:51.039 That's the one thing that a lot of people aren't willing to do. 00:35:51.199 --> 00:35:59.199 And if you're serious about your business, if you're serious about being an entrepreneur, like and you're a veteran uh or a military spouse, like you can't pass this up, man. 00:35:59.360 --> 00:36:05.119 That's the side, the sad part is like once you figure out and hear about Warrior Rising, get on board. 00:36:06.559 --> 00:36:09.519 Great point too, Denny, and I don't want to gloss over this. 00:36:09.679 --> 00:36:13.519 This isn't just for the veteran, this is also for their family members. 00:36:13.679 --> 00:36:17.920 So if you're a spouse, a kid, what have you, you can come to us too. 00:36:18.079 --> 00:36:22.400 I mean, doors open to you, and the opportunities are there for you with us as well. 00:36:22.639 --> 00:36:25.039 Um, it just isn't for the service members. 00:36:25.199 --> 00:36:31.599 So, um, and some of our uh best entrepreneurs that we've had come through have been spouses of the veterans. 00:36:31.760 --> 00:36:35.280 So uh

fundraiser blanket ladies are one that come to mind. 00:36:36.000 --> 00:36:45.360 One of them is a spouse and uh incredible company, and there's a few other ones too, but uh, you know, uh our doors are open to you guys as well. 00:36:45.599 --> 00:36:56.239 So uh, and one of the things that you've kind of uh talked about today, too, is like when you're a veteran, one of the key pieces in building a business too is identifying what your weaknesses are. 00:36:56.400 --> 00:36:58.320 This is stuff that we did when we're in the military. 00:36:58.400 --> 00:36:59.920 What are our vulnerabilities? 00:37:00.159 --> 00:37:01.920 Because you're always thinking about security, right? 00:37:02.000 --> 00:37:04.079 You have to do the same thing when you're building a business. 00:37:04.239 --> 00:37:05.519 What are my weaknesses? 00:37:05.679 --> 00:37:07.519 Uh, where am I vulnerable? 00:37:07.840 --> 00:37:11.760 And bring in people who fill those gaps. 00:37:11.920 --> 00:37:12.639 You know what I mean? 00:37:12.719 --> 00:37:12.880 Yep. 00:37:13.039 --> 00:37:16.719 And I feel like at Warrior Rising, it's even happened with our team. 00:37:16.800 --> 00:37:19.199 We've we've grown over a decade, right? 00:37:19.360 --> 00:37:26.239 And we've we're constantly moving pieces and we've gotten this team to a point where it's it's high performing. 00:37:26.400 --> 00:37:31.679 People look at the number of people that we have on our staff and wonder how we pull off the things that we do. 00:37:31.760 --> 00:37:40.800 It's because we've found the right people and we've shored up our company in the spots that we needed to to make it a high-performing uh organization. 00:37:41.119 --> 00:37:48.320 And I'm I'm telling you, man, like when you talk about job satisfaction for me, like you couldn't pay me enough. 00:37:48.480 --> 00:37:54.000 I've had opportunities to go do other things and get paid, you know, X number of dollars more and things like that. 00:37:54.159 --> 00:38:04.320 But I can't think of a place I'd rather be than coming and spending time with people that I genuinely uh love and care about and enjoy being around. 00:38:04.400 --> 00:38:05.679 And we've built that. 00:38:05.920 --> 00:38:16.559 And so, like, I hope that some of the companies that come through our program are building their companies uh in a you know, a ref with a reflection of warrior rising in what we've built. 00:38:16.719 --> 00:38:17.599 You know what I mean? 00:38:17.840 --> 00:38:20.639 So um I'm really happy with where we're at. 00:38:20.719 --> 00:38:24.000 It's taken time to get here, and we're we're still growing. 00:38:24.159 --> 00:38:39.280 I mean, there's you know, it's a constant uh balance of uh the the number of veterans we're helping is growing every year, so we need to keep up and be able to support them with grants and mentors and every single piece of what we offer. 