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GUN GIRL BREE

Posted by Jay TAYLOR · July 26, 2017

Paving The Way

In January, LALO Tactical and LALO Women were fortunate enough to meet Bree MacHaffie a.k.a “GunGirlBree” at the 2016 SHOT Show in Las Vegas. Bree struck us as an incredibly motivated and kind person, and someone who we wanted to get to know better as well as share with the world. Once the dust settled from all things SHOT, we were able to catch up with her to get an inside view of how she continues to seamlessly juggle being a single mom of three boys, working as a substitute teacher to special needs children, and playing a large role in paving the way for current and future competitive female shooters. Her dedication to a happy life is unmatched and certainly a fine example and inspiration for all!

LW: What led you to become a professional competitive shooter? How long have you been shooting-competitively or not?
GGB: I had been to the range a few times right out of high school but didn’t really start shooting until 2012. I shot my first match, a ladies only match, and was hooked.

LW: What was the biggest fear you had to overcome when learning how to shoot?
GGB: The fear of failure. It’s something that everyone has in the back of his or her minds but it really jumped out to me when I realized this was completely unknown territory.

LW: There is an obvious gender gap in the world of competitive shooting-how do you explain this and what is your viewpoint on changing that?
GGB: Although there is a gender gap, women are the largest growing section of the outdoors industry. I want to change that, I am always inviting women to the range or to participate in matches even when they are just watching their significant other shooting. I’m working hard to change the face of women in the industry by “keeping it classy”. You will never see me post a picture that’s overly sexualized, there’s enough out there already that turn women away and I don’t want to be a reason why they don’t get involved.

LW: What are some of the challenges you face being a female in a predominately male dominated profession? How do you handle those challenges?
GGB: I try to take it one step at a time. There are some men that still see this as the good ole’ boys’ club and women are coming crashing in. I hangout with the guys during and after matches, have a drink with them, and show them I’m not just another woman looking to find a guy on the range.

LW: Before becoming a competitive shooter, what was a day in the life of Sabrina?
GGB: My days are jam-packed. I have 3 kids, I work as a substitute special needs teacher, I write for Bearing Arms, and I do volunteer work with a local hospice

LW: How has competitive training changed that for you?
GGB: Training doesn’t happen with live fire as much as I like. I’ve substituted with a lot more dry firing. My kids come first.

Woman drinking out of mustache cup

LW: What are some of your biggest goals-personal and professional?
GGB: I am hoping to finish my bachelor’s degree so I can teach full time within the school district. I’m also in the pursuit of furthering my shooting by making the jump to higher rankings within the different disciplines.

LW: What types of activities do you incorporate into your days and weeks for stress relief and happiness?
GGB: You’d be shocked to know how much playing with my boys relieves my stress. Going outside and running around seems to help the stress melt away. I’m also trying to get back into yoga.

LW: To be a competitive shooter you obviously have to be in shape. What does your exercise regime look like and what is your favorite way to stay in shooting shape?
GGB: If you’ve never chased 3 boys, lifting them up, and throwing them around it’s a work out all by itself. I also get on my elliptical as often as possible.

LW: Favorite moment(s) at SHOT 2016?
GGB: Making new friends and seeing old ones are my highlights from most of the industry events. Sitting down to dinner with them and having dinner and drinks is amazing. It’s a break from my normal chaos.

LW: You are a contributing writer for bearingarms.com. What is your favorite article you’ve written to date and why? Where is your favorite place to get your writing done? Where do you draw your inspiration?
GGB: My favorite article thus far has to be the one on “Gun Bunnies”, I caught a lot of flak for it but it’s something that I have strong feelings about. I often find myself in my bedroom laying down listening to Lindsay Sterling when I write. I am their competitive shooting writer so if there is a match I’ve attended or gear I find interesting or maybe a new gun on the market I’m more than happy to take that and run with it.

LW: What is your advice to people to help them achieve their goals? What advice do you live by/give yourself?
GGB: Don’t quit! No matter what negative things people say you’ll regret giving up. If I had quit the first time I had an inkling of doubt I wouldn’t have found this joy and success in this industry. There is no better feeling to me than the “I told you I could” moment.

How have you overcome adversity in your life?
GGB: I’ve been through quite a lot. I lost my first husband very young a month leaving me a single mother, a month and a half later lost the house I was living in (my mother’s) to a tornado, and followed that up with a marriage that went south. In all that I learned who supported me the most and the strength I have. I know I can go through hell and keep on swinging.

