The new business - A tale of personal conviction

[dowjr1]

About six years ago a stumbled onto a great dog trainer while living in Virginia. He had a unique system and his results with my two German Shepherds was nothing short of amazing. Lots of people asked my about my dogs and how they were so well behaved so I sent him lots of business. I knew he was licensing his system in different locations, so when I moved to another state I contacted him and bought the rights to a nearby city. It was about 90 minutes from where I lived. The plan was to find a good person, get them trained at HQ to handle the dogs (hands on work) while I manage the sales. I interviewed a number of people and had a LE friend help with the vetting process. We settled on a twenty something gal who had some past experience with animals at a vets office. Disaster. After a few months I started getting complaints regarding poor results, missed appointments, and not returning calls. I was forced to fire her and started making trips to the city to mend the client relationships, do the lessons myself, and hopefully save the business. My wife, who was NOT happy about the business in the first place much less the additional time away was really on the war path as we have young children. I had to find another trainer. Eventually I had another prospect for the position. But to be sure, I had her do a phone interview with a very experienced trainer (with our company in another town). The experienced trainer calls me and says something along the lines of "No. Do not hire this person. She will not turn your operation around and is not qualified to do the job you need." This was the moment of truth. I was faced with a failing business, potential loss of investment, a disastrous initial hire, and now the NEW person I wanted to possibly hire was deemed unfit by a reliable source. Did I mention I had not met my potential new hire in person? I had just spoken to her on the phone. I had great rapport with her and just had a feeling based on her past work history (a former F-15 crew chief in the Air Force) she was going to do well. Even though my first hiring decision went horribly wrong, I decided to go against the advice of the experienced trainer and brought the new gal on. That was summer of 2015. She has since turned out to be an amazing trainer...and did indeed turn the business around. Clients love her and I have since hired another trainer to help her out because we needed to increase capacity. April 2016 was our best month ever (we more than doubled our best month) and the business is just a few thousand from being paid off. I think back on last summer when impending doom was in front of the headlights and the strength of my belief was made the difference. It was a stressful time...but this is why I am an entrepreneur. My wife could never do what I do...she just wants a job and paycheck...and that is okay with me. Wifey is all smiles now about the business now that I handed her a stack of money before she took our 5 yr old on a weekend outing. Turns out my first trainer was working with clients under the table. Law enforcement caught up with her and she has an arrest warrant for felony Breach of Trust as a result. Wow...karma at work. So I decided to celebrate the turnaround and victory recently by buying a Punch Punch 50 cab from Prez. To all the folks out there who risk their time, money, and effort to try to get ahead and be a success beyond the norm. Cheers!

[oliverdst]

Great story. Congratulations.

[Orion21]

Congrats brother! Defying the odds feels good doesn't it?! New small businesses fail. 60% within the first 24 months and nearly 80% within the first 4 years. Hiring good people is always difficult. Owning a business myself I can feel your pain. You must define your corporate culture and hire people that fit and are qualified. That's a lot to ask of any one person. Run as hard as you can for as long as possible! Once you let up everyone else will get comfortable. My secret to success was to find a few younger driven people to do the running for me when I get tired....and then reward them! Today my business is twice the size as it was 4 years ago. I plan to double again within the next 4.

Also, rewarding yourself is important as well. Enjoy those cigars!

[luv2fly]

Congrats! I wish you the best for the future.

[fkim119]

Congrats!

Now the big question is, is there someone in S. California you can recommend ?

[westg]

Great storey ....keep at it..Enjoy the punch cab

[El Presidente]

Congratulations! I love small business!

1. You never feel as alive as when in those early days your arse is hanging out of your pants
2. Never get too down...never get too up....but take a glass half full attitude.
3. Take the time to celebrate your successes. Then knuckle down and start again on the next part of your plan.
4. The minute you feel comfortable in small business is the minute you start sliding backwards.
5. Make time for family and friends in those early years. It is so easy to lose yourself to the new mistress that is your business.
6. Take no gamble that could prove fatal. Failure and success are but two sides of the same coin.

[NicPac]

Congratulations!!! I love story's like this. I am a small business owner as well. Just celebrated 6 years in business. Employees are the toughest part of my business. When you find someone good, hold on to them. That's what I've learned. Treat them well. After all, our dreams don't come true without them. Enjoy those Punch Punch buddy!!

[NicPac]

Congratulations! I love small business!

• You never feel as alive as when in those early days your arse is hanging out of your pants
• Never get too down...never get too up....but take a glass half full attitude.
• Take the time to celebrate your successes. Then knuckle down and start again on the next part of your plan.
• The minute you feel comfortable in small business is the minute you start sliding backwards.
• Make time for family and friends in those early years. It is so easy to lose yourself to the new mistress that is your business.
• Take no gamble that could prove fatal. Failure and success are but two sides of the same coin.

Great advise ??

[LeafLover]

Was in business for 10'years. Best years were the first 2 years when I was building the business. My business took off right away. Went into the black within the first 8 months. By year two gross revenue was 400k, year three was 500k and year four gross revenue was 970k. Then i started to feel bored. With about 40 employees, the business became more of a machine and I got sucked into the grind of daily operations. After the four years, I lost the will to innovate and grow because we were so massive. In my ninth year, when I did not blink after I turned down a couple 100k plus a year clients because I didn't want to do the work involved in taking on the clients, I realized that I don't care about the business anymore and have lost all motivation. Ten years and two months after I started the business, I sold the business for a mint.

But my best years was in the beginning- planning, building, taking calculated risks, and growing the business was most fun for me. The continual grind of making money after that ruined my motivation. Oh well, you live and learn.

[luv2fly]

Congratulations! I love small business!

1. You never feel as alive as when in those early days your arse is hanging out of your pants
2. Never get too down...never get too up....but take a glass half full attitude.
3. Take the time to celebrate your successes. Then knuckle down and start again on the next part of your plan.
4. The minute you feel comfortable in small business is the minute you start sliding backwards.
5. Make time for family and friends in those early years. It is so easy to lose yourself to the new mistress that is your business.
6. Take no gamble that could prove fatal. Failure and success are but two sides of the same coin.

What Rob said. Great advice.

[luv2fly]

Oh and the Punch Punch 50 cab is a fantastic reward!

[jmg]

congrats on the hard work paying off, and I too think the 50 cab is a great way to reward yourself. got one myself lol

[Jeremy Festa]

Nice one mate! All the best

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[Gunson]

Congrats on the success.