Overview

What takes determination, guts, passion and a vision? Being a veteran of the United States Marine Corps. And also striking out on your own and becoming an entrepreneur. Discover the power, experience and wisdom four Marines utilized to create their own businesses and nonprofits in order to succeed. Through their stories you'll learn how to make better decisions, become confident and harness the motivation, vision and passion you need to be at the top of your business game. Four Marine entrepreneurs-Chris Mayfield, Eric Nelson, Jim Donlan and Craig Ganssle-reveal how they were forced to dig deep and learn powerful lessons during their time in the military. They will share the real grit and determination required to start their own businesses and how the Marine Corps empowered them to become the successful men they are today.

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Reviews

Mike Hatfield (Captain, USN Ret.) Chris Mayfield and his Veteran Grit co-authors are to be commended for using their life experiences-in and out uniform-to remind us of the power of remaining always faithful. Semper Fidelis, the Marine Corps motto, embodies that ideal of total commitment to a mission and to team members. But those words didn't come from the battlefield. The phrase is centuries older than the Marines. Historians suggest that the phrase probably began in ancient Rome as its senators admonished a newly-conquered people to remain loyal (to Rome). Long after the fall of the Roman Empire, through the Middle Ages and to modern times, the words became the motto for clans, families and towns. They appeared on flags, coats-of-arms and in a myriad of other representations. But Semper Fidelis had taken on a different meaning as a call to community-mindedness and not just a call to arms. In life and in business, as in war, adopting a strong set of values-centered around gratefulness and loyalty to our families, our country and our neighbors-will serve us well wherever we go and whatever our purpose. Brenna Ganssle (Craig's daughter who wants to be an author one day) By the time I was born, my dad was already out of the military. But that did not change the fact that no matter what, he never gave up. All my life he's inspired me to work hard and persevere, people even tell me I'm hardworking, and I like to think it came from him. Reading this, I feel like I've learned even more about what makes my dad who he is today. We come from a long line of military men and I respect that. During rough times in my dad's business, my parents avoided worrying my brother and me. We trusted God would provide, and He did. It's amazing how He works, and I feel as though I've gotten to see the real diligent, perseverance my dad writes about here more than I have before. Just now as I am writing this, he's been out west for a week working on kit demos out in the field. During harvest season he's always traveling, and I've seen how exhausted he gets. He'll come home tired and mildly cranky, but satisfied the work is done. Then he heads out the next week to do more. Such tenacity really motivates me to work as hard as he does. Darrin Chestnut (Eric Nelson's friend) Even with all of his success, Eric remains a humble and devoted family man. He is a man that cares for his community. Always remembering where he came from and trying to inspire others to accomplish their dreams. It has been my honor telling folks about his accomplishments and letting them know that I count him as one of my closest and dearest friends. A good friend knows all your best stories, but a best friend has lived them with you. We have traveled the U.S. and the world together. Always learning. Always talking. Always growing. That small-town country young man, from Dumas, Arkansas, has enriched my life, and so many others, with his kindness, friendship and selflessness. I truly believe there is nothing he would not do for those he considers his friends. Someone wrote, Friends are the family you choose. Well, I will always consider Eric my brother. Thank you, Eric, for being my friend and brother. Lt.Col. Rick Lingle, USMCR Ret Colonel Jim Donlan is the epitome of a Marine. Tough, smart, and cool under fire, he has served with valor and earned the respect of all the Marines and soldiers he has served with. He is a proven leader on the battlefield and as an entrepreneur. Jim has taken the wisdom and experience of 30 years of Marine Corps service and translated it into a successful business career.

