Ep 60: From The Navy to Founder: Growing Vets & Valor with Calvin Blankenship
Description
When Navy veteran Calvin Blankenship realized corporate life would never recreate the brotherhood he craved, he made a radical decision that led to one of the most audacious acquisition stories you'll ever hear.
In this raw conversation, Calvin reveals:
- The "reverse psychology" approach to risk that made him go all-in when everyone else stays safe
- How he bought a $2 million distillery operation for just $260,000 through a foreclosure deal (and raised $700K total)
- The partnership strategy that fills your skill gaps without giving up control of your vision
- Why he gives away business training for free and still profits massively from every deal
- His aggressive plan to acquire 4 businesses per year and hit $100M valuation
[00:00 ] The $260K Distillery Deal - Calvin opens with the shocking details of buying a $2M operation for pennies on the dollar
[01:49 ] From Navy to Corporate Misery - Why Calvin knew he had to create the brotherhood he was missing
[03:30 ] The All-In Moment - The mindset shift that made entrepreneurial risk feel like the safer option
[08:20 ] Reverse Engineering the Dream - How Calvin mapped his vision backwards into an actionable business plan
[10:24 ] Building Vets & Valor - The free training program that creates business operators from military veterans
[14:55 ] The Partnership Playbook - Calvin's strategy for finding complementary skills and aligning incentives
[22:11 ] Deal Hunting Strategy - From BizBuySell to Facebook posts: how Calvin sources acquisition opportunities
[28:35 ] Inside the Distillery Acquisition - Complete financial breakdown: purchase price, capital raise, and projected returns
[34:14 ] Scaling to $100M - Calvin's aggressive plan to acquire 4 businesses per year and transition to private equity
[38:21 ] The Question That Changes Everything - Calvin's philosophy on risk and the worst-case scenario mindset




