EP13: Chelsea Mandello - Chelsea Mandello - From Navy Veteran to Vetrepreneur

"You really have to develop stamina. There will be times where you are constantly exhausted and you have to learn to keep going and push those boundaries (just like a muscle) because it really will make you better with any business you have."   Our nation's veterans have sacrificed so much for us, and a growing number are becoming entrepreneurs, looking to continue the spirit of giving once they leave the service. Today's guest on the #MakeYourMark podcast, Chelsea Mandello, is a shining example of this, as she has taken an idea borne deep inside a warship, and created a company that is directly lifting the morale of our soldiers globally.   "Seek a mentor. Mentors have been through the pitfalls that you're already going through, they've already made the mistakes...the business community of entrepreneurs love to share their experiences and help you. Do this to bypass the heartache."   Chelsea created Troopster four years ago after seeing hundreds of packages meant for her fellow sailors arrive damaged, or so late that the contents had gone bad. She was determined to change that, and is now offering through her website the ability for anyone looking to support the troops a pre-packaged box with personalized messages, photos, and snacks for a fraction of what it would cost someone doing it on their own.   "If you don't know anyone in the military, but you still really want to support the troops, we have 1000s of soldiers who don't have any friends or family members - they don't have anyone taking care of them, so we are also that bridge for the community to take care of our troops."   You will hear us talk about some of the challenges to starting and bootstrapping your own company, the tremendous rewards when things start falling your way, and several stories from Chelsea's time overseas that will shine a light on what happens when the bullets aren't flying. You will be excited to hear her story, and you will want to pitch in with her efforts, and get the word out about Troopster! I'm always thrilled to feature a member of our nation's armed services in my podcast, and this is an episode you'll truly enjoy. Happy listening!   Some Topics we talk about in this episode:   Introduction - 0:54 Joining the Military - 4:04 13 Countries / 9 Different Ships - 6:48 Chasing Boars - 9:04 Launching Troopster - 11:19 Troopster's Mission - 13:00 How Ships Connect on the Open Seas - 16:20 The Big Idea - 19:26 You Can Adopt a Troop Too! - 24:58 The Importance of Stamina in Business - 31:09 Seek a Mentor - 35:53 Wrap-up and Takeaways - 52:45 How to get involved Be sure to connect with me on Social Media @MarkMoyerCoach and go to my website, www.markmoyer.com to get access to the tips and strategies that my coaching clients get directly. If you're looking for ways to Make Your Mark, send me an email [email protected] and I'll get you going right away.   If you liked this episode, be sure to subscribe and leave me a quick review on iTunes. Your reviews and ratings will help me reach more people with ways to make their mark in life!