Frontline Heroes Dare To Achieve The American Dream

Thank You to all the frontline heroes for all your sacrifices.  However, taking another JOB (Just Above Broke) was no longer a risk this healthy couple was willing to chance.

Debby spent more than 20 years working in customer service, most recently at a big-box home improvement shop. During the early days of the pandemic, schools closed their doors, and many Americans worked remotely to help flatten the curve and stay safe. To Debby’s dismay, her workplace remained open for business and packed with customers who did not always follow new safety guidelines. Feeling uncomfortable with only a paper mask as protection, Debby took a leave of absence and started looking for alternative opportunities.

At the same time, Debby’s husband Jay took a role away from home as an infectious disease nurse where he spent his day covered from head-to-toe in PPE, treating COVID patients. Following a stint in the military, Jay held a number of roles but has spent the last 35 years in nursing. Jay’s contributions during the pandemic helped plump up their nest egg and put more options on the table for their future.

A referral connected the couple with Heidi Simos, a Career Ownership Coach™ for The Entrepreneur’s Source^®, the nation’s leading career coaching franchise. TES offers education-based coaching to help people who are at a crossroads in their career chart a new course. Simos guides her clients at no cost as they discover their goals and determine if they want to find a new job, start a business from scratch, or pursue franchising.

“I’m closer to the end of my life than the beginning. It can be somewhat difficult dealing with someone who has had a lot of life experiences,” Debby said. “Heidi was patient and kind. She walked us through every step as we made our decisions.”

Simos began coaching with TES in 2015 after spending the majority of her career as a multi-unit franchise operator of eight learning centers. “The mission of The Entrepreneur’s Source^® resonated with me. I’ve always loved and wanted to help people,” Simos said. “With my desire to make a difference in people’s lives and my love of franchising, I felt like I was a perfect match for becoming a coach.”

Coaching Helps Clients Define Goals

Even before beginning their coaching journey, Debby and Jay had an inkling that franchising might allow them to achieve self-sufficiency and financial freedom. Initially, Simos helped the pair define their Income, Lifestyle, Wealth, and Equity™ goals. Keeping their goals in mind, they began evaluating flexible, home-based franchise opportunities. Debby hoped to apply her customer service experience to an owner-operator opportunity to alleviate the need to hire employees.

After considering numerous options, Debby and Jay made the decision to pursue entrepreneurship by opening a Gotcha Covered location in the Volusia, Flagler, and St. John counties of Florida. Gotcha Covered provides customers with custom window treatments, such as blinds, draperies, and shutters. The brand appealed to Debby’s customer service background in home services. It also achieved their goal of operating a flexible business model with low overhead and limited staff. Currently, Debby serves as the face of the business. She works diligently to retain customers, book appointments, and help make design recommendations, while Jay handles installation. “Heidi is the reason I am where I am. I’m delighted to be here,” Debby said.

The McAlisters hit the ground running with their new business in May 2021 and are pleased with their decision to pursue entrepreneurship. People are flocking to Florida for its warm weather and low cost of living. New neighborhoods are cropping up throughout the McAlisters’ territory, which is helping drive sales. Approximately 70% of their business is from new homeowners.

Debby also attributes part of her success to the support she receives from the corporate office and her strong network of fellow Gotcha Covered franchise owners. Gotcha Covered helps franchise owners foster business by offering a new mover marketing program to capture new residents. “New mover marketing has been a huge resource for us,” Debby added.

Find Out More About Career Ownership Coaching™
If you want to learn more about how coaching can help you achieve the American dream, contact a Career Ownership Coach™ to learn more about entrepreneurship. For more information about TES, visit www.entrepreneurssource.com, or check out our guide book, “Your Career 2.0^® A Survival Guide for the Battered Career and Investor Syndrome^®.

#frontlineheroes