Author Information

Chris Mayfield is the founder of a leadership and organizational development consulting firm, Profusion Consulting. Chris is a retired Marine Corps Logistics Officer, having proudly served for twenty-four years, including tours in Somalia and Iraq. Chris has nearly twenty years of experience in private sector companies, including QVC, Circuit City, and Louis Berger International, and was the COO of a handicap-accessible vehicle manufacturing company. Chris has made a lifelong commitment to building better communities. Profusion Consulting is a registered Virginia B Corporation, and Chris has decided to donate all his profits to charities in his community. Chris contributes to three particular causes. First is food scarcity. He believes no one should ever face hunger. Second, creating education opportunities. Lastly, social and criminal justice reform. Everyone should be treated equally under the law. Chris and his wife Holly, an attorney, have five children between them, ages twenty-one and twenty-nine. In his free time, Chris likes to work on his hobby farm, interview interesting people on his ESPN radio show, and Venmo money to his kids. Craig Ganssle is the Founder and CEO of Cadre-AI, Inc, an artificial intelligence technologycompany that architects purpose-built autonomous AI solutions to deliver value.Today, Craig leads a seasoned team of visionaries, technical engineers, designers, and strategists working together to introduce Farmwave, Cadre's agriculture division. Powered by a proprietary and extensive dataset, which includes three approved patents, Farmwave adds value with a unified intelligent platform across multiple channels in agriculture. With integrated smart tools, Farmwave increases agriculture profits in the billions on an annual basis. In addition to agriculture, Cadre has developed purpose-built solutions adding value for clients in manufacturing, smart spaces, and marketing automations.In addition to his contributions in the public sector, Craig served honorably in the United States Marine Corps as an intelligence communications operator. He was later honorably discharged in 2001 for medical reasons. During his seven years of service, Craig was decorated with various commendations and medals for his service. Upon leaving the military, Craig spent fifteen years as a senior engineer with Verizon Wireless prior to founding Farmwave.Craig is very active in the tech community in Atlanta and Alpharetta, GA. From August 2017 until November 2017, Craig was a board member of Tech Alpharetta and later served as Chairman of the Board from November 2017 until October 2018. Craig also served on the Forbes Technology Council (2017), the FCC Rural Broadband Task Force (2020/2021), Ignite HQ Board Member (2019), and is currently a Global Ambassador with the Swiss Cognitive World-Leading AI Network, as well as a member of the Dean Advisory Council at the University of Georgia CAES. Craig resides in Dawsonville, GA, with his wife Jenny and their two children. My name is Eric W. Nelson, a native of Dumas, Arkansas, and a graduate of the class of 1991. I grew up as a small-town country kid. I continue to chase my goals while looking out and assisting others in achieving their goals. Leaving Dumas immediately after high school graduation, I joined the Marine Corps, where I successfully served this country for over twenty years before I retired as a Chief Warrant Officer. I moved on to become a corporate executive and am now the Chief Executive Officer of Nelson Intelligence Solutions, LLC.I graduated Marine Corps' recruit training on November 22, 1991, and went to Camp Pendleton, California to attend Marine Corps Combat Training (MCT), where I became a distinguished graduate. Upon graduation, I received orders to the Defense Mapping School, currently The National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA), Ft. Belvoir, Virginia, for Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) training as a 0261 Geographic Intelligence Analyst. After successful completion of MOS training, in January of 1993, I was assigned to the 2nd Topographic Platoon, 2nd Intelligence Company, 2nd Surveillance, Reconnaissance, and Intelligence Group (SRIG). While assigned to the 2nd Topographic Platoon, I went on two consecutive deployments with the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) where I participated in operations Restore Hope, Provide Promise, Deny Flight, and Joint Endeavor. In February of 1997 as a Sergeant, I transferred to the Navy and Marine Corps Intelligence Training Center (NMITC) in Dam Neck, Virginia, to assume duties of a basic intelligence instructor. While assigned to NMITC, I received the honor of being certified as a Master Instructor, Instructor of the Year, and also obtained a secondary MOS as a 0231 Intelligence Analyst. In January 2000, I attended the Advance Topographic Analysis Course at Ft. Belvoir, Virginia, where I achieved becoming the honor graduate. Immediately after the advanced course, I transferred to the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) at Bolling Air Force Base, Washington, D. C., where I served as a Geospatial Intelligence Officer. While assigned to DIA, I also served in the J2, Joint Targeting for the Joint Chief of Staff in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. In September 2003, I checked into the 3rd Topographic Platoon, 3rd Intelligence Battalion at Camp Hansen in Okinawa, Japan. As a Gunnery Sergeant, I served in a multitude of places, such as the Terrain Analysis Chief, Operations/Production Chief, Intelligence Chief, and the Company Gunnery Sergeant. I also had the pleasure of deploying/serving as 31st MEU's Intelligence Chief in the Al Anbar province of Iraq during the fall of Fallujah (al-Fajr) and the first Iraqi election. In May of 2006, I joined Marine Corps Systems Command (MCSC) as a Project Officer for the Topographic Production Capability (TPC). This duty included managing a contract in excess of $20 million dollars, in addition to overseeing numerous contracts to re-outfit the Marine Corps' entire geospatial capability. In February 2008, I was appointed to Warrant Officer and assigned as a Senior All-source Intelligence Analysis Officer. After Completing the Warrant Officer Basic Course and the Marine Intelligence Analysis Career Course, I was assigned to the Geospatial Intelligence Directorate at the Marine Corps Intelligence Activity as the Deputy Director of Production, which culminated in more than twenty years of my honorable service.Some of my personal military awards include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Joint Commendation Medal, a Navy/Marine Corps Commendation Medal, two Joint Service Achievement Medals, two Navy/Marine Corps Achievement Medals, and five Good Conduct Medals.

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