5 essential business values from a veteran-owned company

If you want something done right, you do it yourself. That's a mantra we've all heard before but is it really conventional? Some may say yes, but the reality is that you can't do everything yourself. At some point, in some fashion, you're going to need more done than you have hours to complete and you will need to outsource some aspects of your business. However, the presence of this necessity doesn't make the process any easier. Especially when your business is your passion. It's hard to give up control until trust is gained.

Eric Mitchell along with his wife Lucie, who both spent several years working for successful startups in the Silicon Valley, and both being acquired multiple times, decided to pursue a new venture together in 2014. Eric wanted to give back to the community he loves, and with love of country and belief that service never ends, Eric asked Lucie to put her dreams as an aspiring educator on hold temporarily as they launched a company with longtime friend Matt Hannaford — and LifeFlip Media was born.

"We understand that everything is mission critical for our clients and we treat them exactly as that — a mission," says Eric Mitchell, CEO of LifeFlip Media.

Built on the mission of demonstrating to the American public the value of the Warrior Class, Eric Mitchell created LifeFlip Media as a way to give back to his community. What is the Warrior Class? It's the class of patriots that are the backbone of this country and the very ones who make this country as great as it is. It's members of the military, their spouses and family. It's the first responders of our communities and all of those who support them in all that they do. 

Also read: 9 incredibly successful companies founded by military veterans

This group has often been misrepresented and stereotyped within the media, leaving many outside of the community with false pretenses of aggression, mental instability, and lack of education. LifeFlip Media set itself on a course to change that narrative. Matt Hannaford, President of LifeFlip and one of the few "civilians" on the team, agrees. "I look for us to continue to be loud as the voice of the Warrior Class. We've created a great team and it's time for us to build upon it. We want to take the image of the American soldier and make it great again."

"Over the past year, I have witnessed LifeFlip Media breach the national media market for veterans. Eric and his team have managed to get more air time for veteran-owned companies than I have seen in my professional career. It is about time that the warrior class has a voice in mainstream media," said Samantha Brown, former COO of Irreverent Warriors.

Care about what you do

One of the most difficult and important aspects of a partnership is the ability to create and sustain an unobstructed flow of ideas and communication. Being able to understand where your clients are coming from can give you a better idea of where they are heading, which can provide powerful insight. LifeFlip has been able to streamline its process by having a small team of people who possess values that reflect the ones instilled in them from the military as well as working with clients whose values align with their own. 

"Being a veteran can be great for PR but it also comes with a lot of misunderstanding and challenges. Having a team that understands this because they come from the same community and also have experience in the PR world gives them the ability to successfully pitch myself and other veterans. This helps secure the vital exposure that allows us to not only survive but to also grow," says Eli Crane, CEO of Bottle Breacher and former Navy SEAL.

Leanness and Efficiency 

"We have a smaller team, but we care more," says Mitchell. In only a few short years, LifeFlip Media has been able to belly up to the table and feast on their market share with the big names in the PR space using a small but mighty team with a diverse skill set. As a Marine veteran, LFM's Director of Digital Media, Aaron Childress, understands the power of a small cohesive unit: "We have hit on a set of skills that no other firm can touch. From top to bottom, we offer every digital media line item needed for a brand to succeed and we do all of this with a smaller team, lower overhead, and quicker turnaround than anyone can offer. It's a lighting strike of favor and good fortune and the top leadership at LifeFlip Media has capitalized on it at the correct time."

5 Values of LifeFlip Media

Eric Mitchell put emphasis on core values as he explains, "We hold values yet don't look at them as ours. We look at them as belonging to our community." LifeFlip Media has made great strides during its short time in existence and has leaped its way past other players who have been in the game for far longer. They are undoubtedly different from your run-of-the-mill PR firm but what sets them apart from their counterparts is that LifeFlip possesses values that they truly live each day.

1. Service

LifeFlip Media believes in serving their clients first so the client can serve their customers in return. Everyone at LifeFlip Media strives to have their client success speak for the team.

2. Adaptability

The team believes that no client is the same and neither should the approach be as they build and execute on strategies. In addition, when a wrench is thrown into plans, the team is agile and has the ability to adapt and overcome.

3. Discipline

Possessing a team with a diverse skill set allows LifeFlip Media to deliver to their clients the reliability and execution speed that veterans and those associated with the military expect. With the team's ability to work as a unit and communicate while assaulting forward on strategy execution, the LifeFlip Media team's discipline is key.

4. Innovation

At LifeFlip Media, the team's diverse backgrounds and experience allows for innovation and thinking outside of the box. LifeFlip's team understands how PR integrates with other aspects of a business and needs to work in partnership with marketing and sales rather than as a separate division completely.

5. Loyalty

With a team made up of Marines who live by the Semper Fi warrior ethos as well as other team members who understand that loyalty is at LifeFlip Media's core translates directly into business success.