I was fortunate to grow up with a great family the provided all the love and support one could need.  My mom was a nurse and would wake me at 5am to take me to my aunt’s house and then go to work.  I only saw my dad on weekends and late nights as he commuted 2 hours door to door to New York City.  This instilled in me an intense drive work ethic and drive to succeed.  

My parents emphasized the importance of getting an education and wanted to give me access to things they didn’t have when they were kids.  The first step was college, then perhaps graduate school and a corporate career. One that required wearing a suit and tie.  

When considering career options, I decided finance was the best option and worked hard to get there.  The motivating factor was making money.  One of my motto’s is to be careful what you ask for, because you might get it.  I had a great 12 year run at Merrill Lynch working with great people and a great organization.  It was exactly what I wanted and expected… but I was never happy.  This was a valuable lesson.  Never let money be your primary motivating factor.

Things all changed in 2008 when the financial markets had a major correction.  Over the course of several months my colleagues in our group were all laid off.  I realized it would soon be my turn.   This was a rough journey which led me down the typical path of anxiety, depression and regret.  Looking back, it was the best thing for me as it forced me to make a deeply needed change.  

After taking some much-needed time off I started looking at new opportunities and discovered the franchise consulting industry.  It aligned perfectly with my skill set and met a major requirement, work from home.  The desire for more freedom and flexibility stemmed from years of hourly commutes and hundreds of thousands of airline miles.  The transition was a significant challenge.  There is a temporary sacrifice of income and time to build the business.  It was a tough and stressful road but in the end, well worth it.

I’ve learned so much in the last 15 years as a business owner.  I’ve owned fitness franchises for 5 years in addition to my consulting practice.  This provided valuable experience.  Managing 20+ people, paying rent, addressing customer needs.  During this journey we had great success, but also many mistakes and challenges.  Business ownership is a big challenge, you will face it on your journey.   I’m happy to share with you my journey to see if owning a business is right for you.