Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Eddie Garcia, Founder, and Owner of MIL-VETS, located in Arlington, VA, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
MIL-VETS is a veteran mobile integration app that connects veterans and military spouses to an ecosystem of veteran service organizations and veteran-owned businesses. MIL-VETS customers are military, military spouses, and veterans who want easy mobile access to veteran transition, hiring, health, leadership, entrepreneurship, training, news, and event services.
Tell us about yourself
As a 22-yr Army veteran, I recognized the multiple challenges veterans face when transitioning out of the service. There is an overwhelming of data for veterans with very little useful, actionable information. I wake up every day with the goal of streamlining the process for veterans and military families to access the services and benefits that they've earned.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
Our most significant accomplishment has been launching our mobile integration app on the Apple App Store. There is no other app in the marketplace that streamlines veteran and military spouse services with instant access to actionable information while providing a current snapshot of veteran-owned businesses in the user's immediate location. This is a game-changer for the veteran ecosystem.
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
As a small business owner, the hardest for me is being intimately familiar with all aspects of business operations. As the owner, I need to be a sales manager, marketer, accountant, HR, and project manager. Every aspect of the business is essential and needs to be understood and observed intently.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Just do it. Don't wait, and don't overthink. The longer you wait, the easier it is to talk yourself out of your dream.
- Anticipate problems. Problems are a normal part of business for everyone, and every business has them. Expect that things won't always go right, so build flexibility into your processes and have a backup plan to adjust.
- Keep pushing. Quitting is the only failure. There's always a way to win, but you have to be in the game to find it.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://mil-vets.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ItsEddieGarciaVA
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/eddiegarciava/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/EddieGarciaVA
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eddie-garcia-va/
If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solo or small business entrepreneur that you'd like to share, then please answer these interview questions. We'd love to feature your journey on these pages.
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