Here's an online story about one of my past clients, Mac Purrington. As he says in the article, the first couple of years weren't easy. But four years later, as he sees friends around him losing their jobs and worrying about what to do next, he's glad he made the transition from employee to entrepreneur. Read this Richmond Grid article here.
November 03, 2009
September 11, 2009
July 01, 2009
Mike Howard - 360 Painting
Mike Howard had been his own boss for 11 years. As a real estate appraiser, he loved the autonomy and flexibility that he had. He also loved that he never knew how much money he’d make; he thought it was great that it was under his control….work harder, make more money…as opposed to being dictated each year by some arbitrary company policy. He didn’t love the current real estate market and the changes being made to the appraisal industry. And that’s when he decided to talk to me.
Mike couldn’t see himself going back to work for someone else after having the autonomy of being on his own; he wanted to continue to have the freedom and flexibility that being a real estate appraiser had afforded him. He also knew that besides the changes to the real estate market and the appraisal industry, there were other factors that weren’t ideal about his current business. The biggest of these was that it wasn’t easily scalable. He wanted some thing he could grow beyond just himself and the number of hours he could work. In his current business when he was working he was making money; when he wasn’t working, no one else could do the work for him, so therefore no money. He wanted to be able to have others do some of the work and make money for him.
From being in the real estate industry for so long, Mike has a great network of contacts and was hoping to be able to leverage those contacts. After evaluating several options, Mike found that 360 Painting, a commercial and residential painting business was a great fit for him. His role as the owner in that business meant he would be handling much of the estimating and customer service, which was a great fit for his skill set and his past experience in the appraisal business. In addition, since he would be managing subcontractors to handle the actual painting, it meant that he would be able to grow the business more significantly. It would also allow Mike to leverage many of the contacts he already had in the real estate industry.
360º PAINTING is a fully licensed and insured. They pride themselves on customer service and measure their success based on the customer’s satisfaction. They don't consider the job finished until the customer is completely satisfied. Contact Mike Howard at MHoward@360Painting.com or visit www.360PaintingCary.com to schedule your free estimate!
May 15, 2009
Howard Deskin - WSI (We Simplify the Internet)
I’ve known Howard Deskin for many years; he is a friend and fellow neighborhood volleyball player. On the volleyball court, he’d occasionally ask my opinion about a particular business or kick around a business idea. I knew that he worked for Wachovia Securities and didn’t want to move to St. Louis after their merger with. A.G. Edwards. So late last summer when he started asking my opinion about some business ideas, I suggested that we have a more in-depth conversation…off the volleyball court.
Howard had started his career as a CPA for public accounting firms. He parlayed that experience by moving into the private sector as a financial analyst for a Fortune 500 company. Due to a very long commute into New York City, Howard and his wife took the opportunity to relocate to Richmond and Howard began working for Wheat First Securities (now Wachovia Securities). While he started his 23 year career there as a financial analyst, he eventually migrated into business systems management. He found that he was very good at translating the clients’ needs to system developers and managing technology and conversion projects. He was also very good at generating ideas and finding different ways to solve problems.
Along the way in his career, Howard had formulated many entrepreneurial ideas and, along with the MBA he received, had whetted his appetite for business ownership. Over the years, he had considered a wide array of options. When he and I first met, the top idea he considered was becoming an independent business consultant. He had considered franchises in passing but had not thoroughly researched his options; he thought it would be helpful to do so and enlisted my assistance.
In addition to a genuine interest in business ownership, Howard was looking to have more control over the work he was doing. He wanted to be able to put his own ideas to work for himself, and have the ability to directly help his customers; he preferred having tangible results. He also wanted to find something he could envision himself still doing when he’s 90. And of course, like all business people, income potential was important to him.
After a thorough exploration process, Howard was surprised to find two very different businesses that both had the potential to help him reach his goals. Ultimately, Howard selected WSI (we simplify the Internet), an internet consulting business that helps companies leverage the power of the internet to increase their revenue and profit. Howard saw that this business would allow him to put his creative problem solving skills to work for his clients and allow him to have direct client interactions and produce tangible results for his clients. He also felt that it was a great transition from his job at Wachovia as it would take advantage of many of the skills he had developed there. With his contacts in the financial services sector, Howard saw lots of opportunities to help those clients. The professional setting and typical business hours were also important to him.
