The Havok Journal

The Voice of the Veteran Community

West and Dunn Law

“Do You Pay Taxes?” Thank You, from a Veteran

"Do You Pay Taxes?" Thank You, from a Veteran by a Veteran Veterans Day is a day when many Americans walk up to a Veteran and say "Thank you for your service." Some of us feel awkward and don’t know how to really respond while others eat up all the praises. Me? I just ask a real simple question: “Do you pay taxes?” Why would any veteran ask if an appreciative … [Read more...]

In SpecOps and in Successful Business, It’s the Team or Nothing

In SpecOps and in Successful Business, It's the Team or Nothing by E.M. Burlingame That the team is everything in a startup, or any high risk organization for that matter, has been stated to such a degree it now passes as cliché and in such has lost most all of its value as guidance. So let’s not talk about it. For a quick and easy yet solid read take a look at Stephanie … [Read more...]

Special Forces, Entrepreneurship – Team First, Always

Special Forces, Entrepreneurship - Team First, Always by E.M. Burlingame Though I played a year of football in high school, for the most part those sports I participated in growing up were solitary, distance running, skiing and later triathlons. Later in life this led me to approach all endeavours, whether business, personal or athletic, as individual sports to be … [Read more...]

So You’re an “Operator”: How Exactly Does That Benefit My Investment?

So You’re an "Operator": How Exactly Does That Benefit My Investment? by E.M. Burlingame This article first appeared in The Havok Journal 9 September 2016 Having recently ended active duty service with Special Forces (SF) to return to the private sector and to backing startups, we have so far brought in four management teams composed of former Green Berets (GB), to lead … [Read more...]

Special Forces, Entrepreneurship: Group Think Kills

Group Think Kills by E.M. Burlingame Equally on the battlefields of war, startups and politics, group think kills. There is no more destructive force than everyone at the table thinking the same way, interpreting the intelligence to mean the same thing. Particularly when information is incomplete, when the truth is something quite different, or when an enemy is actively … [Read more...]

Special Forces, Entrepreneurship: The P.A.C.E. Business Plan

Special Forces, Entrepreneurship: The P.A.C.E. Business Plan by E.M. Burlingame To quote one of my more colorful and influential Special Forces instructors during the train up for SF selection, who we will call ‘Mike’, “Have a plan. And have a plan for your plan... because you are ignorant and your first plan sucks.” In the old days of Silicon Valley it was required to … [Read more...]

The Personal and Professional Pros and Cons of Rewards Credit Cards

The Personal and Professional Pros and Cons of Rewards Credit Cards by Scott Faith Rewards are the main ways in which credit card providers can differentiate themselves and attract more business. Obviously enough, some rewards cards are better than others. If you don’t know which one to choose, you can take a look at the top best rewards credit cards according to Money … [Read more...]

Credit Cards and the Veteran Lifestyle: Blessing or Curse?

Credit Cards: Blessing or Curse? by Scott Faith If you're a veteran, or any American for that matter, should you regularly use credit cards? The obvious answer is "yes."  But many personal finance experts or financial websites will tell you to stay away from credit cards simply because it adds to your debt and can make you do impulsive purchase. But if you look closely, … [Read more...]

The Special Forces ODA as a Startup Team

The Special Forces ODA as a Startup Team by E.M. Burlingame As an investor in startup companies there is always a difficult balance to be maintained, with respect to what are decisions management must make alone and my role as investor, adviser and often board member. This is due primarily to two constraints, namely my availability for any single company in our portfolio, … [Read more...]