Vertical Momentum Resiliency Podcast 2.0

RANK DOESN’T MAKE YOU A LEADER.

CHARACTER DOES!

What does TRUE leadership look like when lives are on the line?

Is leadership about the rank on your chest, the title on your business card, or the number of people who report to you?

Or is it about something much deeper?

🎙️ On this powerful episode of the Vertical Momentum Resiliency Podcast, I sit down with retired U.S. Army Lieutenant General Mark Hertling, a combat-tested leader who spent 38 years serving our nation.

From commanding the legendary 1st Armored Division during the Iraq War to leading U.S. Army forces across Europe, General Hertling knows what it means to make difficult decisions, develop leaders, and carry the responsibility of command.

But here’s what makes his story even more powerful.

After leaving the battlefield, he took those hard-earned leadership lessons into hospitals, boardrooms, and classrooms, proving that TRUE LEADERSHIP ISN’T ABOUT POWER.

IT’S ABOUT PEOPLE.

We explore the meaning of authentic leadership, character, accountability, resilience, mentorship, and why earning trust matters more than demanding respect.

Whether you’re a veteran, entrepreneur, business owner, first responder, or someone simply trying to become a better leader for your family, this conversation is for YOU.

You don’t need three stars on your shoulders to make a difference in someone’s life.

You just need the courage to lead by example.

YOUR MISSION:

Listen to this episode, subscribe to the Vertical Momentum Resiliency Podcast, and share it with one person who needs to hear what true leadership really means.

🌐 VerticalMomentumPodcast.com

Because Comeback Stories Are Contagious!

To Get Mark’s New Book 📖 https://www.amazon.com/If-Dont-Return-Fathers-Wartime/dp/B0GRWSFPRD/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?adgrpid=157002325182&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.cWf06defxJS3tqY-oUBOnfJZB8QGQ89Od_jJMkM45cX3XMs8Id_d5ow7ygXgCKGzlS3obQ1ZWA0LQRDf56hwSg.eQGj17_Z4FpA06qUiTLuEYq-WF37ehoEISvRU7QupK0&dib_tag=se&hvadid=713606170037&hvdev=m&hvexpln=68&hvlocphy=9003489&hvnetw=g&hvocijid=4167120253935470041--&hvqmt=e&hvrand=4167120253935470041&hvtargid=kwd-2188882931943&hydadcr=15176_13754956&keywords=mark+hertling+book&mcid=4bb581eef05d3734b726a6b0a193ac9c&qid=1791488748&sr=8-1

☕ GREAT LEADERSHIP STARTS WITH GREAT COFFEE!

This episode of the Vertical Momentum Resiliency Podcast is proudly sponsored by Bilge Brew Coffee Co., a veteran-owned company that knows the mission doesn’t end when the uniform comes off!

🇺🇸 Support those who served while fueling YOUR next mission!

🔥 Use code VERTICAL10 for 10% OFF your order at www.BilgeBrew.com.

Bilge Brew Coffee — Fueling the Mission, One Cup at a Time!

#Leadership #MilitaryLeadership #LeadershipDevelopment

AI CAN COPY YOUR CONTENT… BUT IT CAN’T COPY YOUR IDENTITY.

Artificial intelligence is changing business faster than most people can keep up with, but what happens to YOUR brand when everyone has access to the same AI tools?

On this episode of the Vertical Momentum Resiliency Podcast, I sit down with Henry Sims, “The Identity Engineer,” to break down the future of personal branding, artificial intelligence, entrepreneurship, and building real authority in an AI-driven world.

We talk about why your story and authentic voice matter more than ever, the difference between branding and marketing, and how entrepreneurs can use AI as a tool, not a replacement for who they are.

AI can help you create faster.

🔥 AI can help you market smarter.
🔥 But YOU still have to give people a reason to trust you.

If you’re an entrepreneur, creator, speaker, coach, or business owner trying to build a brand that actually stands out, DO NOT MISS THIS CONVERSATION.

🎧 Listen now.

Subscribe to Vertical Momentum Resiliency Podcast.

🔁 Share this episode with someone building their brand in the age of AI.

🌐 http://VerticalMomentumPodcast.com

Because Comeback Stories Are Contagious

☕ Fueled by Bilge Brew Coffee Co. , veteran-owned coffee built for those who still have a mission to accomplish.

🇺🇸 Grab your coffee and use code VERTICAL10 to save 10%.

https://bilgebrew.com/?srsltid=AU7gw4WA3tpofrRA7h8FWQxAvYW9mNHJpWrqNXnW9HPvC5rfM-WPS_Z_

Drink better coffee.

Support veterans.

Keep moving forward.

To get in touch with Henry https://henrysims.com

#ArtificialIntelligence
#AI
#Branding

HOW TO START OVER AND WIN 🏆 | MAX KONAN

What do you do when life takes away the plan you thought you were supposed to follow?

You start over.

On this powerful episode of the Vertical Momentum Resiliency Podcast, I sit down with author, entrepreneur, speaker, and CEO Max Konan, a man whose life is living proof that where you start does NOT have to determine where you finish.

Born in Côte d’Ivoire, West Africa, Max survived a traumatic childhood accident that changed the course of his life.

He faced physical challenges, hearing loss, grief, scarcity, cultural barriers, and eventually the challenge of coming to America and rebuilding his life again.

But Max refused to allow what he lacked to determine what he could become.

