Military Entrepreneur Magazine: Fall 2022

Launching and growing a small business is hard. It can be lonely, expensive and risky. Let’s face it, most don’t make it past the first year Elon Musk described entrepreneurship this way:

‘Being an Entrepreneur is like eating glass and staring into the Abyss of Death.’

Sounds pretty bleak. I mean, who would sign up for that? The answer is you. You work hard and make sacrifices. You take risks and are determined to make a difference. Small business owners are the backbone of our economy, without them our country would look very different What you are not, is alone Team Rosie stands with you

This year, The Rosie Network celebrated 10 years of service to our nation’s transitioning service members, veterans, milspouse small business owners and budding entrepreneurs. I’m incredibly proud of our team and those who have supported our small but mighty organization

Our Service2CEO entrepreneurial training and mentorship program is simply the best. Yes, we’ve won national awards, but the real measure of success is you. Ninetyeight percent of our graduates would highly recommend our program to fellow entrepreneurs - but we are not resting on our laurels. Like most entrepreneurs, our team is always looking for ways to improve. Stay tuned for what we have in store for 2023! Let me share one more quote from Elon: ‘

"The things you regret most in life are the risks you didn’t take."

Entrepreneurs are those rare and brave souls willing to stare into the abyss and take that leap despite the risks!

In this issue, we celebrate our brave veteran and milspouse entrepreneurs by sharing their stories We hope you enjoy this issue and share it with your friends

Thank you.

StephanieBrown CEO & Founder

The Rosie Network

Colin Wayne

O V E R

Colin Wayne joined the Army in 2006, shortly after dropping out of high school at seventeen. While serving, he spent most of his career as a Military Police Officer in the 203rd Military Police Battalion. While stationed in the Paktika Province (Afghanistan) Wayne was a Department of Defense C-RAM contractor, in 2012 he survived an enemy rocket strike that touched down only a few feet away from him while working out in the gym When Wayne returned stateside, he kept working out and all that hard work in the gym paid off He soon gained popularity as a fitness model, gracing the cover of top fitness magazines.

In 2015, Colin came across a Customized Steel Baseball Monogram while searching for a unique gift for his son. There was a lengthy turnaround time due to the demand and intricacy of the design, and he quickly realized the potential of steel fabrication within the home décor industry After hours of researching and conversations with a few personal mentors, he took a calculated risk and purchased a couple of CNC plasma cutting machines and Redline Steel LLC was born Since opening in 2016, Red Line Steel has produced over 25 million orders and nearly 15 million customers and has grown into the country's largest customized steel manufacturer.

Wayne attributes his fierce ability to lead others to his military service. "A good leader will lead by encouraging, inspiring, and motivating others on a path towards success despite potential setbacks and failures While serving, I also learned many valuable qualities, skills, and lessons that provided me with the courage to adapt, improvise, and overcome any challenges that come before me"

Redline Steel is on a mission to give back: People Over Profit.

Over the last few years, Redline Steel has partnered with several Non-Profit Organizations to help contribute toward a number of special causes In 2020, Redline Steel donated $5 million in product value to Essential Workers affected by COVID-19

Colin's Advice for Entrepreneurs:

"Stop overthinking, and don't be afraid to fail. Keep moving forward no matter the battle you're fighting through. You can overcome defeat but will not overcome the barriers you were too scared to attempt if you don't at least try. Your inner critic is the most significant impediment to obtaining success and wealth I can tell you from experience that if you get past your anxieties, you'll often achieve exponential growth as an individual Remember to lean on others, especially your brothers and sisters within the Veteran community, for they are familiar with persistence, resilience, and total determination"

Redline Steel Specializes in High Quality Home Decor products that are Proudly Made in America.

