Joint Venture Veterans & My Army Story

Hard to believe it’s been nearly 20 years already…

(Yes, that’s me on the left back in March 1991)

Back when I was in college, I answered an ad in the local paper about a “communications job”, and when I found out the interview would be held at a nearby National Guard armory, I told my buddies…

“I’ll be damned if they’re gonna get ME to join the Army!”

6 months later, I was getting my head shaved, and was told to “drop” more times than I care to remember (I actually didn’t mind that… it was great exercise).

That recruiter was one heckuva a salesman, convincing me to join so I could get the GI Bill and try to earn a ROTC scholarship (I did).

Fast forward to today… Veteran’s Day here in the U.S… and I remember those 6 years spent as a member of our country’s National Guard (a “no go” to you “regular army” vets) as a time that I cherish, in large part, because it made
my Dad proud.

Dad always suggested I should consider joining the Army, but it wasn’t until I’d been through it that I really GOT what he meant… I’d learned a lot about RESPECT, hard work, and appreciation for the freedom that others lost their lives to provide for us.

My dad was THIS close to going to Vietnam when he was in the Army, but I’m glad he didn’t, because I may not be here today, if he had.

I was fortunate to not have to fight in a war, either, with Desert Storm ending 2 weeks before I got out
of B.A.S.I.C. Training, but had I been called upon, I was ready and willing to go.

Today, though, I was trying to think of a way to somehow tie in Veterans Day with joint ventures, and it hit me that I have some fantastic videos/interviews of some “Joint Venture Veterans” that I could share with you.

I commissioned my friend and copywriter, Lawton Chiles, to interview some top marketers who have used joint ventures to catapult their businesses to new heights, and I wanted to share those with you today…

Joint Venture Veteran #1: Cory Boatright
Joint Venture Veteran #2: John Carlton
Joint Venture Veteran #3: Chris Haddad
Joint Venture Veteran #4: Tim Houston
Joint Venture Veteran #5: Martin Howey
Joint Venture Veteran #6: Michael Masterson (Audio only)
Joint Venture Veteran #7: Alex Pardo

Enjoy these interviews, and if you know of anyone who sacrificed their time with family, jobs, or school to help defend our country, let them know you appreciate it… and give a solute to the sky to those who gave up their very lives for the rest of us.

With respect,

Andy Hussong
U.S. Army 1990-1996

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