#204: Are Green Berets America's Best Entrepreneurs? Retired Green Beret Ben Harrow

Green Berets are trained to solve problems that don't come with instructions. Green Berets build trust where none exists. Green Berets lead small teams in uncertain environments. Green Berets adapt when the plan falls apart. Those same qualities that make exceptional Special Forces soldiers also make exceptional entrepreneurs. For Green Berets their next mission begins the day they leave the Regiment.

In this episode, Fran Racioppi sat down with Retired U.S. Army Captain and Green Beret Ben Harrow during the 2nd Annual Stars and Stripes Classic to discuss transition from Special Forces to entrepreneurship and why so many members of the Regiment are uniquely equipped to build successful businesses after service.

Drawing from his experiences leading in combat, recovering from catastrophic injuries, and building businesses after military service, Ben explains how the qualities that define a Green Beret - adaptability, resilience, disciplined execution, and solving complex problems with limited resources are the very same traits required to succeed in business. We discuss the realities of building scalable organizations, developing repeatable systems, hiring the right people, and learning when to lead from the front and when to empower others to take ownership.

We also explore the changing landscape of the Special Forces Regiment as a new generation of leaders emerges without the combat experiences of the Global War on Terror. Ben shares why preserving the culture, brotherhood, and lessons learned from previous generations has never been more important, both inside the Regiment and long after service ends.

Finally, we discuss the importance of the Stars and Stripes Classic and why events like this help preserve the team room. The uniforms may come off, but the relationships, shared experiences, and commitment to one another remain. For Green Berets, that brotherhood becomes the foundation for new missions, new businesses, and new opportunities.

QUOTES

• “The leadership had never really experienced combat.”
• “That same sense of brotherhood that we felt playing college lacrosse, the only thing closest to that was being on an ODA.” 
• “Your country has asked you to do some pretty amazing things in your career. Now have you ever thought about running a company?” 
• “Part of the reason you’re selected is to be that adaptive thinker and say to any problem you come up to “I’ll figure it out.”
• “Never lead off with no.”
• “You have to bring people in that are willing to get after it.” 
• “I don’t want to lose to Navy.” 
• “It’s just background noise.”

HIGHLIGHTS

• 0:00 Introduction
• 2:23 Welcome to the Stars & Stripes Classic
• 4:49 The status of the Special Forces Regiment
• 10:04 Special Forces Entrepreneurism
• 20:35 Character Matters

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