They offer Custom Address Signs, Custom Monograms, Portrait Frames, Canvas, Desk Decor, Apparel and much more. Shop at www.redlinesteel.com

BUSINESS AWARDS FINALISTS

22nd and Pine 27 West 42 MM Golf Inc

49 North, A Division of Techwerks, LLC 7 Eagle Group

ABC Fitness Connection

Aidans Fancy Work

Aleesias Balloons

Aloha Bread Co

Aloha Bread Co L.L.C. AMOR umbrella

Amy Miller, AFC® Military Money Coach

Armyprinncess Collection LLC

Badass Coffee Causes

Bailey Military Family Support Group

Birdy Boutique LLC Buswell Biomedical

ClickIt Social Media, Inc CO Safe Schools LLC

Coach Kisha White Dauntless Wine Company

Dawn The Tour Guide

Defy Nutrition, LLC Drive Thru Joe Empowerment Empire Encouraging Teens

Fair Winds Candle Company

Fire Away Roadhouse & Rest Camp

Focus Digital, LLC

Goldfinger Accessories

Graceful Leo Designs Harris Financial Coaching

Hathaway Miranda LLC Healthy Living with Schree Kenneth Gay Education, LLC Kids' Cake Boxes Kingdom Koils Kit Amidzich - Roots Realty, LLC KoFe Confessions Leaders Lead the Podcast Legend Acres

Life Flip Media

Lioness Defense Firearms Training

Lizzie Bobs Sweets From Scratch LLC Lowe Fencing

Magical Order of Brave Knights, LLC Mazzika Restaurant

MelMarie LLC

Mindful Vision Counseling Moody Mocha Moxie Fitness Apparel My Seester

NEET SHEETS

Operation Child Care Operation Unbroken Patriot BBQ LLC PCS Reform/ PCS Like A Pro Personal Enrichment Counseling & Consulting Services, PLLC Poe & Company Limited, LLC® Purepost Inc

Raquel Riley Thomas Beauty Reinforcing Wishes, LLC Reveille Grounds

Rockin W Co

Rugged Pilot Coffee LLC

S.H.I.' Management - Structured Healthcare Information Management, LLC Salchow Coaching, LLC

SDVOSB Laboratory | LabTECH Environments

Soul Led Movement Sponsor Match, Her Ruck Spouse SERVE Spouse-ly Surf Mafia San Diego Syt Launch Team Linville LLC dba Shop Custom Swag

The Freelance Coach

The Leadership Void Podcast The Military Money Show The Tyne Group

Through The Kaleidoscope Wellness

Tim's Carpet and Floor Care

TORCH Warriorwear Triangle Fragrance Truth Speaks Group LLC

Umbrellas of Hope TV Universal Spartan, LLC

Washington State Department of Veterans Affairs

Wild Child Sleep You, Loud & Clear ZeroMils

Zhi Bath & Body

Get to know Todd Ernst , Founder

By Kenneth Gay & Todd Ernst

What three letters can make a military member or military spouse smile or cringe? You got it: PCS, formally known as a Permanent Change of Station (a fancy term for a military move). Put simply, a PCS is one of the most stressful parts of military life for service members and their families

Military families move a lot – typically every 2 or 3 years. Air Force veteran Todd Ernst founded PCSgrades to help ease some of the stress associated with military moves

Todd has always had a passion for serving military families. During his 22 years in service, he experienced and observed the many challenges facing military families. In 2011, when the widow of a fellow airman stopped receiving survivor benefits, Todd went to work to advocate for change. For the next several years, he spearheaded meetings at the Pentagon and met with members of Congress to fix the disparity in survivor benefits. In late 2017, his hard work paid off with successful changes to legislation that ensures every family who loses a service member in the line of duty receives the same survivor benefits. PCSgrades is the product of that passion. PCSgrades was designed to give a voice to military families and to create a platform where military and veteran families can help each other through crowdsourced information from the people we trust the most: one another A place to address our biggest must-solve relocation and real estate needs A place with information, resources, reviews, and advice from military and veteran families just like yours

With each military relocation, families are faced with life-changing decisions: where to live, whether to rent or buy, which schools their kids will attend, and how to make the most of their new duty station.

PCSgrades exists to help make moving a little easier for military and veteran families. The website provides free access to reviews written by military and veteran families, informative articles, area guides, calculators and other key tools These unique resources provide information about the biggest must-solve questions involving on-and-off base housing, moving companies, real estate agents, mortgage lenders, schools and more

Access the free PCSgrades BAH calculator, which provides the most up-to-date housing allowance data. This information can help determine your housing budget, decide whether to live on-base or off, and choose whether to rent or buy your next home.

