1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:10,640 All across America and around the world, this is Veterans Radio. 2 00:00:10,640 --> 00:00:15,920 This is Veterans Radio. 3 00:00:15,920 --> 00:00:17,840 Welcome to Veterans Radio. 4 00:00:17,840 --> 00:00:20,560 I am Jim Fossone. 5 00:00:20,560 --> 00:00:22,880 I'm the officer of the deck today. 6 00:00:22,880 --> 00:00:24,760 We've got some great programs for you. 7 00:00:24,760 --> 00:00:27,760 I think you'll find very interesting. 8 00:00:27,760 --> 00:00:34,640 We always want to remind you you can find more about Veterans Radio at its Facebook site 9 00:00:34,640 --> 00:00:36,680 or at the web. 10 00:00:36,680 --> 00:00:43,120 VeteransRadio.org is our new URL, VeteransRadio.org. 11 00:00:43,120 --> 00:00:48,520 Where we're on the web 24-7, you can find a lot of our podcasts there as well. 12 00:00:48,520 --> 00:00:55,080 We post new ones every Tuesday, so you can get a new story, a new interview, 13 00:00:55,080 --> 00:00:59,960 something you didn't know before by going to VeteransRadio.org. 14 00:00:59,960 --> 00:01:04,240 And before we get started, we want to thank our sponsors. 15 00:01:04,240 --> 00:01:13,680 First up, we want to thank National Veteran Business Development Council, NVBDC.org. 16 00:01:13,680 --> 00:01:19,360 It was established to certify both service disabled and veteran-owned businesses. 17 00:01:19,360 --> 00:01:25,960 You'll find out how they can help your business by going to NVBDC.org. 18 00:01:25,960 --> 00:01:29,360 We want to thank Legal Help for Veterans. 19 00:01:29,360 --> 00:01:35,080 Legal Help for Veterans fights for veterans disability rights all across the nation. 20 00:01:35,080 --> 00:01:45,960 You can reach them at 800-693-4800 or on the web at LegalHelpForVeterans.com. 21 00:01:45,960 --> 00:01:51,840 We want to welcome to VeteransRadio today business owner, visionary Scott Lopez. 22 00:01:51,840 --> 00:01:57,560 He is the driving force behind Zepo Production Inc., better known as ZPI. 23 00:01:57,560 --> 00:02:03,160 We have him on today because we have a relationship with National Veteran Business Development 24 00:02:03,160 --> 00:02:10,520 Council, NVBDC.org, as it's better known, to Spotlight. 25 00:02:10,520 --> 00:02:16,720 He's involved with NVBDC, which is the nation's leading third-party authority for certification 26 00:02:16,720 --> 00:02:20,280 of veteran-owned businesses, really of all sizes. 27 00:02:20,280 --> 00:02:26,120 This 501C3 non-profit was established back in 2013, and it addresses the growing need 28 00:02:26,120 --> 00:02:31,720 to identify and certify both service disabled and veteran-owned businesses for the commercial 29 00:02:31,720 --> 00:02:33,600 and government marketplace. 30 00:02:33,600 --> 00:02:39,440 NVBDC has a rigorous certification process designed to withstand the scrutiny of governmental 31 00:02:39,440 --> 00:02:45,480 and corporate entities in seeking to use veteran-owned businesses. 32 00:02:45,480 --> 00:02:49,320 Scott Lopez and ZPI are NVBDC certified. 33 00:02:49,320 --> 00:02:53,160 Scott, why don't we start with this? 34 00:02:53,160 --> 00:03:00,360 Tell us why a nice kid from Texas went from high school to the U.S. Army to drive around 35 00:03:00,360 --> 00:03:03,360 M1A1 battle tanks. 36 00:03:03,360 --> 00:03:05,640 Yeah, actually, I grew up in Southern California. 37 00:03:05,640 --> 00:03:11,560 I live in Austin now, but I grew up in Southern California, and I think like most combat arms 38 00:03:11,560 --> 00:03:16,760 soldiers or anybody in the military, I don't know, college wasn't for me, right? 39 00:03:16,760 --> 00:03:18,760 So it wasn't great in high school. 40 00:03:18,760 --> 00:03:20,400 It wasn't my favorite thing. 41 00:03:20,400 --> 00:03:25,280 So I also want to say thanks to the country. 42 00:03:25,280 --> 00:03:28,840 I remember being in basic training, and every day, the dole sergeant is getting in front 43 00:03:28,840 --> 00:03:30,280 of you, and what do you hear for? 44 00:03:30,280 --> 00:03:33,360 And some of the guys were in court order to be there. 