The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official opinions, policies, or positions of StreetShares or any of its affiliates.

The invention of the internet paired with email revolutionized business communications. Emails are commonplace in business operations. While email makes business communications easier, it also makes communication less personal.

As a result, it’s easier to fall victim to some email scams, and the results could severely damage your business.

We’re excited to share the news that Mark L. Rockefeller and Mickey Konson of StreetShares
have been selected as national finalists in the EY Entrepreneur Of The Year® 2018 program! They were selected as one of four finalists (out of 23 regional winners) in the financial services category. As the world’s most prestigious business award for entrepreneurs, Entrepreneur Of The Year has been at the forefront of identifying mold-breaking business leaders for more than 30 years. The program has honored the inspirational leadership of such entrepreneurs as Howard Schultz of Starbucks Coffee Company, John Mackey of Whole Foods Market Inc., Pierre Omidyar of eBay, Inc., Reid Hoffman and Jeff Weiner of LinkedIn Corporation and Mindy Grossman of HSN, Inc. We're honored to be recognized alongside so many incredible entrepreneurs!

We sat down with some of the veterans of StreetShares to talk about the significance of Veterans Day, what its like working with so many different branches in one place, what advice they have for those who are currently transitioning out of the military, and more! Watch the video series after the cut:

"I won this contract, and it was like 300k of 3D printers and laser cutters right out the door. And I looked at my bank account and I was like, 'That's not a thing.'" 

Does that sentiment sound familiar? If so, you're in great company- like Brad Halsey of Building Momentum. On a recent visit to our office, Brad told us all about how StreetShares helped his company out of a tight spot with a government contract, and how business financing set him up for success and growth from there.

This story was originally posted in Forbes on August 3, 2016.

One organization has produced more business owners than any other single institution in the nation.

It has a proven track record of teaching leadership, strategic planning, creative problem-solving, task execution, and resiliency—all traits essential to business ownership. It is not a fancy MBA or university program.

The organization is the United States military.

For many years, military veterans have become entrepreneurs at a much higher rate than non-veterans. Indeed, a shocking 49% of World War II veterans went on to own or operate their own businesses, according to a study from Syracuse University.

In the modern era, an exciting veterans’ entrepreneurship movement is once again spreading across America. These so-called “vetrepreneurs” are thriving. They have their own accelerators and incubators, their own venture capitalists, their own support organizations and coaches, and even their own Shark Tank stars (shout out to Navy SEAL-led Bottle Breacher and Army Ranger-led Combat Flip Flops).

I’m one of the 2.5 million veterans who served in Iraq or Afghanistan. I’m also an entrepreneur. And I’m not alone. The men and women of today’s armed services are uniquely positioned to become successful veteran entrepreneurs.

To my fellow veterans:

You have what it takes.

By nature of your military service, you possess the skills that are required to run your own business. As a Soldier, Sailor, Airman, or Marine, you learned the importance of communication, focus, and drive to accomplish the mission at hand. You’ve encountered problems that need to be solved on the fly and you’ve done so instinctively. Recall one of the earliest reports from Operation Enduring Freedom: U.S. special operations forces in Afghanistan coordinated precision airstrikes from laptops on horseback—21st Century technology met old-fashioned creativity to get the job done. That’s called entrepreneurship.

You don't have to tell us twice that veterans make amazing entrepreneurs- but is it risky to invest in the military veteran community? StreetShares CEO Mark L. Rockefeller recently shared a powerful anecdote from the early days of StreetShares that illuminates the power of the veteran community- and reminds us that we still have a long way to go in fighting unfair prejudice and stereotypes.

Life as a military spouse can be full of adventure, fun, new beginnings and discounts galore. It also can be full of uncertainty, sacrifice and self-reliance; moves are endless, friendships are constantly evolving, and children are uprooted. Unfortunately, the transitory nature of the military has an especially deep impact on spouse’s employment opportunities.

Recent statistics have shown more than 90 percent of military spouses are underemployed or overqualified for the jobs they currently hold, and salary for those jobs is 38 percent less than the civilian equivalent. Beyond that, unemployment among military spouses is extremely high at 26 percent, or three times higher than the national average. Hiring managers tend to look for longevity on resumes – one thing that military spouses cannot provide.

We wanted to focus in on some incredibly influential military spouses who, through their successful businesses, have either worked to change the unemployment rate among military spouses or have simply found a way to defy the odds and have become influential through their admirable business models. We are excited to highlight these 10 amazing women as a way to show our appreciation for all they are doing in the military community and illuminate their own unique service to our country.

The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official opinions, policies, or positions of StreetShares or any of its affiliates.

Whether you are a team of one or one hundred, once you are in the role of leadership your learning should never stop. Some may argue that your learning has just begun. So how do some of the brightest minds in today's business world stay at the cutting edge in both their personal and professional lives? The answer is so simple that it may surprise you; they read. On average, Americans will read two to three books in a year. The average CEO will read four to five books per month.

Growth. It is what small businesses must do to survive, it is how they thrive, and your veteran-owned small business is no exception.

It can be intimidating when determining how to finance that growth, but it doesn't have to be.

Armed with research and knowledge on business trends, growth, financing, and all of the options available to veteran-owned small businesses, you can make an educated decision on the best approach to financing your company's growth.

Let’s dig into three ways to finance your small business: self, equity, and debt financing. You can also download our handy ebook “The Basics of Small Business Financing” for a more in-depth look at your options.