Plus, PCSgrades offers profiles with reviews of real estate agents, mortgage lenders, and other professionals who work regularly with service members and offer exclusive promotions and incentives for military and veteran families

Less than 2% of all Americans have served in the armed forces. Having someone on your side who understands what you’re going through makes all the difference

"Service2CEO was a game-changer for my business. I was completely overwhelmed with all the working parts of starting a business and almost gave up on my dream. This program broke it down into small manageable chunks and provided me the hands-on assistance that I needed. I was able to convert what had once been a hobby into a full-time portable career with the mentorship and programming provided by The Rosie Network."

"It's uncanny to realize I've been self-employed for a decade I started a consultancy in 2012 Once I took ownership of the direction of my life, I realized my impact to help others would be limited if I didn't break free from employment into entrepreneurship."

Magda Khalifa is a US Army Special Operations combat veteran, business owner, speaker, and bestselling author. Magda grew up in the New York City area and worked in the information technology industry in the nineties. After witnessing the September 11th attacks and the aftermath, Magda was driven to change the direction of her life Magda enlisted in the US Army Reserve in a Special Operations Civil Affairs Unit. After two tours in Iraq, she returned home to face another battle, struggling with transition and health issues.

In 2020, just after her self-help memoir, "American DREAM: Discipline, Resilience, Endurance, Adaptability, and Mentorship to Succeed and Win in Life", was released, Magda launched Triangle Fragrance, a luxury men's and women's fragrance line Magda faced challenges with her fragrance company early on when COVID closed in on the world.

A portion of proceeds of sales on TriangleFragrancecom benefit Magda Khalifa Foundation.

SUPPORT THE MISSION

Help recipients in the attainment of inner peace and personal freedom. Magda Khalifa Foundation is a fiscal sponsorship of Legacy Global Foundation, a public 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization

Magda's time in combat equipped her for entrepreneurship, starting with the non-stop operational tempo, the discipline and focus developed to get results, the resilience to get back up and keep going, the adaptability to think quickly, to be decisive, commit and execute, and the need for constant forward momentum to stay ahead of the enemy or competition in business On the battlefield, expedient solutions and outside-the-box thinking are essential, and that skill set is invaluable to solving business problems.

I understand the struggle of transitioning from uniform to being a civilian and the lack of purpose that follows, having been part of something greater than yourself. I encourage fellow veterans to use their battle-tested skills, experience, discipline, leadership, and tenacity to solve problems through entrepreneurship Americans crave Made in the USA products and need quality services from leaders with integrity and honor. What better way to continue the mission and defend the ideals of freedom than with a new chapter of entrepreneurshipsolving problems and expanding the capacity and capabilities of our nation?

Magda's advice to the next generation of veteran entrepreneurs. www.trianglefragrance.com

A personal highlight for Magda was when her fragrances made it to the shelves of a New York City fashion boutique.

BY KRISTA WELLS, THE MILITARY SPOUSE COACH®

When I dropped my kids off at preschool, I thought I would see my new coaching clients from 9–12 and then be a mommy for the rest of the day… but the clients I was attracting to my business also had day jobs and wanted to come at 6pm! What?! It was hard to see how I could ever be successful at motherhood and grow a business, much less have a long-term dream In hindsight, I realized I needed to plan less and trust more Focusing on military family life and a career isn't easy, so take it slow and be gentle with yourself during each stage of your career journey

When I think back to the question, "What do you want to be when you grow up?" I don't remember saying I want to be a part-time life coach for military spouses and drive my four kids around in circles to school, sports, and religion, but that is my life right now. When my four kids were little and my spouse was away for reserve weekends, I had moments where I was envious of single friends climbing the corporate ladder; however, I continued to take baby steps toward my longer-term career goals I set doable goals like getting three new clients, starting blogging for military spouse magazine, and attending Toastmasters Although those goals weren't big, they were my way to keep one foot moving forward at a time towards my dream of becoming a published author

When I'd tuck my four kids into bed at night, I'd make up stories with hopes of publishing one someday. I wasn't sure if I wanted to write a children's book or a military spouse coaching book, but I dreamed of my name in print as I tucked Rosemary Wells' book back on the kid's shelf.

When my military spouse coaching business slowly filled up with private clients, I decided that the next logical step was to start working on this coaching book to reach a broader military spouse audience (Why?) But, as a working mom raising four kids, I found excuse after excuse to put off this far-off business "dream."