45 00:03:33,360 --> 00:03:38,120 Some were there for just the GI Bill, and the dole sergeant got in front of you and 46 00:03:38,120 --> 00:03:39,120 he goes, what do you hear for? 47 00:03:39,120 --> 00:03:40,840 I was only 17 years old in basic training. 48 00:03:40,840 --> 00:03:42,840 He goes, Lopez, what did you do in the Army? 49 00:03:42,840 --> 00:03:43,840 I said, just to say thanks. 50 00:03:43,840 --> 00:03:46,640 He said, God, that's the best answer I've ever heard. 51 00:03:46,640 --> 00:03:47,640 Get up here. 52 00:03:47,640 --> 00:03:48,640 You're our P2 leader. 53 00:03:48,640 --> 00:03:49,640 So I don't know. 54 00:03:49,640 --> 00:03:50,640 I've always just been very patriotic. 55 00:03:50,640 --> 00:03:56,440 That's for a little reason, but didn't have a whole lot of options, I guess, but worked 56 00:03:56,440 --> 00:03:57,440 out really well for me. 57 00:03:57,440 --> 00:04:03,320 Well, as we're going to hear later, as you figure, life after service has been great. 58 00:04:03,320 --> 00:04:08,840 And you're in a great position now, and you get to not only thank the country, but also 59 00:04:08,840 --> 00:04:12,760 recognize your Hispanic heritage, and we'll talk a little bit about that. 60 00:04:12,760 --> 00:04:15,440 But tell us what ZPI does. 61 00:04:15,440 --> 00:04:17,560 So ZPI, actually, is Zepo Productions Inc. 62 00:04:17,560 --> 00:04:19,840 And Zepo is just Lopez backwards, right? 63 00:04:19,840 --> 00:04:25,120 Everyone has asked what's Zepo, and I grew up, my best friend growing up, his name was 64 00:04:25,120 --> 00:04:26,120 Scott. 65 00:04:26,120 --> 00:04:27,280 So he was long, I was Lopez. 66 00:04:27,280 --> 00:04:31,880 So since I was a really young, I always been called Lopez, and then when you joined the 67 00:04:31,880 --> 00:04:33,520 Army, no one uses his first name. 68 00:04:33,520 --> 00:04:35,960 So everyone just always called me Lopez. 69 00:04:35,960 --> 00:04:39,040 So I was Lopez backwards to Zepo. 70 00:04:39,040 --> 00:04:40,680 So Zepo Productions Inc. 71 00:04:40,680 --> 00:04:49,560 We actually produced private labels and exclusive brands of services or hardware for distribution 72 00:04:49,560 --> 00:04:52,280 partners or reseller partners in the IT space. 73 00:04:52,280 --> 00:04:58,200 So Ingram, Microtek, Data, Stenix, DNH, these are all big gigantic computer distributors 74 00:04:58,200 --> 00:05:01,400 that don't have smaller groups within them. 75 00:05:01,400 --> 00:05:10,000 We offer an opportunity for them to offer, other than alternative OEM service and support 76 00:05:10,000 --> 00:05:15,160 to their customers and have a little bit of arms distance from their OEM partners, like 77 00:05:15,160 --> 00:05:18,240 I say Cisco and Dell and HP, these big guys, right? 78 00:05:18,240 --> 00:05:23,680 We offer a third party support to be able to support those, that hardware, further on 79 00:05:23,680 --> 00:05:24,920 down the road, right? 80 00:05:24,920 --> 00:05:25,920 Legacy gear. 81 00:05:25,920 --> 00:05:31,880 So it's all an extension of life for, again, supporting of legacy equipment. 82 00:05:31,880 --> 00:05:39,760 And when you go to the website, which is Z-P-I-A-O-M dot com, you'll learn more about Zepo Productions 83 00:05:39,760 --> 00:05:42,720 or ZPI. 84 00:05:42,720 --> 00:05:52,120 And this whole IT space is interesting and how you get help, maybe the smaller businesses, 85 00:05:52,120 --> 00:05:57,680 not the biggest businesses in the world, get that IT support that we all need nowadays, 86 00:05:57,680 --> 00:06:03,560 it's imperative, and we need the latest and greatest at the best cost possible. 87 00:06:03,560 --> 00:06:08,840 Why was it important after you started the business, you've been at this a while, to 88 00:06:08,840 --> 00:06:12,600 become a veteran owned certified company? 89 00:06:12,600 --> 00:06:14,320 Yeah, so it's funny. 90 00:06:14,320 --> 00:06:19,760 So I worked, luckily when I got out of the Army, I was 26 when I went to work for a company 91 00:06:19,760 --> 00:06:20,760 called Ingram Micro. 