What Military Veterans Must Know Before Starting a Business

In this episode of the Sales Game Changers Podcast, host Fred Diamond sits down with Jared Shepard, Army veteran, entrepreneur, and CEO of Hypori, to explore the transition from military service to entrepreneurship. Drawing from his experiences serving in the U.S. Army and building multiple successful companies, Jared shares candid advice for veterans looking to start businesses and the lessons every entrepreneur can apply to building a company that lasts. Jared explains why military leadership alone isn't enough to succeed in business, why aspiring entrepreneurs should gain commercial experience before launching their own companies, and how mentorship, humility, and continuous learning accelerate long-term success. He also discusses the importance of differentiating your business, hiring for your weaknesses, and understanding the true cost of entrepreneurship: time and risk. The conversation also examines how today's business leaders and sales professionals should think about AI. Jared explains why buyers are asking different questions than they did just a few years ago and why organizations must clearly demonstrate how their products reduce cost, burden, or friction instead of adding complexity. You'll learn: Why veterans should gain business experience before becoming entrepreneurs The mindset required to transition successfully from military service to business leadership How mentorship can accelerate your entrepreneurial journey Why every founder needs to understand their weaknesses and hire accordingly How to differentiate your business in a competitive market Why CEOs must embrace sales as a core responsibility How AI is changing customer expectations and buying decisions Why customers value solutions that reduce cost, burden, and friction Whether you're a veteran preparing for your next chapter, an entrepreneur building your first company, or a business leader looking to sharpen your sales strategy, this episode delivers practical lessons on leadership, resilience, and creating lasting business success. 👉 Key takeaway: As Jared Shepard explains, "Understand your technology well enough, or your capability well enough, that you can articulate to that need and then also understand the implications of that articulation, i.e., am I reducing cost, am I reducing burden, am I reducing friction? I hope you're doing one of those, because otherwise, people just aren't taking on new burden and new friction right now." #ai #podcast #sales #business #military #veterans #entrepreneurship