Here’s what Howard had to same about his experience with The Entrepreneur’s Source: “Robin’s patience in walking me down the path of discovery was well received as I questioned everything. Her wealth of experience in dealing with folks just like you who had the same thoughts rattling around in your head (positive and negative) is critical information to help keep a logical decision making process logical. In addition, she is a small business owner who has not only gone through a similar selection process, but has been running a successful business for several years.”
Howard’s company WSI-Web Business Advisors caters to small to medium size companies and provides a full suite of Internet services including Internet Marketing, Web Analysis, Design, & Development, e-commerce, e-mail marketing, Search Engine Optimization, and Social Media strategies with the focus on attracting visitors to your website and converting the visitors into customers. As WSI is the largest Internet Consulting firm in the world with 1,500 business owners in 87 countries, the WSI network has access to a variety of solution providers with expertise in all components of the Internet. The internet changes by the second, and WSI’s R&D team keeps up with the changes and provides its business owners with a slew of information to keep them educated in the best ways to help their clients.
For a complimentary Internet Business Analysis for your business, and to learn how Internet Marketing strategies can increase your company’s revenue and better leverage your marketing budget, contact Howard:
Howard Deskin
O:804.464.1230
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March 16, 2009
Leila & Mel Bailey - Move It Now
Mel & Leila Bailey were referred to me by a previous client. Mel was being downsized and they had decided that they wanted to investigate business ownership. In fact, they had already started researching a popular ice cream/novelty food franchise. However, they recognized that it might be useful to have some other ideas to compare and contrast with it.
As we began our discussions, I learned that they were both planning on working in the business. They wanted the business to have some flexibility for Leila. They wanted to be able to build something of their own. When I asked them what appealed to them about the food franchise they were researching, they explained that they were big fans of the product. I find this to be a fairly common response. As they did more homework, they learned that there were things about the business that were less attractive. For example, the hours of operation were long and involved lots of nights and weekends. The profit margins were high, but it was going to require a very high volume for them to meet their financial goals (as I always say, it’s hard to make money one dollar at a time!) Since the business required a retail location, the initial investment and the monthly overhead would also be very high. They learned that liking the product did not necessarily mean it was the right business for them to own; perhaps they would be better suited being dedicated customers!
In the meantime, we had begun researching other alternatives. I had told them before we started that we were going to be exploring businesses that would help them to achieve their goals. I also tried to prepare them to understand that these would likely be very different from what they had been considering on their own. I find that so often people only look at businesses where they love the product; instead of at businesses where they love the business model.
After considering a host of options and learning more about what worked for them and didn’t work for them, we found Move It Now, a residential and commercial moving company. Since it’s a newer franchise they found that they would have a little more independence and plenty of opportunity for growth. The initial costs and monthly overhead were more in alignment with their needs. Mel & Leila also found through their research that the hours were more reasonable for them. Finally, since they had an interest in a painting company as well, they felt that background would help them with getting the moving business started.
Here's what they had to say about the process: "Our initial thought about using a company like Entrepreneur’s Source was that the service was going to be a waste of time and not necessary. Robin’s approach; however, totally changed our minds and allowed us to realize what we were really looking to do in making the transition from the corporate world. Robin’s approach allowed us to “peel back the onion” and helped us determine what our true needs and goals were for the future. The biggest fear to overcome throughout this process was the fear of the unknown and dealing with it head on and by performing in depth due diligence and by asking as many questions as possible. "
Providing Professional Moving for the Greater Richmond area at a competitive, locally owned price.
Mel & Leila Bailey
Owners, Move It Now North Central Virginia
Northcentralva@moveitnowusa.com
February 03, 2009
Viveca Wright - Expense Reduction Analysts
Sometimes the investigation of self employment options happens in the most round about ways. I had originally met Ryvers Wright through a mutual acquaintance. While he had some interest in new possibilities, he felt like he needed to stay in his job. But as it turns out, one possibility that piqued his interest was a terrific fit for his wife, Viveca.
Viveca had been a CPA and had worked for Capital One before leaving to stay home with her beautiful family. She had recently started doing some independent consulting work. She found that it provided her with the flexibility to be there for her family while also being able to generate some additional income for the family. She also liked the work and was great at it.
The one thing about being an independent consultant is that all the work is up to you; Viveca had found that she might prefer to have some additional support and structure. This is where I come back into the picture. The franchise that had interested Ryvers was Expense Reduction Analysts (ERA). ERA is the largest cost management consultancy franchise in the world. ERA helps all types of organizations, big and small, find extra profit/reduce their costs. They don’t charge an up-front fee; they share the savings. Viveca saw that this business was a great fit with the consulting she was already doing. Plus, being a franchisee gave her access to resources and other consultants expertise that she wouldn’t have had by staying out on her own.