92 00:06:20,760 --> 00:06:24,880 Ingram Micro is the world's largest IT distributor, or they were at one point, I think a couple 93 00:06:24,880 --> 00:06:30,280 of guys emerged, but anyway, still $50 billion global gigantic company, and I got to go work 94 00:06:30,280 --> 00:06:33,200 for them. 95 00:06:33,200 --> 00:06:38,840 They support, they're kind of the biggest unknown company out there, right? 96 00:06:38,840 --> 00:06:41,960 They support every reseller in the world. 97 00:06:41,960 --> 00:06:46,480 So a reseller would be companies that you may be familiar with like CDW or SHI or Insight 98 00:06:46,480 --> 00:06:49,040 on the IT, pure IT play. 99 00:06:49,040 --> 00:06:56,480 But even guys like Best Buy and Staples and any of those retail guys as well, they're 100 00:06:56,480 --> 00:07:02,640 actually shipping only IT products for the reseller that we know and we partner with. 101 00:07:02,640 --> 00:07:08,040 So working with distribution, I wanted to break out and start my own company, have my 102 00:07:08,040 --> 00:07:12,320 own brand offering alternative OEM product, just ways to save money. 103 00:07:12,320 --> 00:07:17,480 So a lot of things are private labeled these days, and I'm able to source product from 104 00:07:17,480 --> 00:07:24,320 the exact same contract manufacturer as the big names that we mentioned before, with my 105 00:07:24,320 --> 00:07:28,440 name on it, at a huge discount, hardware and support. 106 00:07:28,440 --> 00:07:33,360 So because we do that, we offer that through a sales channel, I thought it would be important 107 00:07:33,360 --> 00:07:38,920 for me to be able to let my other partners utilize my certifications as well, right? 108 00:07:38,920 --> 00:07:44,840 So we're minority owned, veteran owned, SB88A certified on the Texas DIR contract, but I 109 00:07:44,840 --> 00:07:46,420 don't sell to end users. 110 00:07:46,420 --> 00:07:51,360 So those certifications really didn't help me out very much, but bigger partners, and 111 00:07:51,360 --> 00:07:55,640 again, like CDW or Insight, these big resellers that have been around for 40 years, they don't 112 00:07:55,640 --> 00:07:57,360 have any diversity status. 113 00:07:57,360 --> 00:08:01,600 And their enterprise customers are asking for diversity spend. 114 00:08:01,600 --> 00:08:03,320 Well, how can they do that if they're not? 115 00:08:03,320 --> 00:08:05,480 They need to partner with guys like me. 116 00:08:05,480 --> 00:08:11,800 So when they partner with me, now their end user gets to retire tier two spend and their 117 00:08:11,800 --> 00:08:13,800 reseller gets to retire tier one spend. 118 00:08:13,800 --> 00:08:18,200 And some of these partners like Dell and CDW are actually part of the billion dollar roundtable 119 00:08:18,200 --> 00:08:21,520 who takes prior diversity very seriously. 120 00:08:21,520 --> 00:08:29,360 And we both have a really cool solution and some really cool software around letting partners 121 00:08:29,360 --> 00:08:35,480 use my software and I do life as a manager for them, and they get to share diversity 122 00:08:35,480 --> 00:08:39,200 spend with me, even if they're not diverse partners. 123 00:08:39,200 --> 00:08:47,840 And NVBDC.org is sort of a leading certification entity nationwide for veterans. 124 00:08:47,840 --> 00:08:49,640 It's a rigorous certification. 125 00:08:49,640 --> 00:08:51,800 Really have to prove yourself up. 126 00:08:51,800 --> 00:08:53,180 And you've done that. 127 00:08:53,180 --> 00:08:57,560 And in fact, you're actually on their board of advisors, I guess they're so impressed 128 00:08:57,560 --> 00:09:00,080 with you and you're so impressed with them. 129 00:09:00,080 --> 00:09:02,680 Tell us what does impress you about NVBDC? 130 00:09:02,680 --> 00:09:06,480 Well, like you said, you know, there's a certification process. 131 00:09:06,480 --> 00:09:12,000 There are a few other companies out there, not NGOs, they call it non-governmental organizations 132 00:09:12,000 --> 00:09:16,520 that offer certifications for other than just veteran as well. 133 00:09:16,520 --> 00:09:17,760 It could be minority, right? 