LW: Being a school teacher, I am sure you get to see many young kids grow up right before your eyes in this ever changing world. What are your hopes for young girls & boys today?
GGB: My hope for my students is that they learn responsibility, perseverance, and their own strength. There is so much doubt and anger in the world it is easy to get sucked into it.

LW: You’re a mom—How many children do you have? Tell us about them!
GGB: I have 3 wonderful boys, 11, 7, and 5. They really keep me on my toes and I couldn’t be prouder of them. My oldest is in a national honor society and volunteers with me at Hospice. My two younger ones read at grade levels well above their ages and have A’s. I have great sons.

LW: Favorite downtime activity?
GGB: Reading quietly away from everything. I also love going to the local park.

LW: Coffee or tea?
GGB: Coffee, coffee, and more coffee.

LW: Morning person or late night owl?
GGB: Morning person and it drives people on the range nuts. LOL. Lots of people ask how I can be so perky in the morning? I say the day hasn’t exhausted me yet.

LW: Do you have a motto you live by? What is it?
GGB: Don’t give up just because someone says you can’t/won’t. Use that motivation to push harder and go further.

LW: Beer or wine, or liquor or none?
GGB: Yes! Haha. I usually drink wine with dinner and liquor while just hanging out with friends.

Follow Sabrina @gungirlbree on Instagram and be sure to check out her articles at bearingarms.com

Thanks Sabrina!

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7 DAYS OF MONDAY

Posted by Shannon Baker · July 26, 2017

Back Porch Basics

By Jay Taylor
CEO LALO Tactical
jay@lalotactical.com
September 2015

They tell me it’s about the journey, not the destination and wherever you go…that's where you are.

About one month before my grandfather passed away, we were sitting on the back deck of the house my grandparents shared with my family. It was an old boarding home in a small farming town in the interior of British Columbia, and it housed workers during harvest seasons. The house had undergone many renovations in its 100-year history and was finally converted into two separate residences. My grandparents needed some assistance day to day and apparently I needed some guidance – so it was a perfect arrangement.

Little did I know at the time, but on the back deck of that house my grandfather bestowed on me a few words of wisdom that continue to resonate with me today. Being 17 years old at the time, the conversation registered, but I truly didn't appreciate the gravity of it until much later in life. I believe my grandfather knew his days were numbered, and this was a time to pound some sense into my thick skull.

The first of which came during a conversation (it turned a little philosophical) after a fairly major screw up on my behalf….(I was 17, what can I say?). Once the verbal dressing down for being a jackass was over and he clarified the necessity for me to understand the overall importance of being a respectable human being, he explained that my major goal in life should be to make the greatest contribution to society I could.

The greatest contribution to society I could make? Whatever, Grandfather. At the time it didn't really equate. My journey to this point in life included playing every single competitive sport I could play within the high school I attended, and ski racing to fill in the gaps. Summer breaks were filled with work on a local farm or two and as much time on the lakes as I could manage. Clearly the message was lost on me at this point in my life.

Before I was released from the back deck, a few other words of wisdom were dispensed. “Work like you don't need the money and put in a full days worth of effort at 100% of your capabilities for the person or company that hired you; it will not go unnoticed and it will pay off in the long run.”

Lastly, you meet people twice in life. The first time you meet, one of you will need assistance and the other will be in a position to offer it up. His advice was to trust that if I was to help someone unconditionally, the favor will be returned when the roles are reversed. If I were to take advantage of the situation when I needed a hand it would likely be the last time someone would ever offer me assistance when I needed it.

In fact the opposite would happen, I would be on my own in a world that was growing ever complex.

So how does all of this advice relate to a small startup company?

As a company, I believe we have a responsibility to every individual we engage with. They deserve our very best at every single interaction. If we deliver our very best then the brand will evolve along with the “society” that has chosen to interact with it. It’s important to remember, people can choose to leave as quickly as they come.

Startups are tough. The young companies get bumped and bruised a little as they grow. If they survive they have to work like they don't need the money. The customers of the company essentially own it; they are the employers of the people operating it. LALO has to give its all, work hard, efficiently, and effectively to keep its employers engaged. We respect them immensely and it is painful to all of us when we don't deliver in a way we should.