ERA works with companies and their suppliers to obtain industry benchmark pricing without sacrificing quality and service levels. We are different from most consulting firms in that we actually assist our clients with the implementation of their cost savings strategies and stay with them for 18 to 24 months, ensuring that the cost savings are realized. We work strictly on a contingency fee basis, in other words we only get paid if our clients actually save money! To date ERA has completed over 14,000 projects achieving an average cost savings of 20%. If your company should ever be interested in saving on overhead costs and want help from cost experts, without risk, please fell free to contact me via email at VWright@expensereduction.com or by phone (804) 594-7286.
December 08, 2008
Patrick & Carolette Melbourne - Great Clips
I first met Patrick and Carolette during the summer of 2006. They were both working long hours in the DC metro area; Patrick for a defense contractor and Carolette in the telecom industry. Their work hours plus their commute times added up quickly. Oh and by the way, they have three children.
When we first began our conversations, they were considering the possibility of Patrick leaving his full time position to start a business. They had a clear vision for the life they wanted to lead: more time for their family, less time commuting, more control over their days, the ability to give back in their community, the ability to create a legacy for their family. They just weren’t sure exactly how to accomplish it. Patrick had lots of ideas and in fact, was actually working on several of them. They wanted to explore what possibilities a franchise might offer them. After doing some initial research, Patrick decided to stick with his job and work on a real estate investment /development project with some other partners.
Patrick and I kept in touch and about a year later, he decided that he wanted to look at the possibility of a business again. This time the goal was slightly different. He still wanted all of the things we had discussed before, but now he saw that perhaps having a business that he could use to augment his other projects might be the way to go. So instead of looking at options that would require his full time participation, we started looking at some possibilities that he could hire a manager to run. This is a great example of how someone’s goals can change as we go through the discovery process. Patrick came to see that a franchise could be a part of his investment strategy; it didn’t have to be the entire strategy.
Here’s what Patrick and Carolette had to say about The Entrepreneur’s Source process: “We found the process to be both thorough and flexible. Robin provided us with the support, information and feedback we needed at every turn. We were able to complete due diligence at a pace that worked well with our schedule and mindset. Robin went above and beyond to understand our requirements and our goals and worked tirelessly to ensure that opportunities with which we were presented matched these as closely as possible. The whole process went more smoothly than we could have imagined from the outset. An added bonus is that through working with Robin we formed a friendship that extends beyond the process of finding a franchise match.”
Patrick and Carolette investigated several different semi-absentee options. Ultimately, they found that Great Clips provided them with many of the attributes they were seeking. It could be managed on a semi-absentee basis. It is a franchise that has a long history so there was plenty of data for them to assess and they had robust processes in place to assist new owners. They also felt it would be economy resistant (since everyone needs to get haircuts!).
Patrick and Carolette have recently opened their Great Clips location, here’s what they have to say about being business owners : “It’s hard work! No doubt about it. However, it is rewarding to know that the hard work invested benefits us and our children directly. We also work more closely together as a team and have more control over how we spend our time. That makes it all worthwhile. ”
You can visit them at their location:
7499 Somerset Crossing Drive, Gainesville, VA 20155
(703) 753 – 0559
Email: pcclips@comcast.net
Web Address: www.greatclips.com/salons/9364
Salon Hours:
Monday – Friday: 9 am – 9pm
Saturday: 9 am – 6 pm
Sunday: 10 am – 5 pm
September 29, 2008
Jeff Nay - Sandler Training
Jeff told me he wanted to do something where he reaped more of the rewards for himself. He wanted to do something that energized him. He also wanted to feel like he was making his way on his own terms. He told me that sales was a great fit for him because he loved interacting with new people and then being able to have ongoing conversations with them while providing a valuable service. But he was tired of selling for someone else, tired of watching the games that companies play with quotas and objectives, tired seeing his skills being consistently undervalued, and tired of enriching a faceless corporate entity instead of banking more of the rewards personally. It was time for Jeff to do something for himself, and to take charge of his own destiny.
