Episode Summary

Title: Inventing the Journey: Tony Jefferson on Building a Travel Platform from the Ground Up

In this powerful episode of Battlefield to Business, retired Air Force Master Sergeant Tony Jefferson takes us through his entrepreneurial evolution—from military structure to building a personalized travel tech platform, Traveling Session.

With over two decades in service, mostly overseas, Tony always had a passion for discovering new places. But transitioning from cybersecurity to startup founder was anything but linear. He candidly shares how he went from failing out of college to finding purpose through travel, learning to code, building a business with zero blueprint, and growing from each stumble along the way.

We dive into:

• How military life prepared (and didn’t prepare) him for entrepreneurship
• The massive mindset shift from orders to ownership
• The importance of self-awareness and personality testing
• Why following your passion isn’t enough—you also have to solve a real problem
• The challenges of being an inventor with no roadmap, and learning to outsource and pivot
• Building a platform that recommends destinations based on who you are as a traveler
• Redefining success beyond income—toward happiness, freedom, and family

Whether you're in uniform, out of uniform, or dreaming about your next chapter—Tony's journey will light a fire under your feet and remind you that you're not starting over. You're building something new.

Explore Traveling Session: https://travelingsession.com

Meeting Purpose

Kevin K, owner of Bombed Out Barbecue, about his journey from military service to competitive barbecue and entrepreneurship.

Key Takeaways

•Kevin's passion for cooking, especially barbecue, was cultivated through his military upbringing and international experiences

•Military experience provided Kevin with discipline, attention to detail, and patience that translate well to barbecue

•Kevin is pursuing competitive barbecue as a path to eventual restaurant ownership, balancing passion with pragmatic business growth

•Barbecue competitions offer a mix of skill development, networking, and potential for brand exposure

Topics

Kevin's Background and Culinary Journey

•Grew up in a military family, moving frequently (Turkey, Germany, US)

•Learned to cook out of necessity and curiosity for diverse cuisines

•Joined Air Force after 9/11, transitioned to intelligence work

•Four-year deployment to Afghanistan (2009-2013) solidified interest in cooking as a coping mechanism and passion

Transition to Barbecue Focus

•Mentored by Aaron Franklin (Franklin Barbecue, Austin) around 2014

•Started competing in local barbecue competitions

•Launched Bombed Out Barbecue brand, focusing on competition circuit

•Plans to compete in 12+ events in 2024, including major competitions like Memphis in May and Kansas City Royal

Barbecue Competition Insights

•Competitions typically run Friday-Sunday

•Meat prep takes about an hour per cut (e.g., brisket)

•Cooking process for brisket takes about 12 hours plus resting time

•Judging based on appearance, taste, and tenderness

•Competitions offer networking, skill development, and brand exposure opportunities

Business Development Strategy

•Currently focused on competitions and catering

•Building brand recognition through social media and competitions

•Long-term goal of opening a brick-and-mortar restaurant

•Balancing passion for barbecue with pragmatic business growth

Barbecue Techniques and Tips

•Uses 3-2-1 method for ribs (3 hours smoke, 2 hours wrapped, 1 hour unwrapped)

•Achieves glaze on ribs without sauce using butter, maple syrup, and brown sugar during wrap phase

•Emphasizes importance of meat quality and proper temperature control

•Recommends patience and practice to perfect barbecue skills

Next Steps

•Kevin to focus on upcoming barbecue competitions in 2024

•Expand social media presence and brand awareness

•Pursue opportunities for TV appearances on barbecue competition shows

•Continue refining barbecue techniques and recipes

•Evaluate long-term plans for potential brick-and-mortar restaurant

Summary

Childhood and early influences

Paul Volpe grew up in a working-class Italian immigrant

family in Cleveland, Ohio and later Appleton, Wisconsin. His father and foster

father, both military veterans, were influential role models who instilled in

him the values of hard work, discipline, and service. As a shy, introverted

youth, Paul transformed into an extroverted, athletic young man through his

involvement in sports and community activities.

Military journey and leadership development @ 7:09

Paul joined the Army Reserves while in college, initially

serving as an armor crewman. He excelled in the military, becoming a drill

sergeant, master fitness trainer, and recruiter. Paul's military experience

taught him the value of adaptability, teamwork, and servant leadership. He held

leadership roles like Sergeant Major and was selected to attend the prestigious

Sergeant Major's Academy, which further honed his skills.

Transition to entrepreneurship @ 23:36

As Paul neared retirement from the Army, he began

exploring entrepreneurial opportunities that would allow him to continue

serving the military community. He leveraged his experience in the Army's PACE

program, which connected employers with military talent, to start his own

company, Forward March Inc. (FMI), in 2013. FMI's mission is to help employers

build effective military hiring and retention programs.

Building and evolving the business @ 29:09

In the early years, Paul partnered with two others to

launch FMI, navigating challenges like defining roles, ownership, and funding.

The company initially had multiple service lines but later streamlined to focus

on talent solutions, elite leadership training, and custom Humvee sales. FMI

has weathered storms like the COVID-19 pandemic by adapting its offerings and

operations. Paul emphasizes the importance of maintaining a clear mission,

empowering his team, and continuously evolving the business.

Advice and reflections @ 1:29:40

Paul shares advice for other veteran entrepreneurs,

including the value of internship/work-study programs, building an advisory

board, and maintaining a positive, servant-leadership mindset even in difficult

times. He reflects on the importance of work-life balance, leveraging his

military experience, and finding fulfillment in making a difference for the

veteran community and FMI's clients.