134 00:09:17,760 --> 00:09:22,920 But there's only several that are recognized by the billion dollar roundtable. 135 00:09:22,920 --> 00:09:28,200 And the billion dollar roundtable is where the Fortune 500 companies are all members 136 00:09:28,200 --> 00:09:29,400 of the BDR. 137 00:09:29,400 --> 00:09:35,560 And that's the certifications they accept are NVBDC for veteran, WeBank for women, and 138 00:09:35,560 --> 00:09:39,400 NMSDC, even those other ones out there, these are the three. 139 00:09:39,400 --> 00:09:45,000 And the reason the BDR chose them is because of that stringent process to get certified, 140 00:09:45,000 --> 00:09:46,000 right? 141 00:09:46,000 --> 00:09:54,280 One of the things that we've seen with NVBDC is its ability to, I think I always use the 142 00:09:54,280 --> 00:09:59,000 network and I get corrected, it's really not networking, but sort of networking between 143 00:09:59,000 --> 00:10:08,200 the veteran businesses and guys on the billion dollar roundtable of putting folks together. 144 00:10:08,200 --> 00:10:11,360 It's more of a matchmaker than maybe networking. 145 00:10:11,360 --> 00:10:16,080 But have you experienced that sort of value from NVBDC? 146 00:10:16,080 --> 00:10:22,920 Yeah, it was actually just in Louisville for their annual show and absolutely, right? 147 00:10:22,920 --> 00:10:24,640 You've got the biggest things out there. 148 00:10:24,640 --> 00:10:29,400 Dell and gigantic logos are there and the people from their supplier diversity groups 149 00:10:29,400 --> 00:10:36,080 are there and they're speaking at the event and talking to veterans and explaining them 150 00:10:36,080 --> 00:10:38,160 how do you do business with companies our size? 151 00:10:38,160 --> 00:10:42,920 You realize that most veteran-owned businesses are small businesses, right? 152 00:10:42,920 --> 00:10:44,400 We're all small businesses. 153 00:10:44,400 --> 00:10:48,000 So how do you work with Apple? 154 00:10:48,000 --> 00:10:50,200 Pretty hard to get into Apple, right? 155 00:10:50,200 --> 00:10:54,120 But if you got that NVBDC logo in there, it opens the door for you at least, right? 156 00:10:54,120 --> 00:10:58,880 It gives you the conversations and they can help you navigate a little bit easier than 157 00:10:58,880 --> 00:11:00,440 having doing it on your own, right? 158 00:11:00,440 --> 00:11:04,160 It's not very easy to open those doors these days. 159 00:11:04,160 --> 00:11:08,200 So do you get asked by other veteran-owned businesses, hey, is it worth going through 160 00:11:08,200 --> 00:11:09,200 this process? 161 00:11:09,200 --> 00:11:10,680 And if so, what would you tell them? 162 00:11:10,680 --> 00:11:17,600 Like you said, I'm on the board of advisors and like I just said, it's not easy to open 163 00:11:17,600 --> 00:11:23,560 doors at companies like Dell and Apple and Disney and these gigantic companies, right? 164 00:11:23,560 --> 00:11:29,400 So you need to have everything you can possibly do to get your foot in the door. 165 00:11:29,400 --> 00:11:35,640 And because these gigantic logos are members of the BDR, it incents them. 166 00:11:35,640 --> 00:11:39,120 They have these goals that they put on themselves, by the way, right? 167 00:11:39,120 --> 00:11:42,600 They're not like the government where they've got these government-mandated goals for supplier 168 00:11:42,600 --> 00:11:43,600 diversity. 169 00:11:43,600 --> 00:11:45,120 These are things that they put on themselves. 170 00:11:45,120 --> 00:11:49,440 So it only makes sense for them to back their investment if you will, right? 171 00:11:49,440 --> 00:11:53,280 So, you know, I let everybody know, like, yeah, if you're an veteran-owned company, join 172 00:11:53,280 --> 00:11:57,120 the everybody seat, you know, work the system and you'll get business out of it. 173 00:11:57,120 --> 00:12:07,200 So we're talking to Scott Lopez, who is the owner, visionary of ZPI. 174 00:12:07,200 --> 00:12:19,640 Talk to us a little more about sort of ZPI's vision for that, as I said earlier, you're 175 00:12:19,640 --> 00:12:25,800 proud of your Hispanic heritage and try to work in that space to help other entities. 