{"id":4265,"date":"2021-09-17T18:50:38","date_gmt":"2021-09-17T22:50:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/assistinghands.com\/125\/?p=4265"},"modified":"2023-10-25T09:18:04","modified_gmt":"2023-10-25T13:18:04","slug":"business-ownership-my-journey-to-fulfillment","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/assistinghands.com\/68\/bostonnw\/massachusetts\/blog\/business-ownership-my-journey-to-fulfillment\/","title":{"rendered":"Business Ownership \u2013 My Journey to Fulfillment"},"content":{"rendered":"

For many entrepreneurs, there is often a personal experience or event that shapes career trajectories.\u00a0This was also the case for me\u2026<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

As my grandmother endured the final grips of dementia, the care and consideration she received from hospice caregivers were just that\u2026so meaningful to change my future path. Traveling back to Minnesota where I grew up, I was able to meet these caregivers at my grandmother\u2019s funeral. They told stories of how they were able to keep her smiling in her final days by curling her hair and painting her fingernails. One caregiver even mentioned that my grandmother was so happy wearing her \u2018favorite new blouse\u2019 \u2013 a blouse exchanged from that aide\u2019s own grandmother also going through a similar experience with dementia. I was inspired by the thoughtfulness and the dignity these caregivers provided my grandmother, and how their actions made a challenging time more manageable for my mom. She mentioned at one point that if she knew help like this existed, she could have kept her mom at home longer. That stuck with me as I suspected there were many other parents\/grandparents and families across the US who could benefit from in-home care. As it turns out, there were home care firms established in that rural Minnesota town – she was just not aware of the option…<\/p>\n

Where I Started<\/h2>\n

After college, I was able to utilize skills and training in engineering to start a career in product development.\u00a0I learned a lot from experiences across four industries using my technical know-how, and program\/product management skills after picking up an MBA along the way.\u00a0Navigating the corporate world over 2 decades, I often had one eye on \u2018climbing the ladder\u2019 and another eye looking out for the \u2018next chapter\u2019 in my career.<\/p>\n

My career \u2018book\u2019 wouldn\u2019t be complete working for others \u2013 I realized this after passing over a few opportunities with other firms doing more of the same.\u00a0New executive management positions included more \u2018people\u2019 and \u2018time\u2019 challenges \u2013 areas I have excelled at in the past. I yearned for new learning and having more control over my future.<\/p>\n

My (Calculated) Leap of Faith<\/h2>\n

I resigned from the comfort of a healthy salary to move into small business ownership after research and evaluation, consultation, and tumbling numbers. My technical background (and diligent wife!) wanted me to analyze the opportunity to build my confidence in making this business investment decision.<\/p>\n

How did I know the path chosen was right for me?<\/em><\/p>\n

Initial research split business ownership into three categories: buying an existing business, starting from scratch on my own, or investing in a franchise. Another consideration was the type of business to pursue. When looking at business models, there are many to evaluate, and the options can be overwhelming. In the end, a few criteria were most important to me:<\/p>\n