As we began the discovery process, Jeff found two businesses that attracted him for very different reasons. When we compared the two businesses to his goals, here’s what we found: The first one he thought would ramp up more quickly and provide more immediate cash flow but he couldn’t see himself in it for the long haul. The second one supported his long term goals better, but he was concerned about the short term. I asked Jeff which was more important to him. After thinking about it, he responded that a business that would take him to his long term objectives made more sense. As a result, Jeff selected Sandler Training. Here’s what Jeff had to say about our process: “Overwhelmingly positive, mind-expanding experience. It helped me define my personal goals for the first time – something that is neither encouraged nor valued by most employers.”
Sandler Training offers a distinctive style of training that covers not only sales and revenue development, but also human relations skills, and leadership development. This business allows Jeff to use the sales expertise he had developed, interact with people every day, have flexibility in his schedule and build a robust business. Here’s what Jeff has to say about business ownership today: “This has been the hardest thing I’ve ever done, hands down. But I am happier now than I’ve ever been, I’m firmly in control of my own life, and I can see true financial independence down the road. That would never have happened at my corporate job because my employment there was always at the whim of somebody else.”
Jeff owns and operates the Sandler Training office in the Northern Virginia/DC Metro area. He works primarily with business owners, company presidents & CEOs, entrepreneurs, and sales and sales management professionals. Jeff can be reached at 703.677.3150, via email at jeffnay@sandler.com, or online at www.nay.sandler.com.
Sandler Training, formerly known as Sandler Sales Institute, is the leading provider of sales and management training with 225 licensed trainers throughout the U.S. and internationally. The company provides a full range of sales and management training programs, with powerful coordination and customization benefits throughout its extensive franchise network. Among its many achievements, Entrepreneur Magazine has awarded Sandler Training its #1 ranking for Training Programs 8 times since 1994, including the past three years 2006, 2007, and 2008.
September 11, 2008
Ed Lawrence - Learning Rx
Ed Lawrence was not certain that business ownership was for him. His employer, SunTrust, was laying people off, himself included. He knew he wasn’t completely satisfied in the corporate setting and he didn’t see much opportunity for career development. So he figured this was a great opportunity to investigate his options. He was referred to me by a friend of his, a past client of mine.
During his career, Ed had always been great at simplifying complex processes. He liked being able to make decisions and working in operations. He wanted a feeling of accomplishment. He wanted some flexibility (although he also is a self-described workaholic, so he wasn’t sure how much of that flexibility he’d allow himself to use). He had always worked in professional settings and he could see himself in some kind of business to business environment.
Ed became one of the 95% of our clients who discovered an option he would not have considered on his own when he started investigating Learning Rx, a cognitive skills training business, which helps children and adults with learning difficulties. The programs are particularly helpful to those with reading difficulties or learning issues due to ADD/ADHD. When I first presented this possibility to Ed, his reaction was “I’m not sure about that one.” As he did his homework though, he saw that he could build a business that had the potential to help him to reach his goals and have a positive impact on the community. While that wasn’t something he had originally thought was important to him, he saw through his investigation, that it was very attractive to him.
Here’s what Ed had to say about our process: “I worked with Robin to evaluate some very different options. She helped to keep me on track and kept my eyes open as I reviewed these options.”
Learning Rx is a great solution for those with reading or learning difficulties. Unlike tutoring services, they seek to identify and resolve the causes of learning difficulties. They strive to identify the causes behind learning and reading problems. What you see on the surface-when facing persistent learning or reading struggle-is most often merely a symptom. The causes are deeper and sometimes more difficult to understand. Learning Rx helps to identify the underlying causes of these struggles and present strategies and options available to overcome poor learning and reading if cognitive weakness is the source.
To learn more about Learning Rx, visit LearningRx.com or call Ed Lawrence at 804-612-9959.
Pem Hutchinson - Brightstar Healthcare
At his last job, Pem had been working in Colorado during the week and ‘commuting’ back home to Richmond. After years of traveling nationally and internationally he wanted to be here for his family and to feel that he was creating value in his own community. He had a great sales background and knew that he liked a fast paced environment. Pem also told me that he liked helping others to build their careers. He wanted a business of his own that he could grow.
