Unarmored Talk

From Sergeant Major to Entrepreneur: The Bar Book Mobile App

• Mario P. Fields - Sergeant Major (Ret.) • Episode 134

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What if exploring alcoholic beverages was as personalized and effortless as streaming music?

Meet Mike Waskewich Jr., a retired U.S. Army Sergeant Major turned entrepreneur, who, alongside his wife, created the Bar Book mobile app. In this episode of Unarmored Talk Podcast, Mike shares their journey from military service to launching an app that uses flavor-matching technology to recommend personalized cocktails, beers, and spirits.

Explore the challenges and rewards of transitioning to civilian entrepreneurship, the camaraderie among veterans in the alcohol industry, and the power of networking and mentorship. Join us for an inspiring conversation about innovation, adaptability, and passion.

Guest Link:
https://thebarbook.app/

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Mario P. Fields:

Welcome back to Unarmored Talk Podcast. Thank you so much for listening and watching each episode and continue, please, to share with your friends and family members and colleagues, and don't forget to leave a rating or review if you feel this is an awesome show. And you can connect to all of my social media on the Parade Deck Just look in the show notes. Media on the parade deck just look in the show notes. Or you can put in the search engine Mario P Fields parade deck and get all access to my social media. Well, let's get ready to interview another guest who is willing to remove their armor to help other people. What's going on everyone? Welcome back to Unarmored Talk podcast.

Mario P. Fields:

I am am your host, mario P Fields, for your first-time listeners or viewers and for you all that's returning again. Maybe some of you have been with me since 2020. I want to say thank you for your long-time support and we have another guest that's willing to remove their armor to have a discussion on the show today. He is Michael akael, aka mike waskiewicz jr. He is a veteran united states army. He did about 75 years in the united states army. He did about 23 some change retired sergeant major, so it's pretty cool to you know, two fellow retired sergeants, majors, to kind of virtually have a cup of discussions and a couple of conversations today. What's up, mike? How are you doing, man?

Michael Waskewich Jr.:

I'm good man. How are you?

Mario P. Fields:

I'm still shrinking. You guys know that I think in 2025, I might go down to five foot one. But before we have a wonderful discussion on Mike and what he's doing again, he's the co-founder of the Bar Book mobile app. Did I get that right?

Michael Waskewich Jr.:

You did yeah.

Mario P. Fields:

I actually downloaded it everyone. It is cool, especially for you beverage aficionados, whatever it's wine, bourbon or a mix of both. We'll have go behind the scenes on how did Mike come up with this concept. But before that, thank you all again. Every episode, you know I'm going to thank you for your support because anytime you go on that YouTube channel, you watch a video, you share it or you download an audio, it is all for charity, so it's all monetized and I donate every penny to my nonprofit still serving incorporated. If you want to learn more about this amazing nonprofit going on seven years next year, go to wwwstillservinginccom and check it out. Mike, can you do me a favor and tell the listeners and viewers a little bit about you?

Michael Waskewich Jr.:

Yeah, hey, mario. So thanks for having me on. Appreciate everything you're doing with Still Serving. Yeah, congrats on seven years, man. That's again amazing. There's somebody doing the same kind of stuff in the business. I can tell you how hard it is to get to seven years. And that's awesome, man. So good for you. Yeah, man. So I retired out of the military and started up with this concept to do the bar book basically building what Spotify does for music, we're doing that for alcohol helping you find your next favorite cocktail, your beer, your spirits, whatever, all through our flavor matching technology. Yeah, I mean that's. I mean that's kind of the gist of what we do and how we're building it.

Mario P. Fields:

And I've downloaded the app. You know when you and I first met about a month ago and it is amazing, and everyone. By the way, if you're watching or listening to this episode, the links will be in the show notes and how you can go on your mobile device and download the app. What, what, what inspired you? What happened that made you and who's the other co-founder you're? Can you? Who's your?

Michael Waskewich Jr.:

Yeah, so my wife Dolly and.

Michael Waskewich Jr.:

I put this thing together. So, as I'm retired from the military, dolly and I are dating and you know I'm getting ready to come back to DC. I was finishing up my time in El Paso, out there at the sergeant's major academy, and I had spent a lot of time with guys that had introduced me to different spirits bourbons, whiskeys, tequilas, you know whatever and I didn't know how to keep track of all of it. And I was looking for a way to not only keep track, but when I'm not with those guys, I needed to know, kind of a way to find what was next. And I found some apps online that were I could rate and review and record and just kind of keep my own notes, but nothing that helped me learn the next step, right, that suggested something for me. Learn the next step, right, that suggested something for me. So I talked to Dolly quite a bit and we were like there's got to be a way. Somebody's done this before, right, we can't be the ones that came up with this idea. So we looked, we searched the internet, searched the different app stores, couldn't find anything. Through conversations with friends and family, the next thing, you know, I'm wire diagrams and and putting uh pieces together and contacting a developer to build this app, um, and then, once you start going, you just you just keep running, right, you just I mean, you know how it is, you just start moving.

