My husband went from a mechanic in the Air Force in 1971 to the state university’s college of education where he studied math and computer sciences. Do to a school midterm graduation his first employment was in life insurance sales.
I went from beauty school to my own in-home shop so I could raise our two boys myself.
After the following year of student teaching my husband decided the enclosed, repetitive classroom environment was not for him. We decided to move from Maine to Florida where his parents lived in a campground. As it turned out the campground was sold soon after our arrival and the new owner needed an onsite managerment couple. He and a group of friends were starting hospitality businesses in the area and before we knew it we were starting our own small business management company.
We were paid to assist these investing developers with the day-to-day operation of their campgrounds and motels leaving them the time to devote to networking and strategizing. We found we were better at making money for someone else than we were for ourselves. From operating my own beauty shop I had realized that being too close to the small business you had put your heart and money into could be your worst liability.
We subsequently assigned the various duties to fit our expertise. My husband attended local government hearings and made sure we complied with all regulations. He was even appointed to a committee to rewrite the outdated county regulations for the campground industry. He also helped to form a county campground owners and operaters association. Through that organization we were able to upgrade the industry standards and amenities for long term residents such as onsite mail boxes, cable tv and phone services.
I trained front counter and maintenance staff as well as maintained bookkeeping and banking responsibilities. I was liason between the owners and their attorneys, accountants, and sub-contractors.
In 1984 we were listed in Dunn & Bradstreets’ Who’s Who in Small Business Management .
We have always kept our eyes and ears open for opportunity, believeing it could appear at any time. Don’t be afraid to look at new opportunities even if the money isn’t there right away, or it doesn’t fit the life plan you had envisioned. If it feels like something you could enjoy and utilizes your strengths and knowledge, give it a try.