Don't we all have those days where we wish things were a little different?
My lifelong goal was to own my own business, but there were so few lights in the tunnel to do it. I went to school to get my degrees, thinking at some point, I would come across something that would work for me. I sold every network marketing thing possible from Avon to Silpada. If you could sign up for it for less than a hundred bucks, I was in.
Every time, I wondered if this would be the product or company that would change my life and let me quit my job that I hated.
Well, God works in mysterious ways because I was laid off from my job one year and given a two month severance package. That became the point where I decided I was never going back to working for someone else.
Back then, you found out what was going on in the world from the daily newspaper. I read it daily and had since I was little. I always read the want ads and items for sale to keep my finger on the pulse of what was going on in the world of work and sales.
That day, I saw an ad for a donut shop franchise. It seemed like a long shot. Everyone (but a few awesome people) told me it wouldn't work. I didn't have the money to put down or the credit given I was only 26 years old. I called them anyway. It was a business broker. He talked to me like I knew what I was doing and answered all my questions.
I met with the broker and took all the information about the business, including the financials. I was obsessed with numbers, and could not wait to dig in and see what they were.
Turns out, I would be able to pay myself a salary of exactly what I was making at my old job if I worked 40+ hours a week. I just had to figure out how to buy the business now. With an SBA (Small Business Administration) loan, you have to have three things - experience, cash and credit. I had none of those!
But what I did have was a plan. If you really want something, you will figure out a way to get it done. I talked to my parents. My dad had worked at a donut shop for several years as a third job when I was little. (I have four brothers and a sister, and my dad had to work two or three jobs to make it work).
That was all I needed to hear. I asked my parents if they would consider taking out a loan on their home to get some equity out to put down on the business purchase. They then had credit, cash and experience. I would do everything else. We went in as partners and purchased the business.
Then it happened. I did what everyone said I couldn't do. I was the owner of a donut shop franchise. It was great to see the looks on everyone's faces when I told them I was the owner and decision maker.
If I hadn't tried, thought it wouldn't work, thought I was too young, I didn't have the cash, credit or experience, I wouldn't be the person I am today.
I have now owned my donut shop for 17 years. Sometimes you will be the only person who believes it will work. Do it anyway.
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