Like people, you meet a brand twice in life. The first time is when you learn about it and decide if it has the same values as you do personally. Does it fit with your lifestyle and does it represent you well? At the core of each brand are people, and they are responsible for ensuring your time is well spent. Large companies spend an inordinate about of time chasing new customers and measuring the cost of customer acquisition. I often wonder if they focused more on retention how different there business would be. You have our commitment at LALO that we will be laser focused on retaining our community, as I am not keen on meeting you when you stop interacting with us. We want to meet you on the way up and foster a dedicated, long-term relationship that stands the test of time.

Maybe the lessons learned on the back porch from a wiser older man are managing to make a difference to this young business. I think he would be proud to see his message sinking in and being absorbed by a group of people that aren’t afraid to make a contribution, work hard and respect those they interact with.

V/r
Jay

About LALO Tactical:
LALO was founded to serve the needs of Special Forces Operators. LALO uses top tier materials to create some of the best and hardest working tactical boots and athletic footwear for those that rise to the toughest occasions. The LALO Shadow, the ultimate Special Forces tactical boot, features a unique patent including a drainage system, a composite forefoot plate, a fast-dry component and the lightest weight materials on the market. The LALO Athletic line is a direct result of briefings received from Special Forces Operators. The need was to build a lightweight, packable, breathable shoe they could cross train and run in – a shoe they could count on, whether training or deployed. LALO’s designs put an emphasis on noise reduction, support and game day performance; gear that hits the mark time after time. Whether your path leads you to a career in the military, competing in an adventure race, cross training, tackling an urban athletic workout, or running a 5K, LALO has the shoe for you. www.lalotactical.com

LALO TACTICAL is a privately held wholly by LALO LLC, a California LLC

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7 DAYS OF MONDAY

Posted by Shannon Baker · July 26, 2017

You've got what it takes, but it will take everything you've got

By Jay Taylor
CEO LALO Tactical
jay@lalotactical.com

YOU'VE GOT WHAT IT TAKES, BUT IT WILL TAKE EVERYTHING YOU'VE GOT.

The Naval Special Warfare groups adopted a saying many years ago, “The Only Easy Day Was Yesterday”. The motto has been associated with them since the inception of the Amphibious Scout and Raider school in Fort Pierce, Florida in 1942.

The Naval Special Warfare groups evolved from the Scouts and Raiders to Naval Combat Units, Operational Swimmers, Underwater Demolition Teams, and then eventually around the Vietnam War, to the SEAL Teams as we know them today.

To make it through BUD/s an individual has to successfully get from evolution to evolution through each phase of training. There is also the infamous “Hell Week,” 5½ days of training where each candidate gets no more than 4 hours of sleep during the entire evolution. Boat crews are formed, and re-formed depending upon who is surviving the program. The people you end up with at the end of the week are those that are truly committed to the program and especially their teammates.

When I think back, I realize since we re-financed LALO in October of 2013, we have been through our own version of “Hell Week.” The struggles have been real. We delivered our first round of athletic product to market 12 months later than we had originally planned. The factory that developed our product moved from Southern China to Vietnam and couldn't take LALO in the transfer. Strangely enough, we were very lucky; the factory burned down just after it opened due to a dispute between the Chinese and Vietnamese governments over fishing rights and thankfully, our product wasn’t in it.

For a while I thought we weren’t ever going to get LALO to market. We had a sourcing partner that was in charge of the personnel on the project, and unfortunately, a developer and product inspector were let go off of the project. These bumps in the road delayed the product launch by a few months. It was one thing after another.

I couldn't make this stuff up if I tried. It’s all part of getting a brand to market, and I guess if it was easy everyone would be doing it…

Fast forward to October of 2014, bake in a West Coast port strike and four weeks at customs for a random inspection and it was evident we were burning much needed cash. We finally delivered tactical boots to the market in early November.

We moved from being a Seinfeld episode, a show about nothing, to a struggling startup having its first taste of success. To define “success” in our case means we were actually shipping product. Baby steps. The Amphibian and Intruder boots seemed to be well received and selling at what we believe to be a remarkable rate.

Part of our ever-evolving business plan is to create awareness around our products. After the Shadow launched, the BUD/s athletic product was to follow – the Grinder, BloodBird and Zodiac Recon shoes were all set to arrive in early April.