Michael Waskewich Jr.:

Um, dolly was a little different in her story. Um, she's also retired military, uh, but she has a more refined palate. So when we talk about, you know uh, spirits or, or beer or cocktails or whatever, he can tell you nuanced flavors, right, she can pick out the little details in it, like, oh, this has a little bit of orange or a little bit of lavender or whatever. I have no idea what those things taste like. So, for, like, that is not, um, that's not my thing. I can just tell you whether it's good or not for my opinion. So she could pick all that out. We'd have conversations and I'm like, yeah, sweetheart, I don't, I don't see any of that, but great, I mean, it's all right, uh, so between the two of us.

Mario P. Fields:

we started putting this together, but when you say dolly's, okay, it tickles my throat about two seconds and you're like all right, that's good.

Michael Waskewich Jr.:

She is, I'm telling you, man, so she could have in another life been a wine sommelier or a chef or you know one of those Like she can pick out all of those things. Yeah, cooking is a trip with her, but you know, I have no idea, and she knows the history of all these things too, which is amazing. So we start talking about different wines and she's like, oh yeah, well, that one came from this region and it was made by these people and did this, and I'm okay, it's too much for me, I it's just um, so she's, she is definitely the one of the creative directional arrows for us. She helps, you know, guide our brand as we're putting this together.

Mario P. Fields:

I love it and I salute you know. Next time you talk to your lovely bride, tell her thanks for her service as well.

Mario P. Fields:

I will, and I love the teamwork, the collaboration, where areas where you're strong and you know, of course you bring that side and then she brings that kind of that, that unique. Let's describe what it tastes like and I and I love the feedback on the app. There's, like you said, there's a lot of times where I can't remember what this Shiraz may taste like, or this type of bourbon has 94 proof. When I was on your app. I love how people are putting feedback and reviews, and so how much has your own app changed your life when it comes to when you are selecting some type of beverage?

Michael Waskewich Jr.:

So From the beverage side of the house, it's pretty interesting. I've I've learned to experiment outside of my comfort zone quite a bit, um, and I've learned to to try things that maybe yeah, like you said outside of my comfort so they would never have. I was never a tequila guy, um, not even in my wheelhouse, uh. But as we've played around and learned some of the different flavors and meeting some of the the people involved in these different businesses, it's been fantastic. And now I'm learning that you know what. There's similarities in different types of spirits. You age it in a barrel and it comes out a different way, but there's connections through flavors, and so I've learned a lot.

Michael Waskewich Jr.:

I would say the biggest life change for us has been the connections and the networks and the people. When we got into this business we were not alcohol people, so we were not from the business, not from the industry. We're military people, so we knew other vets and other people. The alcohol industry one. It's very veteran influenced. There's tons of veterans in the alcohol industry Distillery owners, brewery owners, executives, whatever. There's tons of veterans in there and I've had the fortune of meeting so many and serving with some of them when we walked into these different rooms and we talked to these people.

Michael Waskewich Jr.:

The welcoming was very similar to the military, which made this a very easy business to transition into. Yes, we were taking a different approach because we're not necessarily making a spirit, but we were still in the same industry. So I could walk into a distillery or brewery and just have a conversation and it's like talking with family and just have a conversation. And it's like talking with family and it's like, you know, walking into one of your old units or whatever and just talking to your, your, your former soldiers that are now grown up and done their own thing, and it's that like we didn't miss a beat and some of my just met for the first time. So that was really cool. That's probably the coolest thing about this and the biggest life change about this was just meeting new people and growing our connections. It's been awesome.

Mario P. Fields:

And you know, mike, I applaud you. I mean that takes some courage to go into an industry where you have no clue. You know you may have some transferable soft skills, but you're going. I have, I know how to drink, but I don't understand the business side of it.

Michael Waskewich Jr.:

Well, you know. And so one of the things we, I think I learned and I'm sure you do too in the military, especially coming up through the enlisted ranks is if you didn't know, you were always taught you better go find the answer, go ask somebody and learn and do your research and come back with it, and that really kind of helped. If I didn't know, I had no problem walking into some of these people going, hey, I don't know what I'm doing with this. I know what I want to do and I know how I want to get there and I've got the drive and the direction. But there are little pieces that I don't know along the way, because I don't know this business as well.

Michael Waskewich Jr.:

And you'd be surprised how many video calls I've had with industry leaders that have just been like yeah, let's chat, I'd love to talk about your idea, let's talk about what you're doing. It's fantastic. Here's some things you might want to know about the industry that will help you. And it's amazing, this is the people that would do that and it's just take an hour out of their day and be like yeah, I'm a big time exec over here, but I'll talk to you for an hour and tell you about. You know some key things you need to know for the industry. Like that's awesome.

Mario P. Fields:

And cost you nothing, right?

Michael Waskewich Jr.:

They're just, they're just ready to handle it that absolutely costs you nothing and you know, from either business leaders or whatever I mean being a veteran you can reach out to other veterans pretty simply and they will help you and bend over backwards One of the things that I've learned a lot. I mean, we are a tight community in and out of uniform. That's. That's been amazing. But but even just other people in this industry have also been the same way, veteran or not. They've also just bent over backwards like, yeah, what can I help you with? What can I talk to you about? Because when you succeed, we all do. There is I haven't met one yet. I'm sure there's somebody out there, but I haven't met one yet. Who's like? You know, I'm your competition, I want nothing to do with you. Yeah, I haven't met him.

