Identifying Risk in Your Small Business Every small business carries at least one risk capable of crippling operations and most have a handful. The challenge isn’t that risks exist; it’s that many owners don’t identify them early enough to prepare. Some threats are obvious, like a sudden change in government regulations that reshapes your industry overnight. Others are harder to spot, such as a disruptive competitor quietly gaining traction until your customers start drifting away. Internal risks matter just as much. A key employee leaving can stall momentum, delay projects, or create knowledge gaps that take months to rebuild. Cash‑flow shortages—often the silent killer of small businesses—can turn a healthy operation into a crisis with one slow sales cycle. Legal exposure, natural disasters, or relying too heavily on one customer or revenue stream can also put your business in a fragile position. The goal isn’t to eliminate risk; it’s to see it clearly. When you understand where your vulnerabilities are, you can build buffers, diversify revenue, strengthen processes, and create contingency plans that keep your business resilient no matter what comes your way. What is your biggest risk? Be honest, if you don't know, you better ask someone who has more insight or experience. There are always risks.

You’re not in the military anymore. You’re a civilian now, and the game has changed. As an entrepreneur, the rent is due every day. There’s no guaranteed paycheck on the 1st and 15th. Success isn’t about rank or time served. It’s about what you do next. If you want to win in business, you have to invest in learning what others already know. I've invested more than $100K+ in my own education. ❌ Not in a fancy certification. ❌ Not in a traditional college. ❌ Not a "School of Entrepreneurship" Not because someone told me to. Because I knew I couldn't afford to figure everything out the hard way. I invested in: ✔️ Mentors who had already built what I wanted to build. ✔️ Coaching from people who had walked the path before me. ✔️ Training programs that filled in the gaps and gave me practical, real-world skills. That investment has paid dividends far beyond the dollars I spent. The fastest way to grow isn't through trial and error. It's learning from people who've already made the mistakes. The good news? You don't have to do it alone. That's why we created the Veteran Business Community. No matter where you are on your entrepreneurial journey, there's a place for you. 💡 Have a business idea? Stay with our Standard Membership and get the training, community, and support to launch. 🚀 Already building your business? Upgrade to Premium for advanced training, business coaching, and battle-tested frameworks to help you grow. 📈 Ready to scale? Join VIP for direct access to David and me, strategic introductions, mastermind sessions, and weekly one-on-one office hours. No matter where you are today, invest in yourself. Because the best investment you'll ever make isn't in your business. It's in the person building it. 👉 Learn more and choose the membership that's right for you: https://www.skool.com/214/plans

@David Jones how do you create all those tabs in the sub header? I only have Intros and discussion tabs

Conventional wisdom says to find industries that are growing. Today that could be AI implementation services, drone manufacturing, electric vehicle charging stations, assisted living homes...... What about getting into a business that people are jumping ship? There are a lot oof businesses that will just cease to exist as Baby Boomers retire and hang up their entrepreneurial hats. Is there opportunity for you to get a larger piece of a smaller pie? Real world example: I had a client who was in business for 30+ years. The main focus was wedding photography. As more and more people got married, the demand went up. With advancements in digital cameras, the skill needed and cost to start a wedding photography business went way down. So did their margins, as new competitors competed on price. They decided to refocus the core business service completely to something that went obsolete 40 years ago. They took old 8mm film and would transfer the images into a digital format. They needed to get old equipment that could actually read the old films, and target new customer market. It proved to be the right move, because there was very little competition. The business model also worked well because customers were emotional about losing old films of their parents and grandparents, since they had no way to view it (think VHS tapes now, or DVD players). This made the cost well worth it for customers, as the fear of losing the memories is hard to put a price on. What examples do you have of shrinking industries or opportunities where you can be a big fish in a now small pond?

What they actually need… is a battle plan. Too many founders get stuck in theory. Reading, researching, waiting for the “perfect” strategy. But theory doesn’t create traction. Execution does. I was speaking to an aspiring veteran entrepreneur who recently booked a consult with me. Smart. R&D-driven. Deep subject matter expert. But knew support was needed to turn innovation into income. In just 60 minutes, we mapped out: > A clear, compelling offer > Messaging that drives buy-in > A lean, scalable sales system No fluff. No filler. Just real frameworks from someone who’s been on the business battlefield. Sometimes the fastest way forward is to borrow someone else’s scars. If you’re sitting on a great idea but not sure how to get it moving… Upgrade to a VIP Membership and schedule a one-on-one battle plan session with David or me. We'll help you clarify your offer, identify your next best move, and build a practical action plan to move your business forward. You'll also unlock our growing library of premium resources, including training, templates, tools, and exclusive content designed to help veteran entrepreneurs start, grow, and scale their businesses. Sometimes all it takes is one conversation to replace months of trial and error. Learn more and upgrade here > https://www.skool.com/214/plans