00:38:39.440 --> 00:38:44.960 Um, and I know we've talked about Reggie a couple times tonight, but that guy is absolutely crushing. 00:38:45.039 --> 00:38:47.360 Our programs is is unbelievable. 00:38:47.519 --> 00:38:55.519 We've got some great partners out there with some major universities and and businesses that that are part of our uh educational program. 00:38:55.920 --> 00:38:57.039 It's second enough. 00:38:57.519 --> 00:39:00.880 So I'm super proud of where we're at. 00:39:01.360 --> 00:39:07.119 Yeah, I the one thing I do love about our programs, it's it's um it's not a cookie cutter thing. 00:39:07.199 --> 00:39:09.840 And I'm not trying to put shade out there to anybody. 00:39:10.079 --> 00:39:17.599 You're not getting the same type of programming when it comes to like entrepreneurship, building something that you're gonna get from a lot of folks online. 00:39:17.920 --> 00:39:22.960 Uh it's a hard sell to get people to take time to work on something. 00:39:23.199 --> 00:39:30.400 But it really we've catered and built programming that makes sense for the modern age. 00:39:30.639 --> 00:40:02.159 Like if you want to be part, if you're part of something in tech, if you're building the next great service as a software system out there, like we where Rising Now has Activator, like the the second cohorts going on right now, and the first one, I've actually actually got two guys on deck to go come talk about the program because it it it literally, when they boasted and posted their certificate on LinkedIn, you could see that these individuals were waiting for somebody to bring this out to them. 00:40:02.400 --> 00:40:05.360 Like it wasn't like, oh, I did something, this is great. 00:40:05.519 --> 00:40:12.239 It's like, dude, I had the opportunity of a lifetime that gave me something that I desperately needed for my business. 00:40:12.480 --> 00:40:17.119 Like apps and building tech companies right now is like one of the biggest things. 00:40:17.199 --> 00:40:25.360 I've got, and shout out to any 18 Echo out there because the most successful teammates I have right now are the 18 Echoes. 00:40:25.599 --> 00:40:31.039 Like they're they're crushing it in drone warfare, in the tech space. 00:40:31.280 --> 00:40:38.639 And uh here we are for years making fun of them, and now it's their turn to make fun of us for being 18 Bravos or 18 Deltas. 00:40:38.719 --> 00:40:46.000 And I'm telling you, if you're out there in the tech space and you're looking for something, keep your eyes on Warrior Rising and the next cohort of Activator. 00:40:46.320 --> 00:40:52.320 But even if tech's not your thing, jump on board in Warrior University, jump on board in any other programming. 00:40:52.400 --> 00:40:53.440 It's like SD Vet. 00:40:53.679 --> 00:40:58.960 Like, we don't, I know you don't have time to sit down behind a computer for 17 hours a day. 00:40:59.119 --> 00:41:00.960 Like, that's not what this is. 00:41:01.199 --> 00:41:04.239 What you need to understand is like this is a community effort. 00:41:04.400 --> 00:41:07.039 This is something

where you can get plugged in with people like you. 00:41:07.199 --> 00:41:16.719 Because what I've learned about what I'm doing is it can get incredibly lonely to find individuals that are doing the same thing and trying to grow and develop. 00:41:16.880 --> 00:41:23.440 Um, not to say they're not out there, but it took me a while to build my cohort of individuals that are in the same space. 00:41:23.760 --> 00:41:25.920 Roy Risley's taking care of that for you. 00:41:26.000 --> 00:41:36.400 Um, and that's that's the thing that's like, holy cow, like you can talk to others that are just like you, building the same type of things like you, that understand the pain points. 00:41:36.559 --> 00:41:39.440 Like that's that's worth its weight in gold right now. 00:41:39.599 --> 00:41:45.920 Like we're more divided and more separated, even though we're now more connected, more connected than ever with these things. 00:41:46.159 --> 00:41:49.679 But being connected to the right people, that's the key element. 