As Pem and I worked together, it became clear that the existing business he was looking at was an option that would help him to meet his goals. After months of working on financing, however, the deal collapsed. Pem and I re-evaluated his goals and began looking at new possibilities for him. He found BrightStar Healthcare was an option that would be fulfilling and help him to reach his career goals. Here’s what Pem had to say about The Entrepreneur’s Source and our process: “Robin was there as a business coach that was keenly interested in me making a decision that would meet my long term goals. Thanks to Robin, I am finally an Entrepreneur, and doing what I was meant to do!! Her professionalism, humor, candor and patience dealing with my fears was a calm harbor in the storm of a transition that was all about helping me meet my needs. Whether you are looking for a franchise to buy, need help in looking at career options, or need an informed, connected person in Richmond to help find your next job, Robin Smith, and The Entrepreneur’s Source, have all the tools at a reasonable price to get you from A to B.”
BrightStar Healthcare’s Mission is to provide peace of mind to families by helping them have in home care giving solutions for all of their loved ones; children, parents and grandparents. The company is fully licensed to provide a full range of medical and non-medical care giving services. BrightStar also provides professional staffing healthcare personnel to businesses such as hospitals, nursing facilities, assisted living facilities, clinics and labs. This opportunity allows Pem to build a business right here at home. It is a fast paced environment where he can truly add value in the community.
For more information about BrightStar Healthcare go to the web at www.brightstarhealthcare.com
BrightStar Healthcare……From our family to your family, from our business to yours, we will be there. Any time. Any place
Vicki Daniel - College Nannies & Tutors
Vicki Daniel worked in financial services for over 20 years in a variety of technology roles. She had an opportunity to ‘be set free’ as she puts it and decided it was time for something entirely different, something fun, something on her own. She and I met when a co-worker suggested that she speak with me.
When I met with Vicki, she wanted to get away from the corporate bureaucracy. She wanted something of her own that she could grow. She also wanted self-fulfillment. In our conversations, we uncovered that she envisioned self-fulfillment coming from feeling like she was providing a service that was needed and that was helping others. Through our discovery process, College Nannies & Tutors seemed to fit many of Vicki’s goals. By offering customized nanny or tutor placement services, she would be able to provide a resource to the community that helps families grow stronger. She felt she would be proud to own it and she saw lots of growth potential. Best of all she thought it would be fulfilling and fun. Here’s what Vicki had to say about her experience with The Entrepreneur’s Source, “Working with The Entrepreneur’s Source was a great experience. The service cuts to the chase and I appreciated the coaching, the time invested by Robin and the continued follow up.”
As Vicki launches College Nannies & Tutors, here’s what she has to say about business ownership: “It is definitely true what they say about owning your own business – You work all the time. While that does seem the case, it’s hard for me not to be working. I always want to be finding that next customer or making another nanny/family match. So now I’m a matchmaker of sorts and it couldn’t be more fun! I love it. It’s hard work of course. Just like the “E-Myth Revisited” says, an entrepreneur must find time to work on the business even though it can be a full time effort working in the business. Totally worth it! I couldn’t be happier”.
College Nannies & Tutors provides full time, part time or on-call nanny services as well as in-home one- on-one customized tutoring. For more information, visit www.collegenannies.com or call 804-346-2242.
Tanya Nickolas - Exciting Windows
Tanya Nickolas contacted me after reading one of my newsletters. Her email said something to the effect of “I’m not sure what you do, but I think maybe I could use your help.” When she and I met, I learned that she is a seasoned entrepreneur; she has owned and operated four different businesses (two of which were franchises). So why does someone with that much experience need a business ownership coach? She knew she wanted a change, she just couldn’t figure out what. And she’d spent about a year trying to figure it out on her own.
Tanya’s current business was a family affair. She had been a partner with her husband, sister and brother-in-law for almost 10 years. Tanya had been responsible for much of the back office support work in that business. While the business was a success, she was tired of having partners. She wanted to be in control of the decisions. She also wanted to be back in touch with customers and be able to offer a personalized service. Tanya was also interested in getting out of the retail environment into something with more freedom and flexibility.
Tanya selected Exciting Windows! an interior window coverings business. This business allows Tanya to be directly involved with the customers, have flexibility in her schedule and have fun. Since Tanya had so much great business experience she wanted to leverage her skill set. As a result, she selected an area development opportunity, where she could help to grow Exciting Windows! in the region and assist other owners in their success. She saw this as an exciting challenge. Here’s what Tanya had to say about her experience with The Entrepreneur’s Source: “The best part of the process was learning more about myself and what I needed to do to change my life…I would definitely recommend you to anyone looking for either their first startup business or their 10th startup. I’m sure I could go through the process all over again and learn something new.”
About Exciting Windows!