If Hell Week is 5 and a half days long, we were in day 2 at this point and fairing well with no sleep…

Little did we know that the “awareness” we were creating was actual demand for the shoes. We had some idea people were interested based upon pre-orders for the product, but when it hit the warehouse on April 4^th and we were able to start shipping, we realized that we had underestimated that interest. To put it mildly, we got crushed. By April 25^th it was all over, we had very little left in inventory. In fact, a few thousand units of shoes oversold and we didn't know what had hit us - a champagne problem that needed a solution.

When we finally had a chance to do a postmortem on the situation we realized that our order entry system wasn't working exactly the way we wanted it to. It wasn't reducing inventory as the orders were being entered, only when the orders shipped. Needless to say we were deep in Day 3 of Hell Week and we were feeling a little beat up.

As I write this, we are a little dinged up, bruised but not broken, and in fact getting stronger by the day. We have an amazing “boat crew”. Everyone is committed to the overall success of LALO. Everyone is solution-oriented and will find a way – putting the whole of the brand before the individual. Each member of our small, but mighty crew has sacrificed for the team and refused to ring the bell. They should be very proud of what they have done so far and of what the future holds. I am incredibly honored to be a part of the crew. You may in fact have had the pleasure of interacting with a one or two of them and we hope those interactions have been memorable in the most positive way.

Without the dedication and hard work of our Vancouver and San Diego crews LALO wouldn’t be the unbreakable team it is.

We tried to run an actual “Hell Week” at LALO, but the Division of Labor and Standards of California shut us down…but I think we have found a crew that refuses to ring the bell, they fight the good fight and understand that it pays to be a winner. LALO wouldn't be where it is without them, and it certainly wouldn’t be anywhere without you. Speaking for all of us – we are very grateful for your support.

Until the next installment of 7 Days of Monday....

V/r,
Jay

About LALO Tactical:
LALO was founded to serve the needs of Special Forces Operators. LALO uses top tier materials to create some of the best and hardest working tactical boots and athletic footwear for those that rise to the toughest occasions. The LALO Shadow, the ultimate Special Forces tactical boot, features a unique patent including a drainage system, a composite forefoot plate, a fast-dry component and the lightest weight materials on the market. The LALO Athletic line is a direct result of briefings received from Special Forces Operators. The need was to build a lightweight, packable, breathable shoe they could cross train and run in – a shoe they could count on, whether training or deployed. LALO’s designs put an emphasis on noise reduction, support and game day performance; gear that hits the mark time after time. Whether your path leads you to a career in the military, competing in an adventure race, cross training, tackling an urban athletic workout, or running a 5K, LALO has the shoe for you. www.lalotactical.com

LALO TACTICAL is a privately held wholly by LALO LLC, a California LLC.

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7 DAYS OF MONDAY

Posted by Shannon Baker · July 26, 2017

The Stink on Running a Footwear Company

By Jay Taylor
CEO / LALO Tactical
jay@lalotactical.com

7 days of Mondays…

Startups aren’t for the faint of heart and certainly not for those that are used to a set work schedule. Job descriptions are broad and all encompassing and the workdays start, but never seem to have a set end. One week quickly flows into the next and then before you know it you are 6 months into getting a “Brand” off the ground and functioning in the market. If you thrive on adversity, have a tolerance for risk, and believe failure is not an option, then a startup company is for you.

Startups usually come with some bumps in the road and LALO was / is no exception. No matter how good a plan you have, people you have, and story you have, expect the unexpected. Stuff happens, it has to us. Development delays, factories missing deadlines, and manufacturing problems are all part of the headaches I deal with on what seems to be a daily basis.

Footwear is a capital-intensive business start. Development molds, production molds, materials, material overage charges, sample rounds, freight bills…the cash outlay never seems to stop and all the while you need to have a dedicated group of people to make it all happen. LALO is extremely fortunate to have a mix of veteran footwear people and young ambitious go-getters. Then…there is me, the middle aged serial entrepreneur, arguably the least talented and most expendable guy in the room; Jack-of-all-trades and master of none, happy to be in the mix with a great group of people who love what they do and are really good at it.

