Success Stories

Tapping an Entrepreneurial Mindset

Immigrants Margarita and Sebastian Paez are seizing control of their future and embracing the thriving small business culture in the United States. Driven by passion and determination, they are simultaneously launching two businesses.

The new ventures are not the couple’s first foray into entrepreneurship. Sebastian owned a dragon fruit wholesale business in Ecuador but struggled to gain a foothold in the market. A lack of guidance and support limited his efforts to be successful. But the pair’s passion for entrepreneurship did not waver. When they were ready to chart a new course, Margarita and Sebastian turned to Dale Stephenson, a Career Ownership Coach for The Entrepreneur’s Source^®.

After a distinguished career spanning 25 years in various executive-level roles at AT&T, Dale launched a career coaching business in 2022. “I was too young to hang up my hat and retire, but I was not really interested in starting over with another corporate role,” Dale said. “My coaching business allows me to have flexibility and use my mentoring skills to help people pursue their dreams.”

Margarita originally connected with Dale on the job at AT&T’s DirecTV division. She spent ten years working for DirectTV in Ecuador before getting the opportunity to transfer to the company’s Florida office, where Dale was her supervisor.

Finding the Right Path
Dale provided guidance as the couple defined their Income, Lifestyle, Wealth, and Equity™ goals, and opened their minds to new possibilities. Margarita and Sebastian reached a moment of clarity when they discovered they could open a recognized brand with guidance, support, and training.

“Dale gave us the advice and confidence we needed to partner with an existing brand,” Sebastian said. “He helped us understand the benefits and challenges of entrepreneurship to ensure we were on the right path.”

They started their exploration by targeting senior care after conducting a thorough market analysis that revealed a significant demand for senior services in their local community. The number of Americans ages 65 and older is projected to nearly double, reaching 95 million by 2060, according to the Population Reference Bureau.

“They wanted a business that would change their lives and they had a strong desire to help others and to take care of people in their community,” Dale said. “Margarita and Sebastian wanted to invest in a long-term business opportunity.”

They decided to partner with HomeWell Care Services, a leading at-home care provider. The company offers companionship, homemaker, and personal care services primarily to seniors as well as people with disabilities and people who are homebound.

At the same time, a passion for education sparked their interest in a STEM enrichment center. STEM is a type of education focused on science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Both Margarita and Sebastian earned their master’s degrees in business administration and their young daughter is on the cusp of starting her educational journey. STEMTREE offers engaging enrichment to children ages 5 to 12 years old. The brand helps bring science to life through its science, coding, robotics, electricity and electronics, and mathematics programs.

“Trust is everything. We chose these franchises because we knew our coach believed in the businesses,” Sebastian said. “At the same time, it’s important to investigate everything and ask questions. Research the competition and understand all the licenses and employee requirements.”

The couple partnered with family to support the two ventures and are currently navigating training and pre-opening details. They are targeting a September launch of STEMTREE to align with the school calendar year. Their HomeWell Care Services location is on track to open in October.

Reimagine Your Future
If you’re looking for a way to exit corporate America and take charge of your future, contact a Career Ownership Coach™ to learn more about business ownership. For more information about The Entrepreneur’s Source, visit www.entrepreneurssource.com or check out our latest guidebook, “Your Career Revolution: Reimagine and Reclaim the Life of Your Dreams.”