I have a vivid recollection of sitting in my high-school history class as a senior in June while the teacher asked each one of my classmates what we’d like to do after graduation.
My Answer: I’d like to own my own business one day
His Response: You’ll never do that because …
At the time, he was right because I didn’t have the first idea of how to start a business. So, after high school, I did what most people do. I went to college, SUNY Oswego, took classes, business administration, and ran cross-country. After college, I did what most people do. I joined the workforce. I was blessed to have a 20+ year corporate finance career working for three different Fortune 500 companies and a founder led gaming devices company. Through hard work, determination, and knack for logic I can share a mailroom to boardroom story. But it is safe to say, I don’t think I ever really enjoyed the work.
One day, I was forced to make a choice; I was laid off. So, I did what most people do, I looked for another job. As I read job postings and participated in interviews, I came to the same conclusion; been there, done that. At some point, I got a message about starting my own business. Again, I did what most people do, I ignored it as an impossibility. Fortunately, the 18-year-old me reminded me of the goal that I laid out so many years ago and said I should at least get some more information.
Eventually, I connected with a TES coach. He guided me through the discovery journey to help me, and my family, answer questions about the reality and possibility of this type of opportunity. After completing the discovery journey with TES, we learned that business ownership was the right move for us because we realized that what we had viewed as an impossibility was actually a possibility. As a result of our discovery journey, we now own two TITLE Boxing Club franchise locations in Western Washington.
Today, as a Career Ownership Coach® with TES, I draw on my experience navigating the corporate world to help clients explore new possibilities and uncover career paths they may have never realized existed. You don’t have to follow the same path as everyone else without understanding your options. Let’s talk.
More about Me:
In my free time, I enjoy spending time with my family; Jennifer, wife of 30 years, and my 3 children. We like to do things like going outside to bicycle, hike and play baseball and staying inside to bake, play games and watch the occasional movie. Oh yeah, we really like hitting heavy bags when we’re inside too!