LALO was founded in 2009 with the vision of putting purpose built tactical boots on Naval Special Forces Operators or SEAL/s as they are more commonly known. The product was developed by deep collaboration with the SEAL/s, active duty and a few who had recently left the TEAMs. The feedback was invaluable when it comes to designing and developing products. If you ever want to know if your product is deficient or needs to be improved, ask a Special Forces Operator…and be prepared for the feedback, it is detailed and awesome.

None of what we do would be remotely possible without the people that support the LALO brand. In my experience they are gracious, kind, generous and forgiving. Every single one of us at LALO Tactical is forever in their debt. I would like to tell you about a few of them that I have been fortunate enough to meet along the way.

Scott Wood was introduced to us by Austin Weiss. Scott is a veteran who has given much to his county and has not been on the right side of the ledger for the sacrifices he has made. We are always humbled when Scott takes the time out of his day to engage with us. He has a very inspirational story and he motivates all of us at LALO to bust our asses every day to do a better job to help support those that have served.

We sent out one of our first email newsletters and wanted to check if anyone actually received it, let alone opened it. This is how we met Michael Brown. I am not sure which one of us was more surprised on the phone, me for the fact that Michael was kind enough to answer, or him for getting a call from a random stranger. Michael is a veteran who embodies the spirit of what we do at LALO. He is a proud father of 2 beautiful girls, a husband to a fantastic woman, and an advocate for bringing awareness and support to prevent Veteran suicide. He is relentless in this pursuit and we support his efforts in any way we can. You can follow him at Team Arise https://www.facebook.com/TeamAriseLLC - support them, we do, and every little bit helps.

I have no clue what its like to deal with constant pain and PTSD, but I get a glimpse of what the challenges are on a day to day basis from Brendan Fitzgerald. Brendan is a proud Marine veteran, husband and half of the Brendan and Russell (his service dog) team. Brendan shares with us some of the challenges he goes through on a day-to-day basis and most importantly the day-to-day victories. He is an all star and I look forward to the updates I get from him. They are nothing short of awesome. Russell is a rock star too and the two of them raise awareness around service dogs and PTSD.

It’s rare in life to meet someone as generous with their time and support as Mr. Fletcher. A Texas native and busy executive, he finds the time to train everyday. Mr. Fletcher was one of the very first people we were able to get a pair of LALO boots to. I dare say he may have the largest quiver of LALO product outside of our sample room. Read into this he is an excellent negotiator and has a very tolerant wife. Support and generosity come in many forms, but Mr. Fletcher embodies them all. I think its fair to say he has become our very first official product tester. We love working with him and are humbled by the time he takes to give us feedback on our products and branding. It is invaluable to us and we listen very carefully.

There are a lot of components that go into having a successful business. The most important in my opinion are the people. It's the people that have chosen to interact with the LALO Brand. As a team we are grateful for the airtime and mindshare we get.

I think the people we attract share the same values we do as a company:

• LALO exists to elevate the standard against which all other Tactical and Athletic brands are measured – in product design, content authenticity, customer service, and social stewardship.
• We engineer gear that solves problems, moves the bar forward and ultimately improves the performance of our end users.
• We have a collaborative process for product design and development that we follow with discipline.
• Corporate excellence is in every interaction.
• Excellence is never an accident – we work towards it every day.
• Attracting, retaining and developing the best talent for our business matters.
• Our customers define us and the products we will put through our process to bring to market
• We are one TEAM. No Exceptions. We are unified by a clear common purpose.
• We take risks and confront failure openly. Success is repeated aggressively.

On behalf of all of us at LALO I would like to personally thank you for being part of our TEAM – it means the world to us.

My goal is to write a new post every month as we get a lot of questions about what a startup is like. I will do my best to describe the trials and tribulations, successes and failures. Some of these we can tell you about and others…well they are classified.

If you are interested in seeing some of the new concepts we are working on and some behind the scenes photos of our world…jay_taylor5 @ Instagram is the place to find them. Or you can always reach me at jay@lalotactical.com

Until the next installment of 7 Days of Monday…

About LALO Tactical:
LALO was founded to serve the needs of Special Forces Operators. LALO uses top tier materials to create some of the best and hardest working tactical boots and athletic footwear for those that rise to the toughest occasions. The LALO Shadow, the ultimate Special Forces tactical boot, features a unique patent including a drainage system, a composite forefoot plate, a fast-dry component and the lightest weight materials on the market. The LALO Athletic line is a direct result of briefings received from Special Forces Operators. The need was to build a lightweight, packable, breathable shoe they could cross train and run in – a shoe they could count on, whether training or deployed. LALO’s designs put an emphasis on noise reduction, support and game day performance; gear that hits the mark time after time. Whether your path leads you to a career in the military, competing in an adventure race, cross training, tackling an urban athletic workout, or running a 5K, LALO has the shoe for you. www.lalotactical.com

LALO TACTICAL is privately held wholly by LALO LLC, a California LLC.