Exciting Windows! professionals provide America’s only full service at-home window fashions service, featuring all window products—blinds, draperies, shadings, and shutters, and exciting ideas to make your room more beautiful ++ an unbeatable 4-way guarantee. And, are recommended by Michael Payne, star & celebrity on HGTV! They offer these matchless products and services as the ultimate convenience to you, in your own home, in the rooms and in the light where they’ll be seen and enjoyed. There’s just no better way to make certain you’ll get what you want…so phone us for your own professional housecall today!
Call today for a free in-home consultation!
Phone: (804) 254 0519,
Email: tnickolas@excitingwindows.com
website: www.excitingwindows.com/stylzegalore
Jeff Samford - Business Partner
I met Jeff Samford at a lunch and learn seminar I co-hosted last year. The company he was working for had been acquired and the operations were relocating out of the Richmond area. The new company was much more bureaucratic; that in combination with the possibility of relocating had incented him to take a severance package and start looking at his options.
Jeff had been in consulting and financial services businesses for his entire career. He had jobs that he loved because they were challenging, and he felt like he was making a substantial contribution. But they either required too much travel or the future prospects weren’t so intriguing. He had other jobs where he was closer to home, but they hadn’t provided the challenge or the customer interaction that he was drawn to.
When he and I met, he talked about wanting to find a means to be close to home, travel less, get involved in the community, and be in charge of the decisions. While he didn’t have a lot of direct experience in the sales profession, he enjoys building relationships and networking. He also believes very strongly in providing excellent customer service. On the personal side of his life, it was very important that he have a flexible schedule and have time for his family.
After exploring an array of options, Jeff found Business Partner, a one stop marketing business, to be a fit for both his skills and his goals. Here’s what Jeff has to say about his experience with The Entrepreneur’s Source, “I found Robin to be authentic and caring, while also working diligently to align me with the best opportunities that matched my goals. Throughout the process Robin continued to come back to my goals and challenged me to believe I too could become a successful business owner.”
Business Partner provides a single source for marketing solutions, everything from graphic design, four-color process printing, signs and banners to promotional items/gifts and trade show displays. The business model allows Jeff the flexibility he was looking for and gives him plenty of direct interaction with his customers. Here’s what Jeff has to say about business ownership: “ Wow! It’s been an amazing past eight months where I’ve learned a lot about myself and my abilities to leverage existing relationships and develop new ones to far exceed client numbers. Wearing the various hats of CEO, COO, CFO, Sales and Marketing, etc. has been really challenging. But I am able to draw upon my vast experiences to understand how to spend more time on the business as opposed to spending more time in the business. I’ve hired two sales professionals and am interviewing for a part-time graphic designer who will also serve as project manager. I am really excited about the opportunity of working with marketing directors, business owners and event planners to enhance their marketing plans.”
For all of your marketing needs, contact Jeff Samford at804-612-0582 or via e-mail at jeff.businesspartner@comcast.net. You can also visit his company’s website at www.businesspartner.com.
Kevin O'Shea - Move It Now
Kevin O’Shea is a well grounded, analytical guy with lots of banking background, financial sales, and IT consulting experience. The combination of sales, consulting, and operations experience is a great recipe for business owners. Kevin wanted to be able to set a vision and work toward it, instead of always having someone else dictate his direction. Kevin was tired of working hard and making money for someone else. Additionally, he wanted the opportunities to make more connections in his community and help people by offering a much valued service.
Kevin also had some substantial goals regarding income. He recently had volunteered for redeployment from Capital One and while he had severance, he wasn’t sure he could tolerate the ramp up time to start a business. So while he was evaluating his options he took another job IT consulting. Now some people might have just stopped there and decided that the new job was all they needed. Kevin, however, really kept his eye on his goals and what he was working to accomplish. He recognized that this new job still wasn’t going to get him where he wanted to be.
Kevin fully evaluated a host of options, some of which he wasn’t all that keen on to begin with. Along the way, he taught me a new phrase: “Putting lipstick on a pig.” Meaning that there are lots of not-so-glamorous businesses out there that provide much needed and valuable services that help people, and by focusing on bringing professionalism and top notch customer service to those businesses, you can differentiate yourself and build some pretty glamorous results. Here’s what Kevin had to say about the process and The Entrepreneur’s Source: “Robin has been my voice of reason through this whole process and has supported me every step of the way. I could not have made this transition without her guidance and constant counsel.”
