Episode 68: From Apache Pilot in Command to Commander in Cheese: The Story of Andrew Arbogast

Andrew Arbogast, a combat veteran Apache pilot turned CEO of Arbo’s Cheese Dip, reflects on his entrepreneurial journey in this episode of Veteran Led. Listen in as Andrew openly shares the challenges he faces, such as the fear of failure and the pressure of being the sole employee of his company, and how he overcomes these obstacles by recognizing the importance of resilience, learning from failure, and surrounding himself with a supportive network. Andrew emphasizes the importance of seeking help and support from other veteran entrepreneurs and the value of feedback in this candid episode. ​

To learn more about Andrew and his business, visit www.arbosdip.com

Connect with Andrew & Arbo Cheese:
Andrew's LI - https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewcarbogast/
LI - https://www.linkedin.com/company/arbosdip/
FB - https://www.facebook.com/arbosdip
IG - https://www.instagram.com/arbosdip/
X - https://twitter.com/arbosdip

#veteranentrepreneur #leadership #entrepreneurship #podcast #cheeselovers #VeteranLed

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0:00 - Intro
1:40 - Arbogast's military career and aviation selection process
3:14 - Transition from copilot to pilot in command
5:22 - Compressed learning curve and leadership challenges
7:20 - Adapting to combat environment and decision-making pressures
9:14 - Fear of failure and accidentally harming friendlies
10:07 - Transitioning from military to entrepreneurship with Arbo Cheese
12:02 - Rapid growth and challenges of solo entrepreneurship
14:22 - Scaling business to major retailers as solo founder
16:22 - Relating to daily struggles and desire to quit
18:18 - Importance of veteran entrepreneur community and support
22:08 - Finding support through Bunker Labs' CEO Circle program
26:15 - Hiring to solve problems and focus on strengths
31:07 - Recounting a defining failure and leadership moment
34:12 - Wanting to quit and resign command mid-deployment
35:15 - Former commander's mentorship and encouragement after failure
37:48 - Business lesson: Just because you can doesn't mean you should
43:49 - Example of unethical leadership from a distributor
48:09 - Fighting for transparency on questionable freight charges
52:36 - Reflecting on leadership failure and ethical responsibilities