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COMMANDO TOUGH

Posted by Jay TAYLOR · July 26, 2017

At LALO, we are proud and honored to have partners all over the world. Australia's own Scott Evennett is one of the those. We are pleased to introduce you to Scott; fitness and lifestyle expert, founder of Team Evennett, an online training platform, and owner of Commando Tough Training Centre, a military inspired gym and training facility located in Caringbah, Sutherland Shire, Australia. Scott is an exemplary human being who epitomizes the definition of a tactical athlete and truly bridges the gap between operator and athlete. We are honored to have him as a member of the LALO Team!

"As a former Operator, I am well aware of the importance of teamwork. So when an opportunity to partner with a growing brand like LALO Tactical comes along, it’s a game changer. Collectively, we live and breathe by the same set of rules and a rock solid ethos. We honour those who choose a path of purpose, a path of hard work, grit and determination. This is absolutely, a win, win," said Evennett.

Evennett has always been active; at age 6 he trained and participated in competitive gymnastics which helped him develop a strong, balanced, and flexible foundation. At age 16, he moved from Sydney to the United Kingdom to pursue a professional soccer career. Scott played for Port Talbot (Welsh Premier League) and Swansea City Juniors (English Second Division). This allowed him to develop power, speed, agility and the fundamental skills needed for the fast-paced game.

After his return to Australia, Scott joined the Australian military forces. There, he spent five of his eight years of service within the Special Operations Command. After three tours to Afghanistan and one tour to East Timor, he gained extensive knowledge of special operations in counter terrorism and counter insurgency. He then turned the mastery he acquired during his military career toward training programs within the health and fitness environment.

As owner of Commando Tough Training Centre and in his role as a life success coach, Scott works zealously to shape the bodies and minds of his clientele. Attention to dietary programs and intensive training regimes guarantee physical prowess. Equally crucial is the mental empowerment he offers. It is pivotal to Scott that his clients gain clarity of mind, a razor sharp mental focus and, most importantly a true coherence of their inner and outer achievements. Across an expansive career - as commando, bodybuilder, entrepreneur and motivational specialist - Scott's strategy combines training, nutrition, diligence and perseverance. Ultimately, the message Evennett wishes to impart is: our personal best is the very least we should expect.

Below we have provided some interesting insights into Scott’s life. Along with questions about Scott’s workout and training philosophies, we decided to pose a few informal inquiries to help our audience get to know him a little better. Enjoy!!

man competing in Ninja Warrior Competition
LALO: Did you grow up in the City or on a Farm?
SE: Neither really, my parents chose to live on the central coast. A place called Wamberal. On the beach about 1.5 hours north of Sydney. It was a sports heavy community. Very healthy.

LALO: Siblings? And are you the oldest or youngest?
SE: I'm the youngest out of the two of us. My sister Kate has four years on me. But I play the “older brother” role.

LALO: When did you first know you wanted to be an Operator?
SE: Well, I have always had an interest in shooting and being outdoors. Dad would take me on shooting trips, camping and endurance motocross rides on the farm as a youngster. Mixed with my sporting background that began at the ripe age of 4. All the right ingredients were in the pot. The catalyst for making the commitment to Special Forces came at the end of my professional soccer career. An itch I had to scratch you would say. “Human Performance” how far can we go? I absolutely loved training the house down and pushing the limits. I could see the military life would provide that for me. Add a pinch of the cool factor and you have some serious motivation to go Operator.

LALO: Military service a family profession or a calling?
SE: A calling to accept the challenge.

LALO: Which was worse - first deployment or the last one?
SE: I don’t view any of my Special Ops deployments as a negative. Call it an action to preserve good mental health, or just my view on the world. I have already made all the bad shit that happened well in my mind. Lessons learned on the battlefield change you forever. If I was to answer your question directly, however, I would have to say the first deployment over the last. There were a lot of “firsts” on trip number one. So, I'd say you come back with big personal changes and world views that can have a permanent negative effect.

