Today we’d like to introduce you to Adam Peters
Hi Adam, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My entrepreneurial journey began in an unexpected way – through an ayahuasca experience that became a pivotal turning point in my life. Before that, I was in a dark place, spending countless hours scrolling YouTube, learning about entrepreneurship but never taking action.
Everything changed when one of my best friends gave me a simple challenge: post on LinkedIn every day and engage with 5 people whose content resonated with me. Starting with just 92 followers in November last year, I began throwing ideas at the wall to see what would stick. Through consistent authentic sharing and meaningful engagement, I’ve grown to over 5,700 followers today. As the brand grew, I strategically scaled back my engagement time to focus on other initiatives that move The Strategic Veteran forward.
These conversations became my real education. Each interaction taught me something new, informing my next steps. I was invited into communities where I could learn even more about building a business. What’s fascinating is how opportunities started flowing naturally – I’ve never had to ask for anything. In just the past few weeks, I’ve been offered a franchise opportunity, secured a meeting with a Medal of Honor recipient and ex-Secretary of Defense (through a cold DM!), and formed multiple partnerships and collaborations.
I launched The Strategic Veteran Podcast, which has already released 31 episodes, with another 41 recorded and ready to go. The podcast has become a powerful platform for veteran entrepreneurs and those transitioning from military service. Along with it, I created The Stronghold, a community focused on helping veterans navigate their transition and entrepreneurial journey.
My approach has always been simple but effective: take massive action daily, soak up feedback and advice like a sponge, and implement everything I learn to figure out the next move. This is still how I operate today – constant action, learning, and adaptation. No fancy business plans or overthinking – just genuine connections, real conversations, and the willingness to take action while others are still in the planning phase.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Far from smooth – it’s hard every single day. For the first 7 months, I wanted to quit daily. That’s the reality no one really talks about in entrepreneurship – you put in an enormous amount of work with no immediate return. You’re essentially working in faith, believing that consistency will eventually pay off. And it does, but not in the linear way most people expect. The growth is exponential, but only if you can push through those initial months of seemingly shouting into the void.
One of my biggest learning experiences came from a mistake with The Stronghold community. I got sidetracked with other initiatives and neglected the community that trusted me with their time and money. When I realized I couldn’t justify charging people for something I wasn’t giving my full attention to, I made the difficult but necessary decision to make it free. It was a humbling moment – having to admit that I wasn’t delivering the value people were paying for. But it taught me invaluable lessons about focus, commitment, and the responsibility that comes with building something for others.
These challenges aren’t setbacks though – they’re the education you can’t get from any course or book. Every day presents new obstacles: learning to say no to opportunities that don’t align with the mission, managing time effectively, and maintaining authenticity while scaling. But that’s exactly what makes this journey real and worthwhile. The struggles are what separate those who are building something meaningful from those who are just chasing quick wins.
We’ve been impressed with 7dash8 Consulting , but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
7dash8 Consulting LLC is our parent company, under which we operate The Strategic Veteran – more than just a brand, it’s a movement dedicated to helping veterans transition from military service to entrepreneurship. What sets us apart is our focus on aligning veterans’ lives with their core beliefs and values, rather than just chasing business metrics.
Our flagship offering is The Strategic Veteran Podcast, which has released 31 episodes with another 41 ready to go. The podcast features real, unfiltered conversations with veteran entrepreneurs who share their transition stories – both the victories and the struggles. We’re not interested in highlighting just the successes; we show the entire journey, including the challenges and failures that shaped these veterans into successful business owners.
Under The Strategic Veteran umbrella, we’ve created The Stronghold, a free community platform where veterans can connect, share experiences, and support each other through their entrepreneurial journeys. What makes our approach unique is the emphasis on authenticity and action. We don’t sell courses or push “get rich quick” schemes – instead, we focus on building genuine connections and providing practical, actionable insights.
We’re particularly excited about our upcoming launch of AI automation solutions specifically designed for veteran-owned businesses. This new service will help veterans leverage cutting-edge technology to scale their operations efficiently while maintaining the human touch that makes their businesses special.
What I’m most proud of is how we’ve built this brand – through consistent, authentic content and real engagement with our community. Starting from just 92 LinkedIn followers, we’ve grown to over 5,700 in a year, not through marketing tactics, but through sharing genuine stories and experiences that resonate with our audience.
Our services and community platforms are all designed with one goal in mind: to help veterans find their path in the business world while staying true to who they are. We operate under the belief that the skills veterans learned in service – leadership, discipline, adaptability – are invaluable in entrepreneurship. Our role is to help them leverage these skills in the civilian business world.
The brand stands out because we’re not afraid to show the real side of entrepreneurship – the daily struggles, the moments of doubt, and the hard lessons learned. We believe this honesty is what veterans need most when transitioning to business ownership.
Can you talk to us about how you think about risk?
My entire journey started with what many would consider a massive risk – walking away from the familiar to pursue entrepreneurship. But I’ve learned that the biggest risk isn’t in taking action – it’s in staying stagnant, scrolling through YouTube videos about entrepreneurship without ever making a move.
One of my favorite sayings is ‘fail faster.’ I believe every ‘failure’ is actually moving you forward if you’re learning from it. When I started posting daily on LinkedIn, going from 92 followers and putting myself out there every single day, that felt like a risk. Would people care? Would I look foolish? But the real risk would have been never starting at all.
I’ve taken what some might consider unconventional risks – like being radically honest about my journey, including discussing my ayahuasca experience that sparked this entire path. In the veteran community, where there’s often pressure to maintain a certain image, being this vulnerable could be seen as risky. But I’ve found that authenticity, even when it feels risky, creates the deepest connections and opportunities.
Another significant risk was making The Stronghold free when I realized I couldn’t deliver the value I promised as a paid community. Many would see this as a business failure, but I view it as risk management – the bigger risk would have been compromising my integrity and continuing to charge for something I wasn’t fully supporting.
My perspective on risk has evolved to see it not as a binary choice between safe and dangerous, but as a question of alignment. Is this action aligned with my values and mission? If yes, then the bigger risk is not taking it. Every day, I’m taking calculated risks – recording podcast episodes before having a massive following, sharing content without overthinking it, reaching out to high-profile veterans for conversations.
The key is to understand that risk isn’t about being reckless – it’s about being willing to fail forward. Every risk I’ve taken has been backed by consistent action and a willingness to learn from whatever outcome emerges. That’s how you turn risk-taking from gambling into growth.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://thestrategicveteran.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pete0585/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61563037727718
- Twitter: https://x.com/thestrategicvet
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@thestrategicveteran
Image Credits
These are all my phtotos
