Welcome to invest in yourself, the digital entrepreneur podcast. Join the podcast mogul Phil Better as he interviews successful entrepreneurs that make their living in the digital world. Now let's join your host Phil Better as your special guest today on invest in yourself, the digital entrepreneur

Welcome back to another amazing episode of Invest in Yourself, the Digital Entrepreneur podcast. I'm, of course, your host with the most feel better. And today's episode is going to be nothing short of inspirational. Our guest is a powerhouse in the realm of sales, leadership, and personal development. And he's also the CEO of Sales Platoon, a professional sales leadership and mindset coach for the Southwestern Consulting. Our guest has dedicated his career to transforming the lives and careers of veterans, helping over 415,000 veterans on LinkedIn increase their income by at least a small 30%. You know, nothing huge. We wanna want a 30% increase in their income.

His unique approach combines his expense his extensive expertise as a top sales producer with his profound knowledge of training and coaching. His impact on the sales industry is unparalleled. At Southwestern Consulting, he leads a team of top sales practitioners who are both successful producers and professional trainers. The hands on approach ensures they are not just talking the talk, but are certainly walking the walk every day. Throughout Sales Platoon, our guest leverages the resilient dedication and adaptability of transition military personnel, aligning them with lucrative careers and sales. This is this DOD authorized SkillBridge program provides veterans with opportunities that go beyond traditional roles, offering them fulfilling careers and a chance to thrive financially, which we want for all our veterans. But this but his influence does it does stop there. As a global speaker, he has delivered impactful keynotes, presentations, and training programs across various platforms, including military recruiting stations where strategies on better recruitment have been widely implement.

And our guest is a guest life is a testament to overcoming challenges and seizing opportunities. He's a father of 4, one of whom serves in the air force and is an avid adventurer who climbed Mount Kilimanjaro and visited 30 countries. His military background is equally impressive, having served in the US Army's first one eightieth rat skin I'm I'm destroying this, but I don't know what it is. Yeah. Pakistan and the first special forces group where you train NATO and Dutch vessel forces and develop vital courses on active shooter and insider threat responses. Not only that, this guy is a mixed martial artist and a 6 time MMA world champ. And he owns a 1st degree belt in Brazilian jiu jitsu. If that wasn't more he needed any more.

Right? Like he's been in documentaries as Fight Church, The Saint, and even on the front page of New York Times. So without with over 25 years of sales coaching experience, he's also authored the book The Fighting Preacher, and another book's on the way. So his expertise is world renowned. Without further ado, let us welcome John Ratkin. You already heard him. But, John, thank you for saving my my my patootie there with the the You're not.

I was just telling you, I'm gonna have to call a shot and tell him not to send that bio. It's almost embarrassing to me. I don't know why I don't

write my own bios, but There there you go. I I I despise writing my own bio as well because it's like, I don't wanna talk about all the things I did. I wanna talk about what I've helped people do with their passion and that. Right. John, just touching on the fact that you've helped so many veterans with sales platoon, and you're doing a world of service to the military. I wanna thank you for that. But let's get on to the first question. Welcome to the show, but why did you become a digital entrepreneur? Why did you decide to jump into the world of entrepreneurship?

Oh, man. You know? So I I think I'm just cut from a different cloth. I'll start there in here. Clearly, by your bio, we can see that you have a special cloth. Yeah. Right. When I was young, my my parents didn't have a lot of money. Right? And, when I when I look back at my life, I've only worked 4 jobs in my entire, you know, 30 years, 40 40 years now of of age to work.

Right?

Mhmm.