00:41:50.159 --> 00:41:51.280 Yeah, absolutely. 00:41:51.440 --> 00:41:52.639 I couldn't agree more. 00:41:52.880 --> 00:41:57.840 And we've worked really hard at Warrior Rising to kind of bring in the right people. 00:41:57.920 --> 00:41:59.280 And it's always an evolution. 00:41:59.360 --> 00:42:00.800 We're always forward thinking too. 00:42:00.880 --> 00:42:06.800 Like you just thought up the activate uh activator program, um, something new that we just rolled out. 00:42:06.880 --> 00:42:14.639 And we're always looking for what's on the horizon so that we can continue to provide like relevant and current services to the veteran. 00:42:14.800 --> 00:42:20.800 Um, so Reggie and Sam work really hard to make sure that we are on the cusp of like, hey, what's next? 00:42:20.960 --> 00:42:27.679 Obviously, AI is changing a ton of things right now, and uh, so that's gonna be a focal point going forward. 00:42:27.840 --> 00:42:38.320 Um, we've partnered with some really great universities and tried to bring in like the most forward thinkers and the most current and relevant um experts in these fields. 00:42:38.480 --> 00:42:42.320 And so when you come to Warrior Rising, you're getting access to that as well. 00:42:42.639 --> 00:42:49.519 So um I think that's another piece of the puzzle that maybe not everybody does, but we I think we do really well here. 00:42:49.599 --> 00:42:53.440 Um so we're we're always staying current and on the on the forward edge of this thing. 00:42:53.679 --> 00:42:56.480 So I'm really pleased with where we're at. 00:42:56.559 --> 00:43:02.480 I'm looking forward to seeing seeing how this uh new activator program uh turns out. 00:43:02.639 --> 00:43:16.639 Um it seems to be doing really well, and to your point, when you see people go through the program and then you know they're posting their certific certifications online and and showing pride in it, tells you that the thing they're doing we're doing something right with that.

00:43:16.719 --> 00:43:21.760 So we're always gonna make the small tweaks to make it better, seem to be on the right track there right now. 00:43:21.840 --> 00:43:23.840 So I'm really proud of that program. 00:43:24.480 --> 00:43:24.880 Yeah. 00:43:25.039 --> 00:43:31.440 And I don't wanna I don't want to miss an opportunity to talk about the other aspects of being an entrepreneur, and that's taking care of yourself. 00:43:31.679 --> 00:43:38.320 And uh, you know, it it's it can often be an addictive thing. 00:43:38.559 --> 00:43:45.679 Building something can take a lot of you and and can put you in the situation where you feel like you have to vote every single hour. 00:43:45.840 --> 00:43:54.320 But the reality is like you got to be committed to building, you gotta be committed to your business, but you also have to pour back into yourself and your family. 00:43:54.559 --> 00:43:59.760 And Casey, somebody like yourself that's been in this space for a minute, like, how do you pour back in yourself? 00:44:00.320 --> 00:44:04.800 How do you make sure that you're focused on the people and the things that truly matter? 00:44:05.679 --> 00:44:07.199 It's a great question, Daddy. 00:44:07.280 --> 00:44:12.320 And honestly, I was a poor example of that for the longest time, right? 00:44:12.719 --> 00:44:14.960 Especially in my FBI career. 00:44:17.280 --> 00:44:20.400 I was always there for my kids and everything, right? 00:44:20.480 --> 00:44:22.719 But I wasn't taking care of myself either. 00:44:22.800 --> 00:44:25.440 So I wasn't the best version of myself. 00:44:26.719 --> 00:44:30.719 Just in the last year and a half, I've really started focusing on myself. 00:44:30.880 --> 00:44:36.800 And quite frankly, it's because of my relationship with Ben and Ben telling me, hey, you need to look at this or that. 00:44:36.960 --> 00:44:39.440 Things that I'd never considered before. 