The Art of Knowing When to Ask for Help
The Art of Knowing When to Ask for Help
Why is it crucial for business owners to identify their personal motivation or purpose?
The big thing is that everyone needs to figure out their "why." It might seem overused, but for me, it became clear in 2012 when my daughter was born. I realized that there weren't enough hours in the day for me to work and still provide the life I wanted for her. That’s when I started exploring ways to monetize my time at a higher level, beyond just being paid hourly.
At that time, I was a firefighter paramedic. In the year I started branching out, I had worked 1,000 hours of overtime. My normal firehouse schedule, plus the overtime, meant I was essentially gone for six months—day and night—like I was on deployment. It was tough on my marriage, my kids, and everything else.
That experience became my driving force. I wanted time freedom, so I could spend more time with my family. That’s why I began looking for better opportunities, and for me, that turned out to be real estate.
How did you recognize your entrepreneurial instincts?
I think I was always an entrepreneur; I just didn’t realize it. As a kid growing up in North Dakota, my brother and I played hockey. Selling candy bars for the hockey boosters was a common thing, and I remember my brother being too nervous to sell door-to-door. So, I’d sell mine, then take his and sell those too. I loved interacting with people. My dad was a great salesman and had been an entrepreneur for a while, and I realized that same entrepreneurial spirit was inside me.
Even during my 22 years in the fire service, while I loved the job and helping people, I always felt like I could do more. I wasn’t using all my talents and felt limited by the options available to me. It wasn’t until I got into real estate that I saw a clear path to entrepreneurship. I realized I could channel all my energy into building something for myself, my legacy, and my family. Once that hunger for entrepreneurship was awakened, there was no stopping me.
Why should business owners learn from those ahead of them?
Whatever industry you’re in, find someone who is ahead of you and connect with them. I do this myself. I just attended an event where I connected with people further along in their journey. There’s so much you can learn from them, and if nothing else, it gives you perspective.
For example, if you own one car wash or run an e-commerce business and are making $100,000, but someone else is making $1 million or more, talk to them. Realize they were once where you are now, and ask, “How did you go from where I am to where you are?” There’s often a path they follow, and if you learn what that is and apply it, you can achieve similar success.
I always say success leaves breadcrumbs. You just have to be hungry, track down those people, get in the room with them, and follow their lead.
How can business owners overcome fear and bet on themselves?
The best decision I made was to bet on myself. If I had let fear, analysis paralysis, or doubt stop me, we wouldn't be having this conversation, and I'd likely still be stuck doing what I was before. My life would have taken a completely different path—possibly divorced and unhappy.
From a young age, I knew I was scrappy, as my mom would say. Whether it was selling candy bars or overcoming challenges, I knew that once I committed to something, I would grind it out and do whatever it took to succeed. There was no backup plan. I went all in, burning the bridge behind me. Trusting myself to succeed, no matter the obstacles, was the best decision I ever made.
*This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.*
