Veterans hang up their combat boots and become entrepreneurs

Share

Starting your own business is not for the faint-hearted. But when Wil Beardmore needs to put things in perspective, the founder and CEO of solar power constructor Bluewater Energy Inc. of Guelph, simply thinks to himself: "At least nobody's shooting at us. And at the end of the day, even on really long days, we go home and sleep in our own beds."

As a 15-year veteran of the Canadian Armed Forces who was deployed twice to Bosnia, Mr. Beardmore hasn't always been able to say that. "It helps me focus," he says, "especially during times of stress and doubt when I'm wondering where the next customer payment is going to come from and if we're going to be able to keep the lights on."

Mr. Beardmore is among a growing number of military veterans who've hung up their combat boots in favour of starting their own business. According to Veterans Affairs Canada, of the approximately 5,000 vets leaving military service every year, 25 per cent have problems adapting to civilian life.

"A lot of the military, especially those that are medically released, have transition issues," affirms Janet McCausland, manager for Prince's Operation Entrepreneur, a charitable program that helps military members become business owners. "They have lost their sense of identity and their sense of meaning. They've been part of this amazing family of the Armed Forces and now suddenly, they're out in the world and they feel like they're alone – especially those with mental health or physical issues. It can be a real challenge."

In many ways, says Ms. McCausland, entrepreneurship is a good fit for former military personnel, particularly those taking medical leave. It can offer flexibility of hours and tasks, "and you have the power to accommodate any special needs you might have," she says. "It offers people meaning as opposed to just working 9 to 5 for the Man."

And yet, she says, until three years ago, "on the military employment landscape there were organizations that helped people find 9-to-5 jobs, but there was nothing to help them become their own boss." Funded with money from Prince's Charities, Operation Entrepreneur launched in 2012 with the goal of filling that gap with one-day workshops and a seven-day entrepreneur's boot camp – both aimed at veterans.

Vets accepted to the week-long program take classes from university professors, teaming up with a business student, who helps with research, building a business plan and establishing a social media presence. Finally, if necessary, "with our partner, Futurpreneur Canada, we offer access to start-up financing and mentoring," says Ms. McCausland.

The Operation Entrepreneur programs proved a godsend for Tara Longman, who was medically relieved from her administrative post in the air force after 14 years. Ms. Longman struggled with what to do after she left the military. "I liked being my own boss," she says. "That much was clear – I didn't want to work for someone else."

So she signed up for Operation Entrepreneur's one-day workshop as well as the boot camp, bringing with her the germ of an idea for a beverage/bar catering service. The sessions taught her a great deal about how to promote her business, cold-call clients, and manage finances, she says. But most of all, she got validation for her idea. "It gave me a boost in confidence and the feeling that I was doing the right thing," Ms. Longman says.

Six months ago, she launched Winnipeg-based Proud to Serve Beverage Catering Service Inc. (a name that harks back to her previous career). "We bring everything you require to set up a bar or a beverage station, including the ice, the staff, the alcohol and the mix," she says. So far, she has catered several large events, from a martini bar at a birthday party, to a Mercedes Benz grand opening event and a Mad Men theme party. She hopes to franchise her idea in the future.

Ms. Longman credits the management and leadership qualities she developed in the military for helping her run her business smoothly. "The military is very focused on making sure that you take care of your subordinates," she says. Mr. Beardmore agrees, saying he runs his construction units somewhat like an elite military team in that "everybody has a critical role – there's not one role that's more important than another because the team has to be successful for the organization to do what is needed."

That doesn't prevent one-time Special Forces Operator Leendert Bolle from from sometimes feeling as if he is flying by the seat of his pants in his postmilitary career as founder and president of Hero Dog Treats Inc. of St. Catharines, Ont. "The military can absolutely be a dangerous job," says Mr. Bolle, who did four tours of duty in Bosnia and Afghanistan during his 16 years of service in the military. "But as far as feeling vulnerable, I would say I probably felt more confident there than I do as an entrepreneur."

In the military, Mr. Bolle points out, you must stay within allotted budgets, but you don't have to worry about cash flow. And you're part of a strong team. "You all have the same training, so you're like-minded. And you have the utmost trust in the individuals that work to your left and to your right," he says.

By contrast, being an entrepreneur is a lonely business. You set the direction yourself, Mr. Bolle says, often with a limited amount of training. And Mr. Beardmore identifies cash flow as the most worrying aspect of becoming a business owner – "at best it's a gnawing thing and at times it's the weight of the world around your shoulders," he says.

But in spite of their concerns, both Mr. Bolle and Mr. Beardmore have found success. Launched just three years ago, Hero's dehydrated doggie treats now sell in more than 750 stores across Canada and the company employs a core staff of eight. Since founding Bluewater in 2007, Mr. Beardmore has developed a large roster of residential, commercial and institutional clients. Both men hire military vets whenever possible. "We want to give back to the community," says Mr. Bolle.