I'd love to say my story started with a clear plan, but truthfully, it was anything but that. For years, I was more of a ship without a rudder, drifting and learning through trial and error. Looking back, I'm grateful for that season because it taught me lessons I still carry today.

One of the first big turning points came on National Signing Day. I had every intention of hanging up my cleats and heading to the University of Iowa as a student—and a lifelong Hawkeyes fan. But in the final hours before the deadline, something didn't feel right. On instinct, I called the head coach at my hometown school, Morningside University. Thankfully, my scholarship offer was still on the table. That last-minute decision turned out to be one of the best of my life. Playing college football gave me discipline, resilience, and friendships I'll always treasure.

College itself was much the same—me bouncing around majors until I finally landed in the Business School. Football was the one constant keeping me focused enough to graduate. I didn't know what I wanted to do with my degree, but I always trusted one thing: I was willing to bet on myself.

After graduation, I bounced through odd jobs until I joined a logistics company back home in Iowa. The pay was solid, and I did well, but deep down, I knew it wasn't where I belonged. Around that time, I made another major life change—packing up the car and moving out of small-town Iowa for the first time. That's when I really consider my entrepreneurial journey to have begun.

Denver became the backdrop for the next chapter. I took another logistics job as a bridge, but my eyes were open for something more meaningful. With a referral from my brother-in-law, I landed at a premier recruiting firm. It was 100% commission—exactly the kind of sink-or-swim environment I craved. From scratch, armed only with a phone and a LinkedIn profile, I built a book of business helping people evaluate career opportunities. That role shaped me in so many ways.

I spent six years there (with a short detour at a startup that was quickly acquired—a valuable lesson in itself). The work was rewarding, and I was comfortable, but not fulfilled. That's when franchising found me—introduced, like so many great things in my life, by a close friend who knew I was searching for more.

My first role in franchising was as a Director of Franchise Development at one of the top growth accelerators in the industry. Over four years, I worked with emerging brands across industries, helping founders build and execute growth strategies. From streamlining processes to shaping FDDs to coaching entrepreneurs through franchise sales, I loved the work. The franchise business model also taught me a valuable lesson, the importance of systems and processes, structure and execution! Great franchise brands have the systems and processes that simplify business ownership and accelerate success for their franchisees. I was able to apply these same principles – learning from those before me and the franchisors I partnered with, following a process, and collaboration which led to more success than I had ever had in my career prior. But eventually, I realized it was time to do what I had helped so many others do—step fully into business ownership. Rather than bet on myself entirely, following the lessons I've learned along the way, I made a decision to join a team with proven systems and processes to fuel not only my success but to better serve my clients who seek to create their ideal future through franchising. That decision led me to The Perfect Franchise.

Today, franchising and business ownership has completely transformed my life. It's given me financial freedom, personal freedom, and the chance to spend my time where it matters most—with my wife and our two-year-old, who's growing up way too fast. We're travelers, music lovers, and outdoor enthusiasts, and I feel grateful every day to have the flexibility to enjoy those passions.

I'm no longer a ship without a rudder. My journey taught me that many people feel the same way I once did—searching for something more. Stepping away from corporate America and into business ownership through franchising was the best decision I've ever made. Now, I get to help others do the same.