I was sitting here thinking it's been a year since we were
approached about selling our oil collection business. We honestly came across it not with the
intent of making a business out of it.
Having an excavating business was also in the works and a dream. But we saw an opportunity and ran with
it. Of course most people did not
believe we could make a business out of a waste product from restaurants and
bars, only a handful of people believed in us.
It was not like a tradional business that we could model after someone
else (competition was all on a national level or very large level). We made a ton of mistakes along the way but
failing was not an option.
My husband
worked a full time job for the first year until we had to make the choice to
jump in or keep it as a part time "side business". I remember buying the crib very early on in
the pregnancy (it was a great deal could not pass on it) and of course it was
raining that night we could not fit the crib in the house it needed to be taken
apart in the driveway. A lot of tension
on what the right direction we should go with quite the oil business altogether
and Steve would go to work on the road.
My heart sunk the thought of him missing out on watching our son growing
up was not worth it. We had no option
growing the oil business and replacing both of our incomes was a must. And we also needed to do so in 5 months. I was beyond sick of my job so burned out and
of course it was so hot that summer but I wanted to save as much money as possible
and work while I still could. Most
nights I came home crying with the stress of the environment that I worked in
thanks goodness for my amazing friend we both lasted as long as we could.
He took the jump and while I was pregnant and quite his full
time job to grow the business as much as he could before baby Clint came. My mom went on the road with him to do sales
to this day we could not have done this business without her help and the
direction of God. Talk about hustling the
two of them would go in one direction 2-3 days a week doing sales and signing
contract all across Pa and into Ohio.
And at the same time Steve was still driving to pick up the oil bringing
it back to our shop and processing it to be sold.
Before we knew it baby Clint was here!! Anyone that is a business owner can relate to
the fact that work still needs to go on.
Steve was by my side in the hospital but working and getting new
accounts while being by my side. All the
hard work payed off and the business was right where it needed to be. For the following 14 months we grew the
business to almost 700 accounts!! Had
two full time employees, two part time guys, and the two of use. We gained the attraction of a company out of
DC and they wanted to buy everything for us it was a no brainer to sell for the
right price we had no sentimental value in the business. They wanted our employees as well I think
that says a lot about who we had working for us. So for the following 90 days we helped with
the transition to make it as smooth as possible.
So what in your life is a dream but scares you to go after it? If failing was not an option would you do
it? Trust me we failed a ton in building
this business but used each time of failing as a time of learning how to do
things better and different the next time.
But determination to make it work was always the driving force. I challenge you to take the plunge do
something in your life that seems so scary but at the same time you don’t want
to look back and say “what if”.
Also this is this is the first day of November and sometime it's so easy to get caught up in the craziness that this time of the year brings. So today I'm taking time to be thankful for the people in our lives. Close friends and family that have always been by our sides. I also challenge you to do the same Thanksgiving is not just one day make it daily to be thankful for what you have.
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