176 00:12:25,800 --> 00:12:31,080 Talk to us a little bit about how you get to do that. 177 00:12:31,080 --> 00:12:32,720 Working with other companies? 178 00:12:32,720 --> 00:12:33,720 Yes. 179 00:12:33,720 --> 00:12:37,080 Well, you know, we're being part of the community. 180 00:12:37,080 --> 00:12:40,960 We attend a lot of events that we try to network there and help each other out as much as we 181 00:12:40,960 --> 00:12:41,960 can there. 182 00:12:41,960 --> 00:12:44,720 I'm really more focused on the veteran community. 183 00:12:44,720 --> 00:12:52,160 I'm also a member of the founding chapter member of the USA CARES chapter here in Austin. 184 00:12:52,160 --> 00:12:57,200 I'm actually trying to create my own or start our own nonprofit called On the Way, which 185 00:12:57,200 --> 00:12:58,760 helps guys just like me, right? 186 00:12:58,760 --> 00:13:04,760 A lot of people that join military that get further along our lifers, right? 187 00:13:04,760 --> 00:13:09,840 They did 20 years and they're usually officers that are entrepreneurs or guys that have been 188 00:13:09,840 --> 00:13:15,000 for longer, and there's not a lot of guys like me that only did four years active or 189 00:13:15,000 --> 00:13:20,400 three years active, seven reserved, and was a short-term guy that have actually started 190 00:13:20,400 --> 00:13:21,400 its own business. 191 00:13:21,400 --> 00:13:27,400 So we're creating a nonprofit called On the Way to help guys just like me, right? 192 00:13:27,400 --> 00:13:30,120 Our whole point is, if I can do it, you can do it. 193 00:13:30,120 --> 00:13:31,680 Let me show you how. 194 00:13:31,680 --> 00:13:39,600 So sort of working with other vector minority companies, we attend a lot of the shows that 195 00:13:39,600 --> 00:13:41,600 you would imagine. 196 00:13:41,600 --> 00:13:45,760 One of the things that I think becomes important is just what you said, but I'm going to make 197 00:13:45,760 --> 00:13:46,760 you elaborate on it. 198 00:13:46,760 --> 00:13:48,760 Hey, if I could figure it out and do it, you could do it. 199 00:13:48,760 --> 00:13:54,200 But there's a lot of learning and experience that goes in before you make the jump. 200 00:13:54,200 --> 00:13:59,640 So for guys who are going like, I just don't think I've got it, talk a little bit about 201 00:13:59,640 --> 00:14:04,040 how you get yourself to the point of going, now I'm ready. 202 00:14:04,040 --> 00:14:07,200 Well, it's funny. 203 00:14:07,200 --> 00:14:14,360 For me, I luckily was put into a sales position and when I went to work for you on my grow 204 00:14:14,360 --> 00:14:19,920 and for anyone that thinks they're not a salesperson, everybody is a salesperson. 205 00:14:19,920 --> 00:14:23,160 Every time I talk to somebody, they go, oh, I'm not like you, I'm a sales guy. 206 00:14:23,160 --> 00:14:24,400 Like, you have a girlfriend? 207 00:14:24,400 --> 00:14:25,400 Yeah. 208 00:14:25,400 --> 00:14:26,400 She's better looking than you. 209 00:14:26,400 --> 00:14:29,680 I can tell you that right now. 210 00:14:29,680 --> 00:14:31,440 That's because you're in sales, right? 211 00:14:31,440 --> 00:14:33,240 Or I tell people, like, do you have children? 212 00:14:33,240 --> 00:14:35,600 And they say, well, yeah, do you ever tell your kids? 213 00:14:35,600 --> 00:14:38,560 If you want to deserve, you're going to have to eat your vegetables. 214 00:14:38,560 --> 00:14:39,560 That's sales. 215 00:14:39,560 --> 00:14:40,560 We're all in sales. 216 00:14:40,560 --> 00:14:41,560 We do it every day. 217 00:14:41,560 --> 00:14:46,720 So that's the first thing I do is tell people, being an entrepreneur, you're going to have 218 00:14:46,720 --> 00:14:47,720 to be a salesperson. 219 00:14:47,720 --> 00:14:48,720 We're all in sales, right? 220 00:14:48,720 --> 00:14:54,120 And I think that the other biggest thing, and I just, I wish I could remember who said 221 00:14:54,120 --> 00:14:57,440 this, but basically ignorance is bliss. 