From Boots to Business:
Veterans give tips to fellow entrepreneurs
you’re a veteran interested in opening your own small
I f business,
you’re far from alone.
In fact, entrepreneurs often find that the same
characteristics reinforced in the Armed Services - traits
like decisiveness, courage, logistical acumen and the
ability to stay calm under pressure - serve them well in
founding and sustaining small businesses.
Research backs that up; a recent report by the Small
Business Administration indicates some 2.52 million
businesses in the U.S. - a full 9.1 percent of all American
businesses - are majority-owned by vets.
“Starting your own business is very difficult, but I would
accentuate the advantages the veteran has,” advises Jim
Haslam, a Korean War vet and founder of Pilot Flying J,
the largest travel center network in North America. “Two
things you really understand are discipline and hard
work. Take advantage of your service experience in the
selection of what you’re going to do, who you’re going to
hire and the course your business will take.”
If you’re a veteran exploring the possibility of
entrepreneurship, consider these further tips from
successful vets.
Learn from others’ experience.
14
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WINTER GARDEN MAGAZINE
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JANUARY 2019
BPT