From working late-night jobs cleaning clubs and washing dishes to becoming a special-education teacher, entrepreneur, CEO, and author of Start Over to Win, Max learned something that every person facing adversity needs to hear:

Sometimes starting over isn’t losing.

It’s your opportunity to rebuild differently.

In this conversation, Max shares the principles behind his B.R.A.V.E. Framework, how to turn scarcity into strategy, overcome setbacks, stop waiting for perfect conditions, find opportunity in what you already have, and take action when life forces you to hit RESET.

We also talk about resilience, leadership, purpose, overcoming the odds, and why your greatest setback may become the foundation for your greatest comeback.

If you’re rebuilding after failure…

Starting a new career…

Recovering from loss…

Building a business with limited resources…

Or simply wondering, “Is it too late for me to start again?”

You need to hear this conversation.

Your circumstances don’t get the final word.

Your setbacks don’t get the final word.

And your story isn’t over.

🎙️ Listen to How to Start Over and Win with Max Konan on the Vertical Momentum Resiliency Podcast.

➡️ Subscribe. Share this episode with somebody who needs a comeback. And visit http://VerticalMomentumPodcast.com for more conversations about resilience, purpose, leadership, and overcoming adversity.

Because Comeback Stories Are Contagious

To Get Max’s New Book Click Here https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FZWRQSM7?lv=shuf&channelId=500&plpRedirect=mhFallback

☕ THIS EPISODE IS FUELED BY BILGE BREW COFFEE

Great conversations deserve great coffee.

Support a veteran-owned coffee company and grab your next bag of Bilge Brew Coffee.

Use code VERTICAL10 at checkout to save 10% on your order.

Drink great coffee.

Support veterans.

Keep moving forward.

#StartOverToWin #Resilience #ComebackStory

IS FRANCHISING RIGHT FOR YOU?

What if the fastest path to business ownership isn’t starting from scratch?

On this episode of the Vertical Momentum Resiliency Podcast, host Richard Kaufman sits down with franchise expert and Franchise Guidance founder Jeff Shafritz to answer a question thousands of aspiring entrepreneurs wrestle with:

Is franchising right for you?

Jeff has spent decades in the franchise industry and has experienced franchising from nearly every angle, from franchise development and helping grow brands to owning and operating a franchise himself and ultimately helping hundreds of aspiring entrepreneurs explore business ownership.

But here’s what makes this conversation different:

Franchising isn’t simply about finding a successful brand.

It’s about finding the right business for YOU.

Your goals.

Your finances.

Your strengths.

Your lifestyle.

And the life you’re actually trying to build.

Richard and Jeff break down what prospective franchise owners should understand before investing, the misconceptions surrounding franchise ownership, how to evaluate opportunities, why due diligence matters, and the questions you need to ask BEFORE putting your money on the line.

You’ll discover why buying a franchise isn’t necessarily about buying yourself another job, and why the right systems, support, business model, and personal fit can make all the difference.

Whether you’re a veteran transitioning into civilian life, a corporate professional considering your next chapter, an entrepreneur looking to diversify your income, or someone who’s simply tired of building someone else’s dream, this episode will give you a clearer understanding of the franchise ownership journey.

Before you quit your job…

Before you invest your savings…

Before you buy a franchise…

🎧 Listen to this conversation.

The question isn’t just:

“Is this a good franchise?”

The better question is:

“Is franchising, and this particular business, the right fit for the life I want to build?”

➡️ Subscribe to the Vertical Momentum Resiliency Podcast
➡️ Share this episode with someone considering business ownership
➡️ Visit http://VerticalMomentumPodcast.com

Because Comeback Stories Are Contagious.

To get in touch with Jeff http://www.franchiseguidance.com

Thank You To Our Sponsors Bilge Brew Coffee The Best Single Source Coffee ☕️ In The World 🌎
Get Yours Here And Use Code VERTICAL10 At Checkout For 10 Percent Off And FREE SHIPPING.

#Franchising #FranchiseOwnership #business

WHAT IF THE BUSINESS YOU BUILT TO GIVE YOU FREEDOM… IS ACTUALLY STEALING YOUR LIFE?

On this powerful episode of the Vertical Momentum Resiliency Podcast, I sit down with entrepreneur, author, and creator of the Buy Back Time Formula, George Rivera, to talk about something every entrepreneur, leader, and high achiever needs to hear.

George spent nearly 30 years building businesses, including multiple eight-figure companies and a supplement business that generated more than $250 MILLION.

But success came with a price.

Long hours.

Stress.

Exhaustion.

And precious moments with his family he could never get back.

Then his father gave him a message that changed everything:

“Don’t miss Leo’s games.”

That wake-up call forced George to redefine what SUCCESS really means.

Today, he teaches entrepreneurs how to stop being the bottleneck, eliminate low-value work, automate what they can, delegate outcomes instead of just tasks, and build systems that allow the business to grow WITHOUT sacrificing their health, family, or life.

Because you can always make another dollar.

You cannot make another minute.

If your business owns YOU instead of you owning your business, this conversation could change the way you work, and the way you live.

🎙️ Listen now.

Subscribe to the Vertical Momentum Resiliency Podcast, share this episode with an entrepreneur who needs it, and start BUYING BACK YOUR TIME.

Your family doesn’t need more of your money.

They need more of YOU.

Thank You To Our Sponsors At Veteran Pride Woodworks

Makers of The Best Honors Boxes

#Business
#Success
#Family