The Coolest 3-Hour Hello

We were just supposed to check in.

But I just had the coolest three-hour hello of the year.

I thought it was going to be a quick hello. After all, this accomplished veteran entrepreneur was speaking at Morehouse in less than 24 hours. And me? I always have a million things to do before my flight (I suck at pre-flight planning).

30 minutes, maybe 45. Grab lunch, catch up, and keep it moving.

But my “quick hello” with Michelle Gardner, the moderator of VetsFest, turned into an amazing three hours I’m glad I slowed down for.

— For context Michelle isn’t just any veteran. She’s a retired U.S. Air Force Colonel with over 30 years of leadership experience who has since built a second career as an entrepreneur, executive coach, and small business champion. She’s trained and advised more than 200 executives, created the VetBizLady Program to empower women veterans in business, and is recognized as a LinkedIn influencer helping underserved founders scale.

And me? I’m a U.S. Army combat veteran turned entrepreneur and AI innovator. As founder of VendorCall, I’ve built a PropTech platform managing 57,000 apartments and retail spaces across the U.S., while also launching VetEngage to help veterans transition into high-growth tech careers.

That’s why this meeting mattered. We weren’t just catching up — we were coming together as two veterans who’ve built on the foundation of service to push into entrepreneurship, systems, and impact.

In a tucked-away, radio-style office space next to Reverb Radio inside the Hard Rock Reverb hotel, we talked about everything — our upbringing, our military service, the lessons that shaped us, the things that never leave you when you’ve worn the uniform.

👟 I grew up in South Dallas, where access was limited, and limiting beliefs shaped so many lives.

🏠 Michelle grew up in a military household, where she was taught that anything was possible if you were willing to push through obstacles.

Different environments. Same challenges. Same path to the military that shaped us both and still drives our success today.

And somewhere between our trip from downtown Atlanta to Morehouse’s campus, that conversation turned into collaboration.

I admitted I was feeling overwhelmed by a project. I’d been running into roadblocks — both internal and external.

The general vibe I kept getting was:

It can’t be done.

It’s too soon.

The vision is too big — scale it back.

Michelle looked me in the eye and said:

“Everything I do is big. My daddy said, ‘Leave Big Footprints.’”

She told me my thinking isn’t wrong. I just need the right people around me for that kind of vision.

That hit me — because it’s exactly what I’d tell another veteran doubting their own greatness.

Not only did she help me refine the vision, she made me dream even bigger.

Here’s what I walked away with:

👉 If your dreams feel too big for the people around you… don’t shrink them down. Find bigger people to dream around.

Thank you, Michelle. That was the coolest three-hour hello of my year.

Veterans and service business owners are often told to “think smaller.” But the real unlock comes from pairing big vision with big systems.

That’s where AI + automation come in. They give you leverage:

That’s the new frontier I’m planting my flag in — showing that AI isn’t about replacing people, it’s about replacing wasted time.

This couldn’t be better timed.

📅 Date: November

📍 Location:Atlanta

🎯 Focus: Helping entrepreneurs and veterans use AI + automation to scale smarter, faster, and with less chaos.

We’ll dive into:

👉 If your vision feels “too big” for the people around you, this Summit will put you in the room with bigger thinkers, bigger builders, and bigger dreamers.

🔗 Reserve your spot here →https://entrepreneuraisummit.com/

Michelle’s words have been on repeat ever since: “Leave Big Footprints.”

That’s exactly what this brand — and this movement — is about.

Not just building businesses, but building legacies powered by systems, resilience, and bold vision.

If this resonated, share this issue with someone in your circle who dreams big. And if you’re ready to see what’s possible with AI + automation, I’ll see you at the Summit.

— John

🔗 Reserve your spot here →https://entrepreneuraisummit.com/

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