00:44:39.679 --> 00:44:43.760 And, you know, I'll just be kind of open about where I'm at. 00:44:43.840 --> 00:44:53.920 Now I was in having horrible issues with the back injury, horrible issues with controlling some of the things that lead to other more serious things down the road. 00:44:54.079 --> 00:44:56.079 And I couldn't get a grasp on it. 00:44:56.159 --> 00:45:00.000 And the stuff that doctors were telling me or trying to help me with weren't working. 00:45:00.239 --> 00:45:15.920 And so I looked at um better sleep, exercise, and taking uh, you know, getting on to the um the Retta thing that Ben had always suggested, um, to help with inflammation and the little things, right? 00:45:16.079 --> 00:45:27.119 Well, I started doing it, lost 42 pounds, um normalized uh all like vital type stuff that goes on in your body, better sleep patterns. 00:45:27.199 --> 00:45:32.159 I wake up in the morning feeling energized, and it leads to better work, right? 00:45:32.400 --> 00:45:44.559 So I think one of the things that people I'll just tell you from my perspective, the the thing

that I did wrong is I thought the more I grind, the harder I work, the longer I work, the better the product will be. 00:45:44.960 --> 00:46:08.880 I've kind of re-looked at that and I'm like, if I take care of myself, I'm more productive in the in the shorter uh duration of time that I'm putting into work, uh, putting out a better product, spending less time because I'm I'm I'm sharp here, I'm awake, I'm alert, um, energized, all the things, and I'm absorbing what people are telling me, you know. 00:46:09.119 --> 00:46:18.320 And so I have found that as I started taking better care of myself uh personally, I've become a better, I've I'm putting out a better effort at work. 00:46:18.480 --> 00:46:27.599 Um, it's not uh always a situation where you just gotta grind through it and put in more hours and more sweat and that type of thing, right? 00:46:27.920 --> 00:46:31.840 Um, so that's been like a huge change for me over the last two years. 00:46:32.000 --> 00:46:38.400 Before that, I was just like burning the candle from both ends and um not taking care of myself up here either. 00:46:38.559 --> 00:46:52.639 I started reluctantly going and talking to somebody and off okay, so I didn't again going back, I didn't have like a lot of the same experiences that uh my uh counterparts did in the military. 00:46:52.880 --> 00:46:55.840 But when I went to law enforcement, I certainly did. 00:46:56.000 --> 00:47:04.880 Uh violent crime and and stuff overseas and stuff, I got ex I got a heavy dose of it, and I never discussed any of it. 00:47:04.960 --> 00:47:09.679 I just bottled it up and did the same thing every other guy does, right? 00:47:09.760 --> 00:47:11.280 That we know that we know. 00:47:11.440 --> 00:47:12.480 I was the same. 00:47:12.559 --> 00:47:19.280 I did the same thing, and it just got to a point where like I it I just wasn't the best version of myself. 00:47:19.519 --> 00:47:24.320 Reluctantly went to a person, started offloading it little bits at a time. 00:47:24.480 --> 00:47:28.880 Like she literally was pulling teeth, I think, is probably what this this Lily thought. 00:47:28.960 --> 00:47:41.679 But once she kind of cracked me a little bit and got me to just communicate a little bit more, man, I could like almost I don't know how to explain it, but I could almost like feel a um a lightness to myself. 00:47:41.840 --> 00:47:45.599 I felt maybe like I did when I was 20 years old again. 00:47:45.760 --> 00:47:50.079 Um kind of like uh emotionally wise, right? 00:47:50.400 --> 00:47:54.480 Um, and that was like a huge thing for me, just being honest, you know what I mean? 00:47:54.639 --> 00:47:58.159 Um, because I know I know that's what you that the whole point of this thing, right? 00:47:58.239 --> 00:48:05.760 So um the first step is very difficult, especially if you're a a person like me that doesn't like to talk much. 00:48:05.840 --> 00:48:12.480 I'm I'm more reserved and shy um and just tend to keep to myself. 