In the end, Kevin chose Move It Now, a residential and commercial moving and storage service. He also chose to become a regional developer, which means he’ll be responsible for building the Move It Now business and brand throughout central and southeast Virginia. With this business venture, he saw the possibility of being able to create a vision for the business and execute on it. He also recognized that he would be able to interact in the community and provide a service that truly helps people. As a regional developer, he saw the possibility to really build something that would be personally rewarding and provide an avenue to engage multiple communities.
“Running your own business is like taking a roller coaster ride; you are scared to death before you get on it, experience a lot of thrills as you go through all the ups and downs, and when you get off and look back at the ride you’re pumped and want to ride it over and over because there is nothing else that can exhilarate you the same way.”
For a Mover You’ll Be Happy to Recommend to Your Friends and Family, Call Move It Now of Central Virginia
Kevin O’Shea
Managing Director
Move It Now of Central Virginia
804-565-2125
Mac Purrington - Apple Spice Junction
He felt that being a business owner would present the energy level he enjoyed and the opportunity to create a unique culture. Mac had a strong desire to build a family atmosphere where all team members cared about and committed themselves to a common goal.
He researched buying an existing business. He also had a couple of ideas that he thought he could use to start a business from scratch. I met Mac soon thereafter and introduced him to the world of franchising.
While Mac had gained valuable operations and management experience during his career, he had spent little time in sales and marketing. Mac was excited about the growth experience of building a successful business while having the support of a national organization to help him in his areas of opportunity. Mac knew that eventually he wanted a relatively large business to manage. His desires led me to consider a Regional Developer opportunity. (The Regional Developer is a franchisee who grows a territory by awarding sub-franchisee contracts within that territory and then supports those sub-franchisees in their efforts.)
When I asked Mac about his business interests, he said, “I will look at anything except a food business.” You can imagine his surprise when one of the options I presented was Apple Spice Junction, a box lunch delivery/corporate catering business. After contemplating the idea, Mac began to understand that he was not as opposed to food as he was to the 24/7/365 lifestyle of a food operation. Once he learned that Apple Spice Junction had a different food service model, his interest grew. He became even more excited by the news that he could develop most of Virginia and the eastern half of North Carolina. Finally, he realized that both the local operation and the region would give him distinct teams to build and nurture over the years. It appeared to be a nice fit.
With 2 ½ years under his belt, Mac passed on the following message: “Wow, what a ride! Congratulations on your decision to explore the joys and perils of business ownership. As you consider franchising, think about the aspects of running the business that make you nervous. Explore the franchise’s ability to support you in those areas. Although I felt confident I could build something, I can’t tell you how many times I was happy to have someone with more experience a phone call or email away to help me with an issue. The sense that I was not alone was invaluable.
When you join a franchise, you join a group of people who are in the same boat. They have a proven and established process. They have learned lessons and can share the benefits of their mistakes. They have a system that will help you quickly maximize your strengths and will, at the same time, support you in your weaknesses. The structure of a franchise is not for everyone, but you should consider its advantages as you make your decision. Best of luck!”
Apple Spice Junction specializes in the delivery of box lunches and catering to businesses. It looks to meet all the food needs of the business with the very best in food quality and customer service. It is pleased to offer services for the small business breakfast/lunch, the enormous corporate picnic, and everything in between. Mac’s location services most of the greater Richmond area. You can reach Apple Spice Junction on the web at www.applespice.com, by phone at 804-249-3888, by fax at 804-249-9960, or by email at mac@applespice.com.
Angel Carter - Homewatch Caregivers
Take a very smart, results oriented, self-starter add a new baby and an MBA and what do you get? An entrepreneur…in this case, two: Angel & Linwood Carter. Angel wanted time for her baby. And she wanted to leave a legacy for him. And she wanted to feel like she was having a positive impact on the community. In other words, she wanted it all. And her corporate job just wasn’t fitting that bill. So in true, efficient form, she had started to evaluate her options…as part of her last MBA project. A past client of mine had suggested that she and I speak.
Angel is one of those people who is working on a million things at a time and doing all of them well. She seems to thrive on juggling many activities. When she started to think about her options though, it was a challenge to know where to start…in her words, “Before [coming to The Entrepreneur's Source], I felt like I was at a business buffet with no utensils and therefore unable to make a good choice. Now, I have the tools in place to make a sound, viable and informed decision.”