Mario P. Fields:

My belief is you won't. You know, that's just like you said. It's a family industry. I mean, I am a bourbon aficionado but I have explored in the wine and my wife's got me going in the tequila pathway. But you know, what would you say has been your number one challenge?

Michael Waskewich Jr.:

I mean, I know you've had lots of challenges, but if you had to pick one at this moment, what would it be and how did you overcome it, man? So I think my number one challenge and I don't know if I've all the way overcome it yet, but I'm learning, I would say right off the bat was okay, you walk out of uniform, you're a sergeant major, you've got that beat into you, you've got that mentality. You're used to being able to look at a room full of people or an individual and say I need this done. And they've thought through what you said, what the next two or three steps are, and they accomplish it fast and they just do it. Simple instructions, they execute, move on. And they've anticipated your next move. Move on, and they've anticipated your next move.

Michael Waskewich Jr.:

When I walked into my first business piece with this and my first development company great company, great thing but I had to learn. So I gave them a wire diagram that I drew out and I literally would put notes in the margins that would say like, hey, I want you to put this language on this slide, on this page or whatever. And the first edition of this, when I opened it up, had those notes on the page or whatever. And the first edition of this, when I opened it up, had those notes on the page. I want you to put these notes on. And I said, oh my god, guys.

Michael Waskewich Jr.:

And then, if I told him to do it on one page, even though there were 10 others that were just like it, they only did the one. They didn't do the other nine because they were like well, he didn't say he only wanted this one. I'm'm like okay. So I had to learn how to be much more literal, much more direct, and there is no such thing as a uh, you know, uh, anticipated, uh, command or anything that follows through with this. Right, there is. There is what you told me to do and what you wrote down on the paper, and that's what I do.

Mario P. Fields:

You know, mike, I'm glad you brought that up, because a lot of folks that I've encountered that never served. They were like, oh you know, we thought everything was laid out for you. Are you kind of? You know, military is kind of robotic. I'm like it's the opposite of that. You got to be innovative, leverage ingenuity, and so, man, that's why, well, you know, I will talk to you all day, because even as I'm hosting on the show, I'm thinking about a good bourbon right now.

Mario P. Fields:

It's just two fingers two fingers with some rocks. You know getting over now. So so I got to stay away from the neat. But if you had to give one piece of advice to listeners and viewers who may have that vision, maybe something that they want to do in the alcohol industry, what would you give that that person?

Michael Waskewich Jr.:

So in the alcohol industry, I would tell them jump, do your research. Do you know, reach out to people, don't be scared, jump. It's scary as long as you think it's scary. But once you get out there and start meeting the people, whether it's I want to start a brewery, I want to start a distillery, you know, do your research, do your homework. All the things that got you to this point will help you in the next step.

Michael Waskewich Jr.:

But the community is there and they will support you and they will help you and they will guide you and they're honest with you. They'll tell you that's horrible, I wouldn't do it that way. Or hey, maybe you should shift it a little bit. This way, I like what you're doing. It's collaborative, it's it's it's a family, and I would tell you to jump and I would tell you with that, with any plan that you want to take, whether it's starting a business moving on in life, whatever that you want to take, whether it's starting a business moving on in life, whatever that you know you're transitioning from one to the next. Jump go. You know, indecision is a decision, so make one.

Mario P. Fields:

I like that. Everyone you guys here from retired Sergeant Major. He went from active duty to setting conditions for success for those soldiers and now he is in the non-Department of Defense sector, private sector, still serving, still doing the same through digital virtual space. Get on that mobile app, download that app. How else can folks find you, mike?

Michael Waskewich Jr.:

Yeah, go to the barbookapp on the web and you know, google the bar book and you'll find us.

Mario P. Fields:

Man, thank you so much to you and Dolly. Again, I'm going to continue to use the app. If you ever need anything, let me know and I will start putting my reviews as I continue to increase my travels in 2025,. My friend, thank you.

Michael Waskewich Jr.:

Mario, I appreciate you have a great day and thanks so much.

Mario P. Fields:

You too, and go Navy Beat Army.

Michael Waskewich Jr.:

I hear you, I'll see you With everyone.

Mario P. Fields:

Again, another amazing episode. I'll see you guys in a couple of weeks, or you can hear me if you don't watch the videos on YouTube, so you can hear me, but until then I will continue to pray that may God bless you, the listeners and viewers. May God continue to bless your family and friends and all living beings around you. Take care. See you later, mike.

Michael Waskewich Jr.:

All right, see you later, mark.

Mario P. Fields:

Thank you for listening to this most recent episode and remember you can listen and watch all of the previous episodes on my YouTube channel. The best way to connect to me and all of my social media is follow me on the parade deck that is wwwparadecom, or you can click on the link in the show notes. I'll see you guys soon.

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