00:48:12.960 --> 00:48:20.320 But um with the push from some people that care about me, I did those things and it helped me tremendously. 00:48:20.719 --> 00:48:21.840 100%, man. 00:48:21.920 --> 00:48:24.480 That is the greatest thing we could do for ourselves. 00:48:24.639 --> 00:48:39.760 If you look, I know you're it to you listening, you might not believe it, but I will tell you if you're gonna dive into this space, this, this, and this have to be a hundred percent working towards healing. 00:48:39.840 --> 00:48:51.519 Uh, first, I'm telling you, you can't take on the burden of building something and have this and this disconnected or or at the, you know, it in a negative space. 00:48:51.679 --> 00:48:54.480 Mind, body, and spirit, you've got to build all three back. 00:48:54.639 --> 00:49:00.159 And I will tell you, there's been a lot of nights and a lot of days where it's been a grind, but you know what? 00:49:00.320 --> 00:49:11.920 Because I'm on the positive side of my journey, because I'm on the uphill side or the downhill side, I should say, having gone through a lot of therapy, having gone through all the things that have made me a better version of myself. 00:49:12.079 --> 00:49:15.840 I can look at the board, even if everything's on fire, and I can say, you know what? 00:49:16.079 --> 00:49:17.840 All right, I did my best today. 00:49:18.000 --> 00:49:19.840 All this can wait till tomorrow. 00:49:20.320 --> 00:49:33.599 That wouldn't have been the case if I didn't pour, pour back to my cup and do everything I could to take care of myself, to make sure I had the best mindset, to make sure I had everything figured out as far in regards to my healing journey. 00:49:33.760 --> 00:49:36.000 If I wouldn't have done that, I wouldn't have been here. 00:49:36.079 --> 00:49:42.239 I certainly wouldn't have stuck it out and then and pushed through the hurdles and obstacles in building a business. 00:49:42.400 --> 00:49:43.920 That's just the honest truth, man. 00:49:44.079 --> 00:49:51.679 Because you can't pour into something like a business when you're in the negative, when your heart's not taken care of, when your mind's not there. 00:49:51.840 --> 00:49:53.199 You gotta put yourself first. 00:49:53.280 --> 00:49:56.320 And that's it's it's hard for people to understand that concept. 00:49:56.480 --> 00:50:04.559 If you want to be the best version of yourself for your for your wife, for your kids, for the community that depends on you, then you gotta pour into yourself. 00:50:04.639 --> 00:50:12.400 You've got to be willing to do the scariest thing, and that's being vulnerable and being willing to sit down in front of somebody else and be like, you know what? 00:50:12.719 --> 00:50:16.159 I've seen some things and they may have affected me. 00:50:16.639 --> 00:50:24.960 It's it's uh the the biggest thing that I could suggest is you just find a person that you trust and just open up to them a little bit. 00:50:25.119 --> 00:50:33.119 If I would have had a

conversation with my uh two of my buddies, um I I never would have had the answers because they had them. 00:50:33.280 --> 00:50:36.559 They went through the same stuff that I did, and they're like, Well, have you tried this? 00:50:36.719 --> 00:50:37.519 No, I haven't. 00:50:37.679 --> 00:50:39.119 Well, tell me what it did for you. 00:50:39.199 --> 00:50:41.360 And they told me, and I was like, Well, maybe I'll try. 00:50:41.679 --> 00:50:54.960 So at the peak of my uh when I was in the FBI, at the peak of my struggles, I'll say, I was having like insomnia and just could not, could not sleep for the life of me, you know what I mean? 00:50:55.199 --> 00:50:57.039 But I didn't do anything to fix it. 00:50:57.199 --> 00:51:01.119 I just would do the same thing every night, lay down and just hope that I fell asleep, right? 00:51:01.360 --> 00:51:04.079 And my body's like, hey, here's what you need to do. 00:51:04.239 --> 00:51:06.400 So I tried it and it worked, right? 