Veterans are uniquely situated as they transition out of the armed forces and into the civilian world with skillsets that can lend to working in almost any environment. Leadership, perseverance and a strong sense of teamwork make anyone with military experience on their resume highly desirable employees.
While the skills obtained in the service makes for a solid team member, they also make for some incredible entrepreneurs. The definition of an entrepreneur is someone who organizes and runs a business, but we know this unique set of people to be dreamers, risk takers and unstoppably positive individuals.
To serve in the armed forces is to give of yourself, to believe in things bigger than yourself and to be willing to take a risk. Do these sound pretty similar?
Why Veterans and Franchising Go Hand-in-Hand
Owning and running your own business requires taking on greater financial risks and handling pressure above and beyond what someone with a 9–5 will experience. Veterans are well-suited to handle extremely stressful situations thanks to their military training to “control the controllable.”
When this training is incorporated into leadership styles, it creates a flexible leader who can adapt and make quick decisions as situations change.
Cross-disciplinary skills are regularly taught in the military, which lends well to being your own HR department, accounting department, sales department, customer service department, and well…you get the picture. Veterans are well-suited for the many hats that business owners have to wear.
While owning a business can feel like a “walking a tightrope while juggling balls of fire” kind of one-man show, franchises come with a vast support network. Spending time in the military also offers endless networks for veterans to tap into.
Franchising is a match made in heaven for the strongly individualized but well-connected, skilled individual that the military creates.
Why Veterans Succeed as Entrepreneurs
While having the skillset to run a business is the first step in becoming a success, it doesn’t immediately mean your brand is going to perform well. Veterans, however, have found their niche in entrepreneurship, and according to data compiled by the U.S. Census Bureau, one out of every 10 businesses is owned by someone who previously served in the armed forces.
So, what is the secret to their success? Top-notch teamwork, incredible discipline and a willingness to sacrifice. Like all entrepreneurs, veterans are willing to walk into the wilderness to see their dreams become reality.
When you are building a brand, you need an intense desire to seek out success, to complete a project with the best possible outcome and to build your life and the lives of others around you.
Every business owner’s journey will be different, but success can be found along every path. Tap into the connections available. Use the skills life and previous careers have handed you. Take a risk and watch your world expand into everything you always knew it could be.
Ready to put your leadership to work in your own business? Contact us to learn more about the franchise world today!