222 00:14:57,440 --> 00:14:58,440 You don't know what you don't know. 223 00:14:58,440 --> 00:15:00,720 And then when you're doing it, you don't think it's that hard. 224 00:15:00,720 --> 00:15:01,720 You're just working. 225 00:15:01,720 --> 00:15:02,720 It's just work. 226 00:15:02,720 --> 00:15:03,720 You're just doing it. 227 00:15:03,720 --> 00:15:04,720 It's not that hard. 228 00:15:04,720 --> 00:15:08,400 I've always thought better, you know, I'd rather have my, the headaches that I have, 229 00:15:08,400 --> 00:15:10,040 I'd rather have for me than somebody else. 230 00:15:10,040 --> 00:15:12,080 You know, I went, I didn't start this business. 231 00:15:12,080 --> 00:15:17,520 I went on my own until six, seven years ago and I got successful pretty quick after that. 232 00:15:17,520 --> 00:15:20,800 But before that, I made a lot of other guys very successful. 233 00:15:20,800 --> 00:15:24,000 I made a lot of other guys a lot of money and I was joke around. 234 00:15:24,000 --> 00:15:26,400 I used to live in Newport Beach, California. 235 00:15:26,400 --> 00:15:32,000 And these guys that I worked for were buying nice cars, nice houses, and I was making pretty 236 00:15:32,000 --> 00:15:34,000 good commission at the time. 237 00:15:34,000 --> 00:15:39,920 I mean, for being, you know, college, I mean, high school graduate and, you know, I graduated 238 00:15:39,920 --> 00:15:41,520 at the 1.3 grade point average. 239 00:15:41,520 --> 00:15:43,920 I wasn't going to build any jets out there. 240 00:15:43,920 --> 00:15:44,920 Right. 241 00:15:44,920 --> 00:15:50,280 So, you know, I was just a good people person, I guess, but, you know, I got sick of buying 242 00:15:50,280 --> 00:15:51,680 other guys boats for them. 243 00:15:51,680 --> 00:15:52,680 I was, I was joking around. 244 00:15:52,680 --> 00:15:56,600 Like, I'm going to buy the sales book and it'll be me and a little small boat in Newport 245 00:15:56,600 --> 00:15:59,680 Harvard passing big boats that say, thanks Lopez. 246 00:15:59,680 --> 00:16:00,680 Thanks Lopez too. 247 00:16:00,680 --> 00:16:04,120 That's the name of their boat because I was buying other guys boats for them. 248 00:16:04,120 --> 00:16:06,920 And I was finally was like, you know what, I'm going to do it on my own. 249 00:16:06,920 --> 00:16:12,520 Well, one of it is just having the gumption, if you will, to go do it and you get there. 250 00:16:12,520 --> 00:16:16,800 And I think those are some of that comes out of your probably your experiences in the army 251 00:16:16,800 --> 00:16:21,200 where you're like, I don't know anything about this tank. 252 00:16:21,200 --> 00:16:25,240 And X number of months later, you're going like, oh, I'm the expert on this and this 253 00:16:25,240 --> 00:16:27,000 dumb new private's coming on board. 254 00:16:27,000 --> 00:16:28,640 He don't know anything about this tank. 255 00:16:28,640 --> 00:16:33,360 So you learn a lot of skills that you don't even think about in the service. 256 00:16:33,360 --> 00:16:37,480 Do you still kind of every now and again think, well, that's an approach I learned in the 257 00:16:37,480 --> 00:16:39,600 service that sticks with that. 258 00:16:39,600 --> 00:16:45,800 You learn very quick that I mean, I love it is that Israel or that everyone has to join 259 00:16:45,800 --> 00:16:46,800 the military. 260 00:16:46,800 --> 00:16:51,680 I think that everybody should do it because you're just literally not afraid of anything. 261 00:16:51,680 --> 00:16:54,880 You have to go through in basic training, you go through the confidence course and the 262 00:16:54,880 --> 00:16:55,880 night assault course. 263 00:16:55,880 --> 00:17:00,880 And when you get to those two things, you know, when you're young and you got live rounds 264 00:17:00,880 --> 00:17:04,840 going over your head and you get through stuff like that, you're, everything else is pretty 265 00:17:04,840 --> 00:17:06,160 pretty stupid, pretty easy. 266 00:17:06,160 --> 00:17:10,240 You literally are like, hmm, and it's frustrating for people that aren't in the military. 267 00:17:10,240 --> 00:17:11,680 Like, you don't, you think everything is easy. 268 00:17:11,680 --> 00:17:13,080 I'm like, yeah, I really do. 269 00:17:13,080 --> 00:17:14,800 I really think everything's easy. 270 00:17:14,800 --> 00:17:15,800 You can make it difficult. 