Meanwhile, I was teaching my life-coaching clients that there are two ways to achieve a goal: write it down or believe it will happen. One way is to set aside time every day and take action aimed at that goal, and the other way is more organic The other way involves acting "as if" you were the person who had already accomplished the goal that you'd like to achieve For example, how would I approach my business and clients if I had a book? If I had the perfect job, what would my day-to-day tasks entail? I used to tell my life coach that my "ideal day" likely included browsing the library shelves for research, maybe having lunch with a friend, brainstorming the next steps for my business, and then motivating others to follow their bliss. I would tell my clients that, even if they couldn't quit their paying job to pursue this ideal lifestyle, they should try and weave elements of their "future self" into the present. I did this; I replaced "I should" with "I feel like."

I started paying attention to what piqued my interest, allowed myself to follow my bliss, and leaned into the skills that motivated me without realizing I was on a new path toward an old dream I let the dream come to me

One day, just after the kids had gone off to school, I brewed a cup of coffee and sat at my laptop, trying to think of a blog topic I found my mind wandering back to a conversation I'd had with a client earlier in the week. She was interested in freezing her eggs, and I was intrigued. I found myself researching infertility websites until I'd lost track of time. The next day, I started sharing my findings with a friend who blogs, Nicole, who was also intrigued by the fact that infertility is a multibillion-dollar industry I realize in hindsight that I often discussed infertility with perfect strangers in the nail salon or at the park

02.

So, with both Nicole and I obsessed with the topic of infertility, we finally agreed to turn the idea into a book (did this connect with her pregnancy?) I'd said, "A fiction book?! Are you crazy?" but was secretly excited by the challenge. She said, "Yes, we just thought up a great story, and we should share it!" She made a silent clapping motion that was contagious. I said, "Fine, I'll try," and we never looked back. Sure, I thought, "I don't know if I have time for that," but I trusted my life coach Amy, who once asked, "What if you believed that time shows up for you when you need it?" I decided to lean into this philosophy for once and trust it

On the one hand, I knew nothing about the fiction world; on the other hand, it seemed like something I was motivated to learn more about I'd been telling my clients that just because we are good at a particular skill doesn't mean we are motivated by it I can clean my house, but I don't want to be a house cleaner for a living I shake when I speak but it motivates me, and I love speaking to groups of military spouses. Nicole gave the first assignment; we can meet in a couple of weeks and weave the storylines together."

Before Nicole left, I ran upstairs, opened my laptop, and started typing Greta's storyline. I found myself typing all morning, and the next day I was researching fertility law while I waited in the car to pick up the kids Any time I was waiting, I'd pop on a podcast on "How To Show, Not Tell" At one point, Nicole called me and said, "I just read Inheritance by Dani Shapiro with my book club, and you should read it" I realized in order to write fiction, I had to start reading I signed up for introductory online writing classes, and in a few short months, my friend and I learned a lot and wrote a 90,000-page manuscript. Nicole said, "Oh my gosh, I haven't gone on social media once." I responded with, "I know, and I'm behind on my shows," We both laughed at the things blocking past goals.

“I learned I can’t sit around and be comfortable all the time. Get comfortable with being uncomfortable. Go after things you want, even if people say no,”

Military spouses face many difficulties while PCSing, as the constant move hinders the ability to receive a job promotion, may lead to resume gaps, and impacts job stability Since the pandemic began in 2020, the uncertainty around this public health crisis has only exacerbated the challenges activeduty spouses endure: A CNBC article reported that 42% of spouses put their work on hold, and unemployment soared to 35% as spouses balance childcare and adjust to new environments.

While it’s demanding to have frequent moves, military spouses demonstrate resiliency, adaptability, and patience as they handle these changes They channel their evident tenacity into starting their own business

Manda McVey, a US Army Spouse of over five years, displayed exceptional talent and resolved to utilize her determination when starting her wellness and resilience coaching business, The Healitary Spouse. As the founder and CEO of her company, McVey is making history as she teaches clients how to improve their health and focuses on resilience to enhance their wellness.

“I learned I can’t sit around and be comfortable all the time. Get comfortable with being uncomfortable. Go after things you want, even if people say no,” McVey says

Entrepreneurs can set their schedule and work with their laptops from anywherewhether in a coffee shop, a coworking space, or their living room- and this flexibility appeals to military spouses who are PCSing However, McVey emphasizes that the most noteworthy part of this occupation is providing guidance and comfort to a customer.

