Jamie Doud ⋅ Houston, TX JRD Consulting; (Prior): Easton Sports ⋅ 20 years experience

Hi Baren, thanks for your years of service in the USMC. My father was in the USAF. I currently own my own small business in Houston (business consulting, I specilize in startups, HR & accounting/finance). I've been looking to close my business and return to being a full time employee for someone else who can pay my salary and provide my benefits.

I don't share this with you to discourage you from starting your own business (as a Marine I know you feel you can do what ever you set your mind and will to), just as an attempt to ensure you truly understand what it takes to research, design, develop, fund, startup, run, and have a profitable company that will provide you, your family, any investors, and any employees the proper ROI, compensation, benefits, and standard of living for the amount of time and effort that owners of businesses put into them without having to completely mortgage your home, savings, etc.

If you feel this is something that is in your blood, and you feel very confident of your "idea", please send me an overview/outline of your business idea with as much info as you can (I will hold it in the strictest confidence, and I will sign an NDA if you like), and I will review. I will give you an honest assessment of this information, and if it makes sense, I will help you with a business plan. Send info to: jrdoud1@gmail.com.

Thanks again Baren for your service to our great Country.

Baren Berg ⋅ State College, PA A Few Good Leaders ⋅ 20 years experience

Suitable employment - Rob.

I wanted to provide some feedback in the last 6 months I attended EBV - through Syracuse University Consortium (9 universities across the country) 8 day in-person business training, Operation Reboot (2 day course, 8 week online course), and worked at the Small Business Administration - Office of Veterans Business Development. I still have yet to register with the IRS, gain an EIN or TIN. Through the EBV program, there is pro bono legal services through DLA Piper. They have yet to reach out to me in the last 3 months. I've spoken to the pro-bono Certified Public Accountant at CBiz about the financial structure of the business model. They have yet to reach back out in the last 3 months as well. There does remain a gap in counseling and training services provided for Veterans who ultimately due to the challenges of their injuries incurred in the line of duty have very little alternative options to be productive members of our communities, the economy, and boasting the GDP. How can we over online assistance of legal and accounting assistance? The degree of complexity for each NAICS, individual disabilities, and economic factors tends to formulate a widely dynamic set of needs for each person. There are several resource partners through the Small Business Administration - SCORE, SBDC, WBC, SBA District Offices (68), and Veteran Business Outreach Centers. There remains a new push for agile startups, crowd sourcing, and non-traditional financing. Unlocking the knowledge in an open source forum for all those who elect self-employment should be the collective consensus. Books and materials are currently funded through tax dollars and donations from private sources. It still does not effectively lead to business formation, start-ups, profits, jobs created, and strengthening our economy. Instead of focusing efforts on referring "passing the Vet", exploitation of Veterans for philanthropic institutions, and individual privileges/recognition might we look to outcomes and results as the true indicator of aid and assistance to an underserved, minority of wounded, ill, and injured.

Baren Berg ⋅ State College, PA A Few Good Leaders ⋅ 20 years experience

Gentleman, many thanks for your feedback and professional counsel. My email is bergb@icloud.com . I think it would be great if the people on this message board could create a share point website to upload information, have a discussion board, provide literature on self employment, and consolidate resources. If we go a step further having industry specific mentors would be the ideal catalyst for economic prosperity through a feasible business plan for transitioning/active military. Follow the vision, the final phase would be having geographical local veteran chambers that meet with the intent of upward mobility and economic prosperity. With the usage of technology like google help outs, Skype, and FaceTime connectivity to mentors could be further enhanced.

Phil Marcoux ⋅ Mountain View, CA PPM Associates ⋅ 40 years experience

Baren, I'm new to this blog site but might be able to give you some guidance. I've started 3 silicon valley companies, mentored others and have been an angel investor in several. Most recently I helped my son-in-law buy two businesses so he could be self-employed. He's an ex-marine - recon 1 with many battle scars. I feel very motivated to help him and folks like him.

Let's start by finding out what you think you want to do, why you want to do it, and why you think you can make enough money doing it.

Phil Marcoux, Mountain View CA.

Jack Bosma ⋅ Butler, NJ U.S. Navy, Chief Petty Officer ⋅ 23 years served

Chamber of commerce offices

Jack Bosma ⋅ Butler, NJ U.S. Navy, Chief Petty Officer ⋅ 23 years served

boots to business at syracuse university

Guy Graves ⋅ San Antonio, TX GEO Group, Inc. ⋅ 15 years experience

Baren, I commend your focus and pursuit and wish you well. One of my drives is to show our returning military and vets what entrepreneurs do and business ownership. Over the next 5 to 10 years there will be a large number of businesses on the market for sale due to retirement of baby-boomer owners. I believe that you military men/women can form teams sharing the talents and skillsets to own these businesses. Now one area of concern for me is the disabled vet. Please consider how you and I might collaborate.

Good luck Baren

Baren Berg ⋅ State College, PA A Few Good Leaders ⋅ 20 years experience

Thank you I will be in touch as I need to include competition of some pilot project documentation, for conducting business trial.

Baren Berg ⋅ State College, PA A Few Good Leaders ⋅ 20 years experience

Supplemental income source turning talent into profit, eventually leading to main income. The vocational rehab program is the educational option offered right now through the veteran affair, going through it will allow self employment. It is the best option at this point that I've come across. Even though it is subpar, it confers a few areas as compared to nothing. Finding capital as a category II veteran still remains a barrier to market entry. The scope and cost constraints limit development. I was stating my observation with respect to the current perceived "benefit".