TIME WE APPRECIATE IT.

>> THANKS, LAURA.

[♪♪] >> Renee: OWNING A BUSINESS IS HARD WORK.

AND ACCORDING TO THE DISABLED AMERICAN VET RANGES OR DAV, VETERAN ENTREPRENEURS OFTEN FACE THEIR OWN SET OF UNIQUE CHALLENGES.

AT THE PATRIOT BOOTCAMP HOSTED BY THE DAV, VETERAN ENTREPRENEURS RECEIVE HANDS ON MENTORSHIP FROM PROFESSIONALS TO MAKE THEIR BUSINESS DREAMS A REALITY.

>> WE SEE THAT VETERANS HAVE GIVEN UP A LOT OF THE TIME THAT THEY USUALLY WOULD HAVE SPENT STARTING A BUSINESS FOR TRADITIONAL ENTREPRENEUR.

SO THEY DON'T NECESSARILY HAVE THE FOUNDATION IN ALL AREAS TO SUCCEED WITH A BUSINESS.

SO WE'RE HELPING THEM WITH THE BUILDING BLOCKS STUFF.

>> THERE'S NO RULES IN ENTREPRENEURSHIP.

THERE ARE NO CLEAR PATH WAYS TO THE TOP OF THE MOUNTAIN WHEN YOU OWN YOUR OWN BUSINESS.

IT IS A BIG SHIFT FOR ENTREPRENEURS THAT ARE VETERANS TO GO FROM A STRUCTURED ENVIRONMENT WHERE YOU'RE GETTING PROMOTED ON A SCHEDULE AND TESTING AND DA, DA, DA AND TO CHOOSE YOUR ADVENTURE WHEN YOU START YOUR OWN BUSINESS.

YOU GET FOUR HOURS OF MENTORSHIP WHICH IS VERY INTENSE PERIOD OF INSTRUCTION OF BACK AND FORTHWITH SOMEBODY CUSTOMIZED TO YOUR NEEDS.

AND YOU ARE GOING TO LEAVE WITH A NETWORK A COMMUNITY THAT IS THERE TO SUPPORT YOU.

>> THE BEAUTIFUL PART IS THAT IT'S NOT JUST FROM A THEORETICAL PLACE THE MENTORS THAT DONATE SO MUCH OF THEIR TIME AND MONEY ARE PEOPLE RUNNING BUSINESSES ON A DAY-TO-DAY BASIS THEY CAN GIVE YOU PRACTICAL ADVICE WHICH IS UNIQUE TO THIS AND IT'S SO COOL TO BE AROUND FORMER MILITARY PEOPLE THAT SOMETHING A LOT OF US LOSE WHEN OUR TIME IN THE SERVICE LEAVES.

NOW WE HAVE TWO THINGS IN COMMON.

MILITARY SERVICE AND AN ENTREPRENEURIAL GENE AND YOU COMBINE THOSE TOGETHER THAT IS WHAT MAKES THAT EVENT SO FUN.

>> THE PEOPLE GOING THROUGH OFTEN DEVELOP RELATIONSHIPS WITH THESE MENTORS THAT LAST BEYOND THE EVENT.

AND THOSE ARE PRICELESS RELATIONSHIPS FOR SOMEONE.

YOU COULDN'T HIRE A CONSULTANT WHO IS A C.E.O.

NECESSARILY, BUT WE HAVE VOLUNTEERS GIVING THEIR TIME AND HELPING THESE VETERANS WAY BEYOND THE CONFINES OF THE TWO-AND-A-HALF DAYS THEY SPEND IN BOOTCAMP.

VETERANS ARE EXTREMELY RESILIENT AND CREATIVE.

WE THINK THEY ARE RIGID PEOPLE BUT PEOPLE THAT ARE ADAPTABLE AND ALWAYS TEAR IN CHALLENGING SITUATIONS.

>> THESE ARE PEOPLE THAT HAVE SEEN THE WORST OF THE WORST A LOT OF TIMES WITH THEIR SERVICE.

A SMALL ACCOUNTING ERROR IS THIS BIG OF A PROBLEM IN A WORLD WHERE THEY'VE SEEN THIS BIG OF A PROBLEM.

THAT IS A HUGE COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE BECAUSE A LOT OF TIMES WHAT IS GOING TO MAKE OR BREAK SOMEBODY IS DO THEY HAVE WHAT IT TAKES TO NOT GIVE UP AND TO STAY IN THE GAME.

>> OUR COUNTRY NEEDS MORE SMALL BUSINESSES WE NEED TO START MORE COMPANIES WE NEED MORE EMPLOYERS AND VETERANS ARE A SOLUTION TO THAT.

AND THEY PROVED WHEN THEY GET INVOLVED IN A VENTURE THEY ARE RELENTEDLESS ABOUT SUCCEEDING.

>> Renee: THE NEXT PATRIOT BOOTCAMP IS MAY 14-16 AND THERE WILL BE ANOTHER IN THE FALL WITH THOSE DATES TO BE DETERMINED.