“People started coming to me talking about their dietary challenges. I’d get those calls all the time, and I said, Hey, maybe I should start a business! Instead of working for someone else, I decided to be my coach”

“I had a story to tell, and there are women like me who have everything on their plate but forget about themselves. I am driven to do things on my own and take the leap.”

Bailey built a thriving customer base over the past year due to her authenticity

“Being exactly who I am is how I get the trust of new clients and inspire women on how to change their lives. If you have that rawness and connect personally, that’s how you bring people in.”

Both Bailey and McVey are mentees in American Corporate Partner’s mentoring program. This nationwide nonprofit organization focuses on the professional development of Post-9/11 veterans and active-duty military spouses McVey is in a small business-based mentorship program and reveals that her mentor is instrumental in her career growth

“

“My ACP mentor reminded me that a lot of the time, entrepreneurs started as volunteers, so we are natural givers, but we have to be receivers. We started this business to make a living for ourselves, so we must ensure the time is valuable ”

Since its inception in 2008, ACP has played a crucial role in a mentee’s life, and now there are over 25,000 program alumni Selfless corporate professionals from distinguished Fortune 500 companies such as McKinsey, Disney, and MLB are ready to help transitioning veterans and active-duty military spouses. Interested applicants may apply through this link: https://www.acpusa.org/mentoring-program/veteranapplication.

BY MAYA YEGOROVA, OPERATIONS ASSOCIATE AT AMERICAN CORPORATE PARTNERS

Til Valhalla Project

TheStoryBehindtheTilValhallaProject

Korey Shaffer, a Rhode Island native, joined the Marines in 2011, serving in Afghanistan from 2012-2013. While serving, Korey suffered injuries and was forced to medically retire Like many veterans, Korey struggled to adjust back to civilian life His unit had an alarming amount of suicides, which made the battle to keep moving forward even harder

On May 10, 2016, one of Korey's closest friends from the Marines took his own life - this was a turning point Korey did not take the loss well, and while grieving and dealing with his demons, he turned to alcohol. The weight of watching the most courageous people in his life fall to their demons was unbearable.

Determined to make it through another night fueled by alcohol and depression, Korey made a plaque to honor his fallen friend. He came to realize that the act of making this memorial plaque served as a coping mechanism and a therapeutic way to deal with the dark thoughts he was struggling with The next day, he gifted the plaque to his deceased friend's mom That single plaque has grown into a thriving business with a purpose, Til Valhalla Project

"I went from being "the free plaque guy" to the CEO of a company that sells products to help fund mental health support for Veterans. Today, Til Valhalla Project is a brand that offers a range of items such as memorial bands, hats, shirts, tumblers, and steel art. Proceeds from the sales go towards creating plaques for the families of Fallen Heroes, and 20% of the net proceeds are donated towards reducing Veteran suicide" -Korey

"TIL VAHALLA "

Originating from Norse mythology, Til Valhalla is abbreviated from 'until Valhalla.' It is said among service members to mean "until we meet again in Valhalla. No matter who or what you believe in – Until Valhalla is a sign of utmost respect and tells our Fallen that we will see them again one day."

The path from military service to entrepreneurship.

“Service is about discipline and finding a way to get the job done, no matter what hand you were dealt This helped me become extremely persistent in business I always operate off the phrase “Accuracy By Volume” which, in the military, refers to engaging the enemy with a wall of fire to increase chances of survival. I approach business the same way and thank the military for drilling that into me. It's very similar to the 10x rule, which basically states you have to do 10X more work than you think to accomplish a goal. Serving made me realize that if I didn’t have a skill in business, I had to be prepared to work 10x harder, and I became at peace with that until I grew the skills needed”

Business triumphs

The Til Vahalla Project has been in business for 4 full years is growing rapidly! Til Vahalla has outgrown over 5 buildings during their expansion, and they employ over 70 veterans and patriots at any given time. The future of Til Valhalla Project is looking bright. To date, they have proudly donated over $1 million to #Mission22 in the fight against Veteran suicide Over 200 lives have been saved, over 2000 plaques have been anonymously delivered, and most importantly, thousands of loved ones have been honored in just a few short years

A business with a purpose