271 00:17:15,800 --> 00:17:22,280 And that's what most people do is make these difficult, but it's all pretty easy, especially 272 00:17:22,280 --> 00:17:28,520 nowadays because we're all doctors now, we're all astronauts now, we're all lawyers now, 273 00:17:28,520 --> 00:17:31,320 we are now everything, we're all everything now. 274 00:17:31,320 --> 00:17:33,480 I love, that's my new favorite thing now is how do you know that? 275 00:17:33,480 --> 00:17:34,480 I'm an astronaut now. 276 00:17:34,480 --> 00:17:35,480 What? 277 00:17:35,480 --> 00:17:36,480 I just Google it. 278 00:17:36,480 --> 00:17:37,480 Right. 279 00:17:37,480 --> 00:17:38,480 You know everything now. 280 00:17:38,480 --> 00:17:40,720 So really it's getting out of your own way, right? 281 00:17:40,720 --> 00:17:41,720 Ignorance is bliss. 282 00:17:41,720 --> 00:17:42,720 Just go out and do it. 283 00:17:42,720 --> 00:17:46,080 And if you screw up, you won't even know you screwed up until you figure it out. 284 00:17:46,080 --> 00:17:49,480 It's not a big deal, but those, those start some kind of business, man. 285 00:17:49,480 --> 00:17:50,480 Go be a pool cleaner. 286 00:17:50,480 --> 00:17:51,980 You'll make more than lawyers. 287 00:17:51,980 --> 00:17:54,200 Believe it or not, look it up. 288 00:17:54,200 --> 00:17:56,520 So let's bring, we'll wrap this up. 289 00:17:56,520 --> 00:18:00,800 I think you just gave everybody the advice I was hoping you would and that is, hey, if 290 00:18:00,800 --> 00:18:05,800 you've been in the service, you've been through hard times already, you've conquered those 291 00:18:05,800 --> 00:18:08,920 things, you can make it in business. 292 00:18:08,920 --> 00:18:14,760 We're talking to Scott Lopez, who's the owner and founder of ZPI, his up all productions 293 00:18:14,760 --> 00:18:15,760 Inc. 294 00:18:15,760 --> 00:18:18,320 You can find him on the website. 295 00:18:18,320 --> 00:18:23,040 And he's a NVB DC certified veteran owned business. 296 00:18:23,040 --> 00:18:27,000 And your advice is get out there and do it and get yourself certified. 297 00:18:27,000 --> 00:18:30,880 Just go do something on your own, start your own business. 298 00:18:30,880 --> 00:18:31,880 It's not that hard. 299 00:18:31,880 --> 00:18:32,880 I don't care if you're a pool cleaner. 300 00:18:32,880 --> 00:18:34,480 The one that let me finish with it. 301 00:18:34,480 --> 00:18:35,680 I love giving people this example. 302 00:18:35,680 --> 00:18:39,080 I love telling people how much you think a dentist makes in your town. 303 00:18:39,080 --> 00:18:40,320 I'm going to be a lawyer. 304 00:18:40,320 --> 00:18:45,920 You could go and Google average income of a lawyer in zip codes 78681 and that's going 305 00:18:45,920 --> 00:18:49,480 to be and then you're going to get glass doors, sorry.com. 306 00:18:49,480 --> 00:18:52,680 You're going to get all these companies that you say, and I love telling people like, well, 307 00:18:52,680 --> 00:18:53,680 I want to make this much money. 308 00:18:53,680 --> 00:18:58,320 I'm like, well, Google how much you think a lawyer makes $102,000 a year is the average 309 00:18:58,320 --> 00:19:03,280 income for a lawyer at eight years of college, half a million in debt. 310 00:19:03,280 --> 00:19:09,040 I guess how much a pool cleaner makes 90 grand a year pool cleaner. 311 00:19:09,040 --> 00:19:11,040 I'd rather be out the pool. 312 00:19:11,040 --> 00:19:12,320 You know, so just go start a business. 313 00:19:12,320 --> 00:19:14,440 Don't think you have to work for anybody. 314 00:19:14,440 --> 00:19:15,920 If I could do it, you could do it. 315 00:19:15,920 --> 00:19:19,320 Go start a business, you know, the matter no matter what it is and get companies like 316 00:19:19,320 --> 00:19:23,960 NVBDC organizations like NVBDC certified and they'll get your name out. 317 00:19:23,960 --> 00:19:29,560 It'll help you get there and you can make a decent living working for yourself. 