My Story....

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Every business has a moment of conception.... here is mine. 

I have been working my life away helping companies do great things... making them lots of money and helping them achieve everything they wanted! At one point, I was in the top 5 Districts in a Division that encompassed five states for overall increase in sales over last year... in the top 7, in the same place for overall increase in DSD sales, at the same time. I had the worst boss ever and I hated going to work. I quit that job and took a position at another retailer and soon thereafter, felt the same nagging waste of my life and skill sets. So, one morning, I am standing in the bathroom brushing my teeth... it's like 5am... I'm tired, I feel like shit... I'm sick of hating my job... and all of a sudden it just came out! "YOU'RE THE ONLY PERSON YOU HAVE EVER LET STAND IN YOUR OWN WAY!!! WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU!?!?!" And with my toothbrush hanging out of my mouth, I proceeded to yell at myself in the mirror... I know, it's funny now but then I was mad at myself! 

I had been arguing with myself that I was too old to start a business, who would take someone my age starting a new business seriously!? I mean, come on! I was 43 years old, why didn't I know what I wanted to be when I grew up... because listen... the time is now sister! You're grown! lol. I was pissed off and inspired all at the same time! I was right... I never let anyone stand in my way! I left for work, and all day I thought about what to call my business... what would I do with this, how? Who? What would I do first... next? I was scared, determined, still unsure if it was the right move... but in this minute, I can tell you it was the best thing I have ever done for myself! 

I work hard, I make plans to make things happen... if they don't happen the way I think they will, I go back to the drawing board and start over.... but I always win! Maybe my win doesn't look like I thought it would, but none the less... it's a win! I do not give up! For the love of all that is good in this world... don't tell me I can't do something. I will show you seven ways before you go to bed tonight, that I can! Some call that stubbornness... I call it determination! This life has tried to take me out so many times... if I wasn't determined, I would be in the corner defeated! I do not put up with people putting their limits on me... I think we can do anything we set our minds too. We just have to do it! 

I made sure that every person I could come in contact with, left with my business card. I networked myself to death and built my brand! I went without sleep... I worked longer days than ever because I was still working my waste of life job to pay my bills! I read once, "Don't be ashamed of working your job until your business can support you... if you make it, it's because you were meant too! That type of determination will keep your brand alive!" I felt that to my soul, mostly because I was exhausted. 

I think it's important to tell you the first part of my life. I got married straight out of high school, had children, and stayed home to raise them until I was 32. Life changed one day and all of a sudden, I had to be the mom, the dad, the homemaker, the provider... I had zero work experience. Man, it was hard to get a job! Back then, you had to have work experience and you had to have a valid resume. It took me ten months before the best boss I have ever had, hired me. I walked into Shawn's Irish Tavern in Toledo, crushed after a long day of "You're not qualified." I asked the guy behind the bar for a beer, a shot, and an application with tears rolling down my face. I filled it out and gave it back to him, asked if the owner would be in that day. He looked at me and said, "Where you been all your life" with a little bit of a humored look on his face. I said home raising my kids. I told him my story. He said, "Listen, my wife stays home with our kids... I wouldn't trade her jobs for anything in this world!" and asked me to be there the next day for training! (This story still chokes me up) He laughed as he walked away from me and said, "At least you won't be afraid of garbage or puke" I laughed and was terrified at the same time! That man taught me about true leadership, he taught me how to be a great boss... he taught me what right looked like. To this day, the things I learned from him are part of my daily life. Mike is such a humble guy; he would find a way to pass a compliment off. I know I'm not the only one. Thanks, Mike, for being you. The world is better place for guys like you! 

I got to do a bunch of other awesome jobs for the next few years, but getting into the business side of retail really showed me what I was meant to do. I love people, the development of people and I love business. Digging into numbers and data, analyzing what I find and making it work to create performance is literally a nerd space for me. I can get lost in that stuff for days! 

As a business consultant, I push you to find the greatness within you. I help you determine how we can grow your business, how we can elevate your thinking or perspective, I do my very best to ensure you develop the skill sets to ensure success long after I am gone. I will not ask you to do something I wouldn't be willing to do. This is your business; the decision is yours. I hear often, my last coach wanted it only their way, I don't operate that way, I give the same respect I expect. With that said, I do not mind being direct with you. Your success is my mission, that's personal to me. Your success is literally my job. If you're not successful, I have failed you... and I am not willing to fail you! 

Every business owner ever has big dreams of being the best in their industry, making millions, and being remembered for being the best ever! It's my life's mission to make sure that happens for you! 

All of this said, I would love to sit down and talk about your business. What we can do to help or assist you. So, shoot me an email or give me a call... I can't wait to meet you!