ONE FAMILY'S STORY

Running a business is no easy feat, and running multiple businesses can be downright daunting. For the Weatherly family, it's just another day. The Weatherly's are the proud owners of a diversified portfolio of companies spanning several industries: from real estate to Ecco Adesso Vineyard in Fairfield, Virginia, to a non-profit, consulting companies, and even Airbnbs.

Yet despite their busy schedules and the demands of running a business empire, the Weatherly's have managed to maintain a close-knit, loving family.

The Weatherly's journey to entrepreneurship began several years ago, when Michael and Cierra Weatherly decided to begin acquiring rental properties, and started their own bar/restaurant, which led to them starting their own consulting company in 2015, which then summersaulted them into many other ventures, and most recently "The Farm" commonly called Ecco Adesso: a vineyard, mini cabin Airbnbs, local hang-out, and all around amazing place. With hard work, determination, and a little bit of luck, the businesses took off, and soon the Weatherly's were expanding into other industries, even today. They are constantly networking and most recently started a sports mediation business similar to their government consulting company only within the sports field where they work with universities and professional teams and athletes! Today, the family business is a sprawling network of companies, but with their babies by their side, and a hustle personality, they are able to get it all done!

But while they're busy running their businesses, the Weatherly's have never lost sight of what's truly important: family. They make a point of sitting down for dinner together, working on homework together, and they take regular vacations every year to spend time together and bond as a family. They also make sure to set aside time to volunteer in their community, giving back to others, and staying grounded in the process. Their most recent nonprofit they started is a veteran based program working in the gardens at Ecco Adesso getting their hands in the dirt.

Even the kids pitch in and pull weeds and pick vegetables alongside the veterans involved in the project!

When asked what advice they would give to someone wanting to be like them and create generational wealth for their family, Mike and Cierra both responded with a similar response: "Anybody can spiral down a rabbit hole for work, but it's important to keep that work/life balance. As far as a tip for how to be successful: network. It's all about getting out there and meeting new people. Don't be scared to fail and try new things."

Of course, it's not always easy to balance work and family, and the Weatherly's are the first to admit that they've had to make sacrifices along the way They believe that by working together and supporting each other, they can achieve anything.

The Weatherly's have individual and family goals. In their experience, they advised us to "have a "shared goal, you know, a vision. A plan is not necessarily a goal A plan is always good, but a goal to work towards is even better."

For the Weatherly's, success isn't just about growing their businesses and increasing their wealth; it's about creating a loving, supportive family that can weather any storm By all accounts, they've succeeded in that goal. The Weatherly's businesses are thriving, but so is their family. They're living proof that it's possible to have it all - a successful career and a happy family - with a little bit of hard work and a lot of love.