318 00:19:29,560 --> 00:19:30,560 That's great advice. 319 00:19:30,560 --> 00:19:35,200 Scott, thanks for spending a little time with Veterans Radio today and giving us some insight 320 00:19:35,200 --> 00:19:38,200 into the value of being with NVBDC.org. 321 00:19:38,200 --> 00:19:39,200 Yes, sir. 322 00:19:39,200 --> 00:19:42,200 Thank you. 323 00:19:42,200 --> 00:19:45,080 I want to thank everybody for listening to Veterans Radio today. 324 00:19:45,080 --> 00:19:46,640 I am Jim Fawcone. 325 00:19:46,640 --> 00:19:48,960 It's been a pleasure to be your host. 326 00:19:48,960 --> 00:19:53,680 I'm a Veterans Disability Lawyer at Legal Help for Veterans and you can reach us at 327 00:19:53,680 --> 00:20:01,280 800-693-4800 or legalhelpforveterans.com on the web. 328 00:20:01,280 --> 00:20:06,160 You can follow Veterans Radio on Facebook and listen to its podcasts and internet radio 329 00:20:06,160 --> 00:20:10,800 shows by visiting us at veteransradio.org. 330 00:20:10,800 --> 00:20:16,080 And until next time, you are dismissed. 331 00:20:16,080 --> 00:20:21,160 If you have a VA claim denied by the Board of Veterans Appeals, contact Legal Help for 332 00:20:21,160 --> 00:20:25,400 Veterans at 1-800-693-4800. 333 00:20:25,400 --> 00:20:29,400 They're experts in handling cases before the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims. 334 00:20:29,400 --> 00:20:33,360 Their number again, 1-800-693-4800. 335 00:20:33,360 --> 00:20:38,960 We again want to thank our national sponsors, the National Veterans Business Development 336 00:20:38,960 --> 00:20:48,160 Council, NVBDC.org, VA Ann Arbor Health Care System, the Vietnam Veterans of America, Charles 337 00:20:48,160 --> 00:20:56,880 S. Kettles Chapter, Ann Arbor, Michigan, VFW Graf O'Hara Post 423 in Ann Arbor, and 338 00:20:56,880 --> 00:21:02,800 the American Legion Press Corn Post 46 also in Ann Arbor. 339 00:21:02,800 --> 00:21:04,280 We appreciate all your support. 340 00:21:04,280 --> 00:21:07,720 You can go to veteransradio.net. 341 00:21:07,720 --> 00:21:14,320 Click on the sponsor level and continue to support keeping Veterans Radio on the air. 342 00:21:14,320 --> 00:21:17,720 And until next time, you are dismissed. 343 00:21:17,720 --> 00:21:22,400 Hello, it is Ryan, and I was on a flight the other day playing one of my favorite social 344 00:21:22,400 --> 00:21:24,720 spin slot games on ChumbaCasino.com. 345 00:21:24,720 --> 00:21:28,000 I looked over the person sitting next to me, and you know what they were doing? 346 00:21:28,000 --> 00:21:29,440 They were also playing Chumba Casino. 347 00:21:29,440 --> 00:21:30,440 Coincidence? 348 00:21:30,440 --> 00:21:31,440 I think not. 349 00:21:31,440 --> 00:21:32,440 Everybody's loving having fun with it. 350 00:21:32,440 --> 00:21:37,440 Chumba Casino is home to hundreds of casino-style games that you can play for free anytime, anywhere, 351 00:21:37,440 --> 00:21:39,000 even at 30,000 feet. 352 00:21:39,000 --> 00:21:42,880 So sign up now at chumbacasino.com to claim your free welcome bonus. 353 00:21:42,880 --> 00:21:46,040 It's chumbacasino.com and live the Chumba life. 354 00:21:46,040 --> 00:21:47,040 No purchase necessary. 355 00:21:47,040 --> 00:21:49,000 DTW, point, report, prohibited by law, C-terms and conditions, 18 plus. 356 00:21:49,000 --> 00:21:52,000 What's the first thing you do if you'd had more time in the day? 357 00:21:52,000 --> 00:21:54,840 Take a nap, read a book, talk with a friend. 358 00:21:54,840 --> 00:21:58,680 When you know what's important to you, it's easier to fit it into your schedule. 359 00:21:58,680 --> 00:22:00,520 Therapy can help you figure that out. 360 00:22:00,520 --> 00:22:04,000 BetterHelp offers affordable online therapy that comes to you. 361 00:22:04,000 --> 00:22:07,120 Start the process in minutes and switch therapists anytime. 362 00:22:07,120 --> 00:22:10,360 Time to make time for what makes you happy with BetterHelp. 363 00:22:10,360 --> 00:22:15,240 Visit betterhelp.com slash happier you today to get 10% off your first month. 364 00:22:15,240 --> 00:22:39,240 Visit betterhelp.com slash happier you.