Six years in the Marine Corps taught me something no finance course, MBA program, or banking seminar ever could: trust is earned before you ever ask for anything.
As a squad leader with 2nd Battalion, 6th Marines, the job wasn’t to convince anyone to follow me. It was to earn it — every day, before it mattered, so that when it did matter, there was no hesitation. That lesson didn’t stay in the Corps. It became the foundation of how I’ve run every business relationship since.
The Moment That Changed How I Sell
In 2006, I came across a program by a man named Ari Galper called “Unlock The Game,” and it completely upended how I thought about selling. Up to that point, I sold the way most people are trained to sell — pressure, pitch, close. It worked, but it never felt right, and it rarely built anything that lasted.
Ari’s approach was the opposite. Stop trying to convince people. Start actually listening to them. Ask about their business, their obstacles, their real situation — before you ever mention what you do. If it’s not the right fit, say so, even if it costs you the deal. That single shift changed the trajectory of my career.
How That Shows Up Today
As a Partner with National Business Capital, that principle runs through everything I do:
Trust first. I ask about your business before I ever mention a product.
Sell less. If it’s not the right fit, I’ll tell you — even if that costs me the deal.
Move fast when it counts. National Business Capital has funded over $3 billion for more than 50,000 businesses nationwide across 15+ years, connecting qualified companies with fast, flexible funding solutions through a trusted network of private lenders.
The Story I Hear Most Often
Every business owner I talk to has a version of the same story: a bank that moved too slowly, or a “no” that came down to a credit score that never told the full picture of the business. I’ve sat across that conversation more times than I can count, and I’ve learned that the businesses getting turned away by traditional banks are often the ones with the strongest fundamentals — they just don’t fit inside a rigid box.
If that sounds like where you are right now, I’d genuinely like to talk. Not a pitch. A conversation — about your business, where it’s headed, and whether there’s a way I can help you get there faster.
A Principle, Not a Slogan
Adapt. Improvise. Overcome. It’s a phrase every Marine knows, and it’s not a slogan for me — it’s how I run Devil Dog Marketplace and how I show up for every business owner I work with.
Every deal we help fund also contributes to Feeding America, so growth capital does double duty — helping your business move forward while helping provide meals to families in need.
If you’re ready for a real conversation about growth capital, reach out. Semper Fi.