00:51:06.559 --> 00:51:21.199 And the same thing with like uh if I with with uh health struggles, if I hadn't have talked to those guys and found answers to the test because they already had them, I never would have tried it and I'd be overweight and still sleepless, right? 00:51:21.519 --> 00:51:26.000 Um, and so find somebody that you trust and just ask the questions. 00:51:26.159 --> 00:51:27.920 Nobody's gonna shoot you down, right? 00:51:28.079 --> 00:51:36.159 So that's one of the things, too, that my buddy asked me, he goes, Casey, how many times has a guy come to you and you just said, No, no, no, no, no, I don't want to talk to you about this. 00:51:36.400 --> 00:51:37.280 I'm like, never. 00:51:37.440 --> 00:51:38.320 He goes, Yeah. 00:51:38.559 --> 00:51:41.760 He's like, the same thing is available to you. 00:51:42.000 --> 00:51:47.519 No guy or no man or woman is gonna turn you down if you go to them and say, I need to talk about this thing. 00:51:47.679 --> 00:51:49.280 And I'm like, that's a great point. 00:51:49.519 --> 00:52:00.960 I've had so many people over the years come to me, some people that I would never expect in a million years, like I didn't feel like I had that like close relationship where they would open up to me, but they did. 00:52:01.039 --> 00:52:07.760 And I was and I sat there for as long as it took and would give them the shirt off my back, just like I would do for anybody. 00:52:08.000 --> 00:52:12.480 Um, so I'm just saying that to say that people will listen. 00:52:12.639 --> 00:52:22.400 If you pick your person that you trust most to confide in, do it, and you might be surprised at what answers they have because maybe they've got already gone through it or know somebody else. 00:52:22.559 --> 00:52:24.800 The answers to the test are already out there. 00:52:24.960 --> 00:52:29.119 It's just finding out what they are and being will uh willing to listen. 00:52:29.519 --> 00:52:31.039 Yeah, a hundred percent. 00:52:31.360 --> 00:52:32.880 And to

your point for community. 00:52:33.119 --> 00:52:47.440 Yep, and to your point, once you are clear mind, uh body, soul, you you can focus on these things like building a good business, which leads to building confidence and other healthy habits, and it's the way I love it. 00:52:47.519 --> 00:52:48.880 It's what's worked for me at least. 00:52:48.960 --> 00:52:52.159 So yeah, it it's it's it's the truth, man. 00:52:52.239 --> 00:53:04.559 And um, I think the more of us to share and give insights, like it's not about like building something isn't gonna fix everything else that you're dealing with. 00:53:04.719 --> 00:53:06.719 We we you can't confuse that. 00:53:06.880 --> 00:53:14.639 You can't say that by ignoring all the things that you're dealing with and just focusing and pouring yourself into this other objective, it's gonna magically cure it. 00:53:14.800 --> 00:53:15.199 It won't. 00:53:15.440 --> 00:53:17.360 It'll still be there at the end of the day. 00:53:17.519 --> 00:53:28.639 Um I think being willing to put yourself first so that you can take care of your friends, your family, and everybody else and be the best version of yourself is the best way to go. 00:53:28.800 --> 00:53:34.559 And it, you know, it's just about sharing these stories, being willing to put these things out there because they are connected. 00:53:34.639 --> 00:53:40.159 You want to be the best version of yourself so you can have time and have the right mentality to build something great. 00:53:40.400 --> 00:53:45.920 Your mental health, your well-being, it's all connected when it comes into building something like a business. 00:53:46.400 --> 00:53:47.440 It is, it's 100%. 00:53:47.760 --> 00:54:02.480 And more often than not, when I sit down and I break bread with somebody that's created something great, they will always tell you at some point, everything was going against me, but I'm really glad I post I put my mental health first as I was getting out of the military. 00:54:02.719 --> 00:54:08.079 I got that equation figured out, then I moved forward into building my business. 