Allow me to recount my first week after leaving the uniform behind. I’m staring at my laptop, coffee untouched, with a to-do list that is intimidating enough to make boot camp feel like recess. That’s when I realized: My biggest threat didn’t wear camo—it whispered, ‘You can start tomorrow.’ If you’ve ever lost weeks to that voice, you know exactly what I’m talking about. So here’s the truth: resistance isn’t just real, it’s a sneaky, undefeated opponent—until you start fighting back. Let’s talk tactics, some personal war stories, and why waiting for perfect is the same as surrender.
The Enemy in the Mirror: Spotting and Outsmarting Resistance
In the military, the enemy was clear. In business, the enemy is much harder to spot—because it’s you. The main adversary in launching your online business isn’t lack of money or know-how. It’s the internal force called resistance. As Steven Pressfield said,
Resistance is the enemy of action, not lack of resources.
Overcoming resistance in business is the first and most critical battle. Resistance is sneaky. It shows up disguised as endless preparation, scrolling social media, or rational-sounding delays. It whispers, “You don’t have time… you don’t know enough… maybe tomorrow.” Recognizing your patterns is the first tactical step.
How Resistance Disguises Itself
Endless Research: You tell yourself you’re “getting ready,” but weeks pass and nothing launches. I’ve been there—I once spent four days “researching” business names and zero time building an actual product.
Perfectionism: You wait for the “perfect” idea, logo, or website. The truth? Perfect never comes.
Procrastination: You plan to start when things “calm down.” But life never really does.
Rational Delays: You convince yourself you need another course, another tool, or more time. These are just sophisticated excuses not to start your business.
Common Excuses Not Starting Business
“I don’t have time.”
“I’m not tech-savvy.”
“I need more money.”
“What if I fail?”
These are classic resistance movements. They feel real, but they’re just patterns. Overcoming resistance in business starts with spotting these habits as soon as they appear.
Practical Cue: Journal Your Excuses
Here’s a simple tactic: Journal your most frequent excuses. Write them down as soon as you notice them. Treat each excuse like misinformation from a rival agency—question it, challenge it, and don’t accept it at face value. This process turns invisible resistance into something you can see and fight.
Recognize and Counter Resistance
Awareness: Notice when you’re stuck in prep mode or scrolling instead of building.
Action: Commit to one small task—write a post, set up an email, or outline your first offer.
Accountability: Share your progress with a peer or mentor. Even digital tools and AI can help keep you on track.
Remember, the main battle is internal. Excuse patterns—procrastination, perfectionism, and lack of time—are all classic resistance. Recognizing these habits makes them easier to counter. The sooner you spot resistance, the sooner you can outsmart it and move forward.
Discipline: The One-Skill You Already Own—But Probably Forget to Use
Military Discipline Smashes Business Resistance
In the military, discipline isn’t optional—it’s the backbone of every mission. You follow orders, not feelings. When the alarm went off at 0500, you didn’t debate whether to get up for PT. You just did it. But in business, especially when launching something new, resistance creeps in. Suddenly, the same person who once ran toward gunfire is now negotiating with themselves about sending a single cold email at 0900. That’s the difference between discipline vs resistance in business: one gets things done, the other keeps you stuck.
Building Consistency in Business: The Power of Micro-Habits
Military discipline taught you to build habits through repetition. The same principle applies to entrepreneurship. Consistent business activities—showing up every day, even for just 30–60 minutes—always beat sporadic bursts of motivation. Research shows that small, daily routines compound over time, leading to sustainable growth and business success. Small wins create real momentum, and discipline keeps you moving when motivation fails. – Jocko Willink
Set a battle rhythm: Choose a specific time each day for business tasks—then stick to it, no matter what.
Focus on micro-habits: Tackle one actionable task daily. Please consider writing a post, setting up an automation, or sending a single email. These small wins in business success add up fast.
Track your progress: Just like logging PT scores, record your business actions. Consistency builds confidence.
Discipline vs Resistance in Business: Orders vs. Feelings
In the field, you didn’t wait to “feel ready.” You executed the mission. The same mindset beats resistance in business. When you rely on discipline, you don’t allow resistance a chance to talk you out of action. You follow your plan, not your mood. That’s how military discipline fuels entrepreneurship: by making action non-negotiable.
Story: From PT at 0500 to Cold Emails at 0900
I recall waking up before dawn for PT, without any questions asked. Now, as a business owner, I’ve caught myself at 0900, bargaining with myself about sending a single cold email. The difference? In the military, discipline was enforced. In business, it’s self-imposed. When I started treating my business tasks like orders—non-negotiable—I finally broke through resistance. That’s when momentum kicked in.
Small Wins: The Secret to Business Success
Don't adopt a binary mindset. One post, one email, one automation—these are the small wins that build momentum. Over time, these actions compound, leading to real results. Building consistency in business doesn't require heroic effort; it simply involves consistently showing up, day after day, and allowing discipline to take the lead.