Angel thoroughly evaluated her options and through this process found that Homewatch Caregivers, a home healthcare business, was a great fit for both her personal and professional goals. Her husband, Linwood, had the perfect background from the staffing industry, to handle all of the day-to-day operations. So for the time being Angel has kept her corporate job. Angel and Linwood started Homewatch in August of 2005.
Here’s what they say about it today: “Homewatch Caregivers affords us the opportunity to serve others in an extremely important capacity. The fulfillment of our purpose and our spiritual values are tied directly to the success of our business and because of that, our passion for service exceeds all expectations. We never miss an opportunity to love our clients!”
To find out more about Angel’s business visit the Homewatch Caregivers website at www.homewatchcaregivers.com/richmond or call the office at 804-644-1076.
Mary & Eddie Henry - 1800DryClean
Mary and Eddie Henry are the picture of “the-all-American-family”: two beautiful, energetic boys, nice house, solid corporate jobs. Ok, well there’s where the break down started. They suddenly found themselves with only one corporate job when Eddie was ‘re-deployed’; just one of the many corporate terms out there for suddenly finding out your solid corporate job isn’t so solid.
But the Henry’s had a great outlook on it; they saw it as an opportunity to make the change in their life that they had been attempting over the past several years. They had been trying some part time self-employment opportunities on the side. None of those were getting them the financial returns they needed.
I first met Eddie at a seminar: “When I attended the class you conducted…I knew I wanted to take the path of an entrepreneur, by expanding [my current business] or purchasing a franchise. During the hour course I knew I no longer wanted to continue my career in the corporate world. I wanted to finally take a chance and see if I could own my own business”, says Eddie.
Through my meetings with Mary and Eddie, I learned that Mary wanted to stay with her job for a while longer. They wanted something that Eddie would operate on a daily basis that Mary could help out with in the evenings. Eddie wanted to be out of the IT industry. They wanted something that could provide them with flexibility to spend time with their kids and have more control. They also wanted something they could grow so that at some point in the future Mary could also work the business full time.
Through the process, we discovered 1800DryClean, a home pick-up and delivery service for dry cleaning. They saw the potential for Eddie to work the business and Mary to help out with the logistics in the evenings. They also saw that the territory, Midlothian, Powhatan, Chesterfield, had a tremendous amount of growth potential. Here’s what Mary had to say about the process: “The process was easy! That’s right, the process was easy but the ‘homework’ made us think and research. We were educated, motivated and enlightened by the things we found. It made us think, ‘What in the world had we been waiting for!’”
If you or someone you know would like to experience this easy, great and convienent pick up and delivery service call 1-800-DRYCLEAN now! Residential and business customers welcomed!
September 10, 2008
Lisa Ritchie - SuperCoups
“I love cold calling.” This was how one of my initial meetings with Lisa Ritchie began. Now, in my opinion, this was one for the record books – cold calling? No one loves cold calling. But this spunky, outgoing mother of two was serious.
At the time, Lisa was a branch manager for a local personnel service. I personally knew that she was very good at networking as that was how I’d met her in the first place. She told me that she loved developing strong relationships with people and that she was good at it. She was just tired of doing it for someone else’s (her employer’s) benefit. Lisa also felt like she wanted personal growth; she knew that she had the skills and the ambition to do more than she could in her current career.
As the mother of two small boys, she also wanted to have more flexible hours and more control over those hours and over her future. In her words, she wanted more possibilities…And that’s what The Entrepreneur's Source is all about.
Through our process, Lisa evaluated several different business models and she found that there were certain elements that appealed most strongly to her: business to business sales seemed to fit both her lifestyle goals as well as her skill set and a home based business gave her the flexibility she was looking for. SuperCoups, a direct mail advertising business, fit her goals, needs and skills. As she started her business, almost a year ago, here’s what Lisa had to say about The Entrepreneur's Source:“The steps we took throughout the process were right on target and I learned so much about myself. As I embark on this wonderful adventure, I am nervous and excited; but I am not frightened. Thanks to you and The Entrepreneur’s Source, I know that any fear is emotional because all the research and data support my decision.”
Lisa started in March of 2006 and is off to a fantastic start with some big goals for 2007. “After one year in business, I couldn’t be happier with my decision. I am building a solid client base and having fun every step of the way. I love having the chance to help other businesses grow. Personally, being my own boss has allowed me the flexibility to be around for more my children. That flexibility is payment in itself.”
To find out more about Lisa’s business or for online coupons from great local businesses; visit www.capitalcitysupercoups.com.
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