00:54:08.239 --> 00:54:10.320 Um, at least that's been my experience. 00:54:10.400 --> 00:54:12.159 And uh take it for what it's worth. 00:54:12.320 --> 00:54:22.960 But Casey, before I let you go, man, I I want to dive into your core principles or your ideas or or some things that can help a young entrepreneur out there first. 00:54:23.119 --> 00:54:25.840 If they're struggling, what are some things you recommend? 00:54:27.119 --> 00:54:30.079 Yeah, so that's a good question. 00:54:30.320 --> 00:54:44.559 I think the the biggest thing is if you have something that you're passionate about turning into a business idea, really sit down and plan it out, like A to Z, what does this look like? 00:54:44.800 --> 00:54:49.760 Um, what skills do I have to make this a success, a successful business? 00:54:49.920 --> 00:54:55.199 And what do I need to get to the point where I look at this company and

say, I've reached a pinnacle? 00:54:55.360 --> 00:54:58.400 This is this is where I wanted to take this thing. 00:54:58.639 --> 00:55:03.840 And then the the other critical piece would be um do kind of a self-examination. 00:55:04.000 --> 00:55:07.280 Where are my weaknesses for me to get to my goal? 00:55:07.360 --> 00:55:10.480 Uh, what shortcomings do I have that will prevent me from getting there? 00:55:10.559 --> 00:55:11.599 And how do I fix those? 00:55:11.760 --> 00:55:16.719 Who do I bring in to shore up those uh uh those shortcomings? 00:55:17.039 --> 00:55:20.239 And and then bring those people in to be a part of your team. 00:55:20.400 --> 00:55:22.079 Surround yourself with a network. 00:55:22.239 --> 00:55:24.159 Uh, because again, we've already talked about it. 00:55:24.400 --> 00:55:30.239 Network and community is gonna get you further than uh money or you know, spending your way out of a problem. 00:55:30.320 --> 00:55:43.280 How about instead of that we fall back on, hey, this person's been through this before, they have the experience, I can learn from that rather than falling down uh you know on my own in this certain situation. 00:55:43.519 --> 00:55:49.280 So build up your network and and if you're passionate about something, never quit. 00:55:49.519 --> 00:55:50.400 Fight for it. 00:55:50.559 --> 00:55:52.639 That's really all it comes down to. 00:55:52.800 --> 00:56:04.400 Um, we Ben and I were talking yesterday about a company, and people, a lot of people automatically assume that when they see a successful company that it happened overnight. 00:56:04.719 --> 00:56:07.920 And most cases that is not what happened. 00:56:08.000 --> 00:56:14.719 Uh, we were talking about a very successful company, and and we're like, hey, do you know how long it took this company to become what they are today? 00:56:14.960 --> 00:56:16.000 13 years. 00:56:16.239 --> 00:56:18.960 13 years they were in a knife fight, right? 00:56:19.199 --> 00:56:21.440 And that's just the reality of the situation. 00:56:21.519 --> 00:56:25.599 But they were passionate about their product and they believed in it, so they stayed in a fight. 00:56:25.679 --> 00:56:26.400 They didn't quit. 00:56:26.480 --> 00:56:31.679 And now they have like this hundred, several hundred million dollar company and brand, right? 00:56:32.079 --> 00:56:39.760 So um my biggest piece of advice to any entrepreneur would be surround yourself with a good community, a good network. 00:56:40.000 --> 00:56:46.880 And if you really believe in your product and you really believe in your business, get in the fight to stay in the fight, and it will be a success. 00:56:47.440 --> 00:56:48.239 I love that. 00:56:48.400 --> 00:56:49.199 Damn, that's good. 00:56:49.280 --> 00:56:50.239 That's motivating. 00:56:50.480 --> 00:56:50.960 Yeah. 00:56:51.199 --> 00:56:52.159 But be careful. 00:56:52.320 --> 00:56:55.599 Be careful when you're building that business plan, run it by a friend. 00:56:55.760