Small wins create real momentum, and discipline keeps you moving when motivation fails. – Jocko Willink
Military training gave you the discipline to succeed. Apply it to your business by setting routines, focusing on micro-habits, and treating every task as a mission. That’s how you defeat resistance—and win.
AI: Not Just Cool Tech, But Your Reliable Battle Buddy
In the military, you never went into the field alone. You had a squad, a battle buddy, and a system to cover your six. In the world of online business, AI tools for entrepreneurs are that new battle buddy—handling the grunt work so you can focus on the mission.
AI Handles 95% of the Grunt Work
Imagine if you had a squadmate who never called in sick, never needed a break, and always had your back. That’s what automating business tasks with AI feels like. From writing emails to scheduling social media, AI platforms can automate up to 95% of your routine business tasks. This means less time stuck in the weeds and more time leading, planning, and growing your business.
Entrepreneurs don’t rise alone—they build with the best tools available. Today, AI is that tool. – Gary Vaynerchuk
What If R2-D2 Built Your Sales Funnel?
Let’s get real for a second. What if you could hand off the tech headaches to a digital assistant—like R2-D2 from Star Wars—while you focused on strategy and growth? With today’s AI tools for entrepreneurs, that’s not science fiction. AI can build your sales funnel, schedule your content, and even automate your product launches. You could save weeks—maybe months—of trial and error.
Real-Life: AI Automates the Tasks That Cause Newbies to Freeze
Most new business owners struggle with technology. They freeze at the thought of setting up email campaigns, building landing pages, or managing daily posts. Here’s where AI steps in:
Scheduling: AI tools can plan and post your content across multiple platforms automatically.
Emails: AI tools can compose, customize, and dispatch follow-ups effortlessly.
Product Launches: Automate the sequence—reminders, sales pages, and customer onboarding.
This is the heavy lifting that used to take hours or days. Now, it’s done in minutes.
AI Freedom Launchpad Features: Your Digital SOPs
In the military, you had SOPs—standard operating procedures—for everything. The AI Freedom Launchpad brings that same structure to your business. It offers:
Battle-tested frameworks: Proven templates for funnels, emails, and content.
Step-by-step checklists: So you never miss a mission-critical task.
Automated systems: Plug in your info, and let AI handle the rest.
Think of it as your digital comms and logistics—always reliable, always ready.
Why Plugging Into AI Systems Matters
Just like you wouldn’t go on patrol without comms or logistics, you shouldn’t launch a business without the right tech. Automating business tasks with AI saves time, reduces human error, and lets you focus on what matters—leadership, outreach, and growth.
AI isn’t just cool tech. It’s your reliable battle buddy, ready to help you win the war against resistance and launch your mission with confidence.
From Excuses to Execution: Crushing Common Fears (and a Mission Briefing for Today)
Let’s be honest—when it comes to veterans starting online businesses, the biggest enemy isn’t lack of money, tech skills, or even time. It’s the parade of common excuses for not starting a business that marches through our minds: “I don’t have time.” “I’m not tech-savvy.” “I don’t have cash.” “What if I fail?” These aren’t just words—they’re the voice of resistance, and they keep too many veterans from taking the first step.
I’ve seen this scene play out over and over. Take John, for example—a Marine who hadn’t touched a computer in over a decade. He could have let that stop him. Instead, he showed up, even when he felt lost. He didn’t wait for the perfect moment or the perfect plan. He started with what he had, learned as he went, and now runs a profitable business online. John’s story isn’t unique because he had special skills. It’s powerful because he refused to let excuses win. Progress, not pedigree, is what ultimately prevails.
The truth is that these fears are just resistance in disguise. “No time” is really about priorities. "Not tech-savvy" simply refers to unfamiliarity—in today's world, AI can manage 95% of the laborious tasks. “No cash” is often a myth; you don’t need thousands to get started, just commitment and consistency. And “What if I fail?”—well, the only real failure is never starting at all.
Here’s what I’ve learned from working with dozens of veteran entrepreneurs: clear action steps launch business success. The first step is always the hardest, but it’s also the most important. Identify where resistance is showing up for you. Is it procrastination? Doubt? Overthinking? Call it out. Then, claim one small win today—write a post, set up an email, or watch a tutorial. Let AI handle the tech hurdles so you can focus on what matters most: taking action.
Plug into a proven system, like the AI Freedom Launchpad or Freedom Funnel, so you’re not wandering in the fog. Systems give you the structure and support you had in the military—SOPs, checklists, and a battle rhythm you can count on. Consistency, not perfection, is your greatest weapon. Remember, perfection is a myth—delays hurt momentum far more than early mistakes ever will.
There will never be a perfect day. If you wait for perfect, you’ll still be waiting 10 years from now.
So here’s your mission briefing for today: The battlefield is your desk. Your weapon is action. Your ally is AI. Don’t let resistance keep you from your freedom, your time, and your legacy. The only way to fail is to never begin. Start now, even if it’s messy. Take one small step, and then another. That’s how veterans go from excuses to execution—and from soldier to CEO.
Your D-Day is today. The opportunity is real, and the tools are in your hands. Let’s launch.
