Disenchanted with Corporate Oversight

Disenchanted with Corporate Oversight

Steve Rivers discovers autonomy and financial freedom. Rivers spent 22 years as the second in command growing a business in the environmental sector, which provided waste management services, industrial cleaning, and other environmental services to customers in the southeastern United States. As the company’s troubleshooter, Rivers tackled everything from business strategy to day-to-day management. He helped grow the company to a $14 million business before it was sold to a major corporate player.

During the transition, Rivers quickly realized he valued his autonomy and did not enjoy working for a large corporate entity. Although his four children are all nearly finished with college, he was not ready to hang up his hat.

“I wasn’t ready to retire; I wanted to have a purpose and something to do. I also wanted to be financially able to help my kids as they started their careers, if they needed it,” Rivers said.

He started hunting for new opportunities and saw the writing on the wall. If he wanted to have financial freedom and self-sufficiency, Rivers needed to launch his own venture.

At least 28% of entrepreneurs start their own businesses because they want to be their own boss, and another 23% turn to business ownership because they are dissatisfied with corporate America, according to a survey conducted by Guidant Financial. Nearly 10% start a new venture because they aren’t ready to retire. While it’s possible to start a new business from scratch or purchase an established business, approximately 35% of entrepreneurs turn to franchising to achieve self-sufficiency, Guidant Financial reports.

Coaching Showcases Alternative Options

During his job search, he connected with Stacey Gibson of The Entrepreneur’s Source^® (TES). Gibson launched her career coaching business nine years ago after working in marketing in Raleigh, North Carolina. After Gibson moved to the picturesque town of Blowing Rock in the North Carolina mountains, she wanted a remote opportunity that would allow her to generate a secure future and enjoy her new home.

As a career coach, Gibson helps people explore their options, possibilities, and dreams to determine if they should get another corporate job, start a new business, or invest in an existing brand. TES coaches rely on an education-based strategy to help people discover their Income, Lifestyle, Wealth, and Equity™ goals.

Consulting Business Offers Self-Sufficiency

Rivers’ leadership tenure, business acumen, and problem-solving skills made him an ideal fit for entrepreneurship. He opened his mind to different possibilities and explored his options before investing in Valenta, a technology consulting business.

“Steve was really engaged. He spent a lot of time learning about his options and did a huge amount of due diligence before deciding on the best fit. He buckled down to make sure the business he chose fit for himself and his family,” Gibson said.

Valenta helps small and medium-sized businesses cut costs and increase profitability by automating services and staff augmentation. Rivers works closely with companies to understand their needs, identify pain points, and implement the right mix of customized solutions, resulting in innovative, simplified, and efficient business processes.

“Valenta allows me to keep the customer happy and make sure they’re getting a good service and paying a fair price for it. In a lot of cases, I help business owners get their lives back,” Rivers said.

Discover More About Entrepreneurship
If you are striving to find autonomy and are tired of working in the corporate world, take time to chat with one of our career ownership coaches to discover your Career 2.0^®. For more information about TES, visit www.entrepreneursource.com, or check out our guidebook, “Your Career Revolution: Reimagine and Reclaim the Life of Your Dreams.”