--> 00:56:58.719 I'm telling you, from someone who had to build it a couple times. 00:56:59.199 --> 00:57:01.280 Yeah, there's there's no reason to be shy. 00:57:01.360 --> 00:57:06.719 If you've got the network, you know, and you're building your business plan, there that's what they're for. 00:57:06.880 --> 00:57:09.360 Like, let them look at it, let them pick it apart. 00:57:09.440 --> 00:57:11.679 Take the constructive criticism, fix it. 00:57:11.840 --> 00:57:12.639 It's not personal. 00:57:12.719 --> 00:57:14.159 They're help, they're trying to help you out. 00:57:14.239 --> 00:57:15.360 They want you to succeed. 00:57:15.519 --> 00:57:16.639 We want you to succeed. 00:57:16.719 --> 00:57:20.559 So if you pass that thing to us, we're gonna be like, we'll shoot it full of holes, right? 00:57:20.960 --> 00:57:24.480 But it's not to nitpick you or it's it's not to pick you apart. 00:57:24.559 --> 00:57:30.320 It's to say, hey, for you to get where you want to go, we need to fix the boom, boom, boom. 00:57:30.400 --> 00:57:31.440 And then you're your goal. 00:57:31.519 --> 00:57:33.519 Well, you know, that's what it's all about. 00:57:34.480 --> 00:57:35.039 Hell yeah. 00:57:35.280 --> 00:57:38.079 Casey, I can't thank you enough for being here today, brother. 00:57:38.320 --> 00:57:39.440 Guys, do me a favor. 00:57:39.599 --> 00:57:41.360 You know the spiel, the episode's almost over. 00:57:41.440 --> 00:57:45.920 Head on over to the episode description, click the links, sign up for Warrior Rising. 00:57:46.000 --> 00:57:49.280 I'm not gonna put Casey's email in there, but hit us up. 00:57:49.440 --> 00:57:51.039 Hit us up on the website. 00:57:51.199 --> 00:57:54.800 In fact, just go to the website, join uh join the Six Club. 00:57:54.880 --> 00:57:57.440 By the time this airs, it's probably gonna be launched. 00:57:57.760 --> 00:57:58.639 Six bucks. 00:57:58.880 --> 00:58:02.000 You throw six bucks away every day. 00:58:02.320 --> 00:58:07.119 Go to Starbucks, you get a drink, you don't even finish it, you throw it away. 00:58:07.440 --> 00:58:09.039 Throw some of that money our way. 00:58:09.199 --> 00:58:15.519 Help us create the next generation of great veteran entrepreneurs that are willing to bet on themselves. 00:58:15.679 --> 00:58:17.199 So let me tell you something. 00:58:17.360 --> 00:58:25.119 Um, one of the greatest things in life is when you wake up and you're 100% committed to your dream. 00:58:25.280 --> 00:58:26.960 And nobody else is gonna do that for you. 00:58:27.119 --> 00:58:29.679 You've got to come up with a dream and you've got to believe in it. 00:58:29.920 --> 00:58:31.519 Warrior Rising will take care of the rest. 00:58:31.679 --> 00:58:34.639 We'll get you the schooling and the techniques that you need to pitch. 00:58:34.800 --> 00:58:40.400 And uh we may get some rough words from Reggie every once in a while, but it's all coming from a good place. 00:58:40.559 --> 00:58:43.599 And he's gonna make sure your business plan is ready to go. 00:58:43.760 --> 00:58:45.519 Uh, bet on yourself, folks. 00:58:45.760 --> 00:58:46.719 Bet on yourself today. 00:58:46.880 --> 00:58:51.519 Head on over to the link, sign up for Warrior Rising, or just support the programs. 00:58:51.840 --> 00:58:53.360 Rep the set, get some merch. 00:58:53.440 --> 00:58:54.400 There's some great merch. 00:58:54.480 --> 00:58:59.599 I've got a couple of shirts on their way to the house because I don't have any, I don't have a Warrior Rising merch, man. 00:58:59.679 --> 00:59:01.360 I can't promote it if I can't wear it. 00:59:01.440 --> 00:59:03.519 Uh, we might have to get some new designs, man. 00:59:03.599 --> 00:59:04.800 We need some new colors. 00:59:04.960 --> 00:59:08.000 I don't know how I felt about that beach sunset one. 00:59:08.159 --> 00:59:13.360 It was uh Casey, thank you for being here, brother. 00:59:13.440 --> 00:59:14.800 And everybody tuning in. 00:59:14.960 --> 00:59:17.440 Thank you guys for stopping by, and we'll see y'all next time. 00:59:17.519 --> 00:59:19.119 Until then, take care.