Meritorious Q&A with First Responder’s Coffee Company: Brent Tucker, Owner

Brent Tucker shares how his experience as a Green Beret and Delta Force operator instilled core leadership principles and aided in building the successful coffee and cigar company, First Responder’s Coffee Company (FRCC). He also provides a blueprint for pursuing a small business in a saturated industry and his pursuits as Co-Host of The Antihero Posdcast.

How did your experience as both a Green Beret and a Delta Force operator shape your leadership style, and how does being part of some of the most elite units translate to running businesses like FRCC and The Antihero Podcast today?

For me, special operations planning and the real-world experience of carrying out those plans directly translates to business. Being comfortable with planning and knowing that not everything will be answered during the process and that the plan will change when you actually put it into action. Being able to identify what is going wrong, when you hit the ground, and how quickly you can accurately identify it and impose the correct solution is vital in both combat and business.

How important do you think networking is for military veterans transitioning to civilian careers, and what advice would you give to veterans looking to build their professional networks?

There is no replacement for hard work and grinding when it comes to sales. Nobody likes going to shows and doing cold calls and in person sales calls, but they are necessary. That being said, a relationship can move business at such a quicker pace and make deals happen that may not have happened otherwise. Networking was never something I pushed for but happened because vets do want to help other vets and its humbling when it happens! Building your network happens while you’re in the military, so be a good person! Networking also happens at events so it’s important to go to events, even some you may not want to go to because the people I met there was worth the trip!

As the founder of FRCC, what guidance would you give to someone looking to start a business in a saturated market?

Very few markets will have a first, almost all markets will have a competitor. I think competition is a good thing. Find what makes your business different! Find what makes your business better than the competition and focus on those things. Not by putting them down but just focusing on your company’s strengths and differences.

You’ve interviewed a wide range of guests on The Antihero Podcast, from military veterans to entrepreneurs and thought leaders. What’s been the most hard-hitting or no-nonsense lesson you’ve taken away from those conversations?

There’s a handful of guests that tell hard to hear stories about something that went wrong in their life, whether it be a mission that went wrong or even their own leadership trying to throw them under the bus. The common denominator of our guests is how they handled the situation and even with the horrific events, they stayed strong and handled it with strength and years later came out in a better position. So regardless of what life throws at you, life has highs and lows and the low times don’t last if you handle them correctly.

What is your current favorite firearm to shoot and why?

Glock 19, my favorite EDC. I’ve probably shot a million rounds through that model between my SF time and my time at the Unit so it’s just hard to part with it! You can find a more expensive gun and maybe a better one for the price, the dependability, accuracy, and the massive market of aftermarket parts… it’s hard to beat.