LALO: Nickname?
SE: Scotty is the most commonly used name these days. But in the unit, I was called “Evo”. You know us Aussies love to shorten names.

LALO: Your specialty as an Operator?
SE: Due to the size of the Australian Special Forces units, the operators within them have a very broad range of skill sets and qualifications. Each Australian Commando must be proficient and qualified in all methods of insertion. Air, land, and sea. Domestic counterterrorism and operational deployments abroad. If we are breaking down each position of our six man teams. I have played the role of the gunner (heavy weapons), medic and 2IC. On the Tactical Assault Group East (TAG) rotation I was the fast driver.

LALO: Anything that you remember as being a positive experience in the sandbox?
SE: The better part of the Afghan culture is very peaceful. I loved the farming community and the land. Afghanistan is a very beautiful place. If the bullets weren’t singing overhead it was very easy to just close your eyes and breath in the fresh air from the top of the mountain ranges. I managed to see a lot of the countryside from the back or sides of the Chinook and Blackhawk helicopters.

athletic man with tattoos working out in gym

LALO: Exiting the military, what was the thought process on what to do next?
SE: I was charged and super excited to start the next chapter. My thought process was a vision to pursue human development. Using my Special Operations heritage and proven systems to create a lifestyle brand that in short. "Builds better humans”. My two business’s Commando Tough and Evennett defiantly do that.

LALO: Did you go through a transition program?
SE: I followed the Evennett transition program. Sink or swim. Into the deep end and give yourself no option but to succeed. The Australian Army doesn't provide much of a program for exiting members.

LALO: Which was harder – Basic training, SOF selection, or starting your own brand and running your own business?
SE: SOF selection was definitely harder. Not just physically but mentally. And I’m thankful for it. The lessons on emotional response, resiliency, toughness, leadership, mission planning, teamwork and much more have helped me build multiple successful businesses. The average hours are longer within your own business when you're as hungry as I am. But it's all within this beautiful country we call Australia.

LALO: How is the work-life balance now?
SE: Work is life and life are work. They are one and the same. A beautiful combination that goes with the grain. You know you're doing what you love when you have “a break” and end up doing the same things on your holidays.

LALO: Biggest challenge starting your business?
SE: Employing like-minded individuals that create that killer environment and healthy work space. Finding those individuals who are ready to ride it out with you.

LALO: What’s the most satisfying part of your day at work?
SE: We have an awesome Team here at Evennett so working and training with the crew is always a highlight of the day. For me, my workplace is also my training grounds. I have a training facility called Commando Tough. A converted shed split into two levels. Full combat and cardio upstairs and all things functional downstairs. The ultimate oversized man cave. Complete with office space.

LALO: You have a successful training business, but the checks we write in our twenties and thirties we cash in our forties and fifties. What’s next for the Evennett Brand?
SE: The same thing we do every day... Try and take over the world.

LALO: Is it about the process or the results for you?
SE: That's a really cool question. Because for the Evennett team it’s the same thing. As professional mentors, we constantly deliver the best strategies, knowledge, and information that will enhance and change people's lives for the better. In the process of doing this, we have surrounded ourselves with constant reminders and reinforced messages. We live and breathe the positive environment of good mental and physical health.

LALO: What do you do that drives your team crazy?
SE: Well, I've just asked the office what they think. And the best thing that they could come up with was about some filing and admin. Haha, so I guess I’m like a lot of high-speed operators. Typical male. (From Tam)

LALO: Sleep – do you get any?
SE: My sleep pattern is defiantly broken. Up at midnight each night and again at 3 or 4 am, but always have the company of my two sausage dogs (I think you call them Weiner dogs over there) for a snack out of the fridge. Training hard in the evening helps me to find that deep REM sleep.

LALO: Favorite Ride?
SE: My Custom Harley-Davidson Breakout

LALO: Dream Car / Bike?
SE: Liberty Walk Lamborghini Huracan

LALO: Next Vacation?
SE: U.S.A to visit the LALO crew.

We are thrilled for the opportunities to come from this partnership! Stay tuned for training programs, workout motivation and more from Scott and LALO.

To learn more information about Team Evennett and Scott Evennet himself, go to www.evennett.com.au, or follow him on Instagram at @scottevennett.

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