Just over fourteen years ago, I left my job of 4 years and profession of about 14 years and decided to work with my wife Jayne on starting a business. At the time, we thought we were prepared. We had savings, equity in a home, no debt other than a small mortgage, and lots of experience running businesses in the long-term care field. 2008 was the year. We had no idea what would come with this new venture.
Jayne had urged me to start my own business because we were both burned out with the nursing home business. She agreed to help me with the business, but at the time, she was dedicated to raising our young children and that was her priority. She had no idea the commitment that was needed to create this business.
Home Care was a perfect fit for us after my time as a nursing home administrator, and even Jayne with her education and service in the church and the community. It took some time for her to integrate into the business, but once she did, she became a master of home care.
2008 was possibly the worst recession since the great depression – what a time to start a business. We lost all of our savings, and our equity and really started to backslide! Although starting a business was certainly challenging during this era, our business grew each year, slowly, but steadily until the recession receded.
There have been many obstacles since that rocky beginning; government intervention (never-ending), health challenges, changes in markets for clients and caregivers, turnover, and the list continues. The fight for success in this market has not been easy. Less than 1 in 10 home care businesses succeed and out of those only 1 in 10 truly thrive. Help from vendors and outside sources, like Hurricane Marketing (now Home Care Evolution) has been valuable to our success to thrive.
What is it that allows us to thrive and what does thriving look like?
Most people believe they have goals for success. Do your goals look like one of the following: 1) I’m not happy with where I am and I want what someone else has; 2) I don’t have a goal, but am currently unsatisfied; or, 3) I’m currently satisfied, but I set goals to become better and look for more opportunity to help others.
I believe that those that “thrive” in life are those that find joy in their current status; financially, socially, spirituality, physically, emotionally, etc., but are unsatisfied with the stagnicity of staying at that level. Balance in life is one of the most important parts of “thriving”. Steve Wiess, President of Hurricane Marketing, teaches this to his Elite Academy Members. Many times throughout our business, Jayne and I could have taken our business to the “next level” and grown faster, but something in life took priority over business.
After Jayne and I had been in business for just 2 years, the business was small, but we were making a living income. My dad had been going through substantial health issues for 25 years and one day I received a call from my sister that he had been hospitalized and she was told by his physician he would not live long. Jayne and I scrambled to find a plane ticket and Jayne drove me to the airport. I did not arrive in time to say goodbye to my father. Jayne and the kids drove 1500 miles to meet up with me and be with family as we prepared for my father’s funeral. It was not easy to run our business from a distance, as we had no office staff. However, this is only the beginning.
Jayne had a scheduled medical procedure when we were returning home that we knew would disrupt our lives. We knew she would be limited for about 3 to 4 months. While at my father’s funeral, I received a call from my doctor informing me that I was diagnosed with cancer and I would need to get home and begin surgery and treatment right away. Jayne and I had surgery 7 days apart from each other one week after my father’s funeral. We ran the business from our bed for the entire summer. Only miracles from God saved us, our family, and our business that summer. During that summer, for every new client call we received, a nurse or social worker from the referral sources was able to step in and perform the assessment for us. Towards the end of my treatment, I received a call from a hospice client and scheduled an in-home assessment on the very first day I was clinically and safely able to leave the house.
Jayne’s priority was always our family, specifically our 5 children. During the summer I would get excited that the business would start to grow again and she would say, ok I am going to only work in the mornings and then be with the kids. I knew it was important, but it was difficult to accept that sacrifice. Part of thriving is looking for happiness and success in all parts of your life. Sacrificing family and marriage for money or business will not bring happiness.
When we had been in business for about 4 years, we had grown a bit each year, but still were very small. I was asked by my church to lead a service project during the summer that year. It was difficult for me to accept due to my long hours and unexpected on-call needs in the business. I felt duty-bound to accept this assignment which would take up a considerable amount of my time. The blessings that came from this cannot be explained. The business grew without me. My family life and marriage grew. My overall happiness improved. We were thriving!
Growing our business has not been easy. There have been many rough roads along the way. We have chosen some paths, and some have been thrust upon us in the detours of life. We have a saying in Spokane, Washington, “There are only two seasons in Spokane; winter and construction!” There is always something in the road standing in our way. That’s why we drive TRUCKS! Don’t let the detours of life stand in your way. Today our business is thriving. Jayne and I primarily provide support and training for most things and let the office staff run the day-to-day business. We have plenty to do in our new roles, but we can choose when to work and how. We still are working our way to the next step and have specific goals to never stay stagnant.
Thriving is a state of mind, a state of being, and a state of doing. I thrive because my wife Jayne has always been my superpower, my strength, my support, and encouraged me and everyone around her to look forward and be positive in everything we do.
Bio
Rob has dedicated the past 28 years to serving seniors. As an MBA in Health Care, a nursing home administrator (14 years), and a home care owner (14 years), he has been busy in the long-term care industry since 1994. He also is a volunteer instructor for the Alzheimer’s Association and has been on several boards and committees to help serve seniors. Rob is also a Certified Dementia Practitioner through the (NCCDP) National Council of Certified Dementia Practitioners as well as a Certified Dementia Trainer for the NCCDP. He is also a DSHS Trainer for Dementia and Mental Health for the State of Washington as well as other related classes in long-term care. Rob has been a student of Dementia and a volunteer for the Alzheimer’s Association since 1994. Jayne and Rob started their home care business, Care To Stay Home, in Spokane, WA in 2008. They have 5 children and 3 grandchildren.