Second Chances are for Everyone: How to Take Ownership of Your Career

by Susan Scotts

Athletes, veterans and educators are often given standard operating procedures - blueprints for being successful. These folks are good at following a system. However, almost everyone, including those in the armed forces, whether transitioned or currently transitioning, are tired of answering to someone else, so what’s next?

Getting a job is an option, but in a job, you still answer to someone else and will not be in control of your financial future. But there are other options to consider when evaluating your future, or what I call, Your Career 2.0. You may want to consider the possibility of becoming your own boss or “commanding officer” by leveraging a proven, replicable, duplicatable system of doing business. That’s what a franchise offers.

Mike’s Second Chance

My client, Mike H. in Spring, Texas, is a great example of an outstanding move to his Career 2.0.

Mike left the United States Air Force and his role of Senior Manager of Aircraft Maintenance Operations after 22 years. He took a J.O.B. (Just Over Broke) for another 10 years working for two different companies in aerospace and aviation managing technical operations. He led multi-site international manufacturing operations and built high-performance teams.

When Mike and I connected, he was really frustrated, loathing the corporate scene and answering to someone else. He wasn’t earning what he was worth. Mike couldn’t take the time off he wanted, had no control, freedom or flexibility in his schedule. He was also very concerned about the company’s financial future -- worries that kept him up at night.

I asked him why he couldn’t follow a proven system that a franchise offers, create that same success for himself and build wealth for his future instead of someone else’s? He agreed to learn more about career ownership and being his own commanding officer.

We began exploring various possibilities. One really struck him right from the beginning. It provided Mike the opportunity to work in a commercial setting versus retail, which was one of his interests. He felt it was a recession-proof business (more on why that was so important in a moment). It also allowed him to be diverse, as well as provide services internationally. The franchise gave Mike a great degree of support which was essential to him as a brand-new business owner. In addition, he felt like he had many contacts in procurement positions from his past that he could leverage.

After careful research and conversations with several owners, Mike decided to take on this new challenge. I assisted him in obtaining funding (he decided to use other people’s money to begin). Mike opened his business TWO DAYS before the state of Texas SHUTTING DOWN due to Covid-19!

Most people would be fearful about a business launch during Covid, but since Mike’s focus was on recession-proof and essential businesses, it turned out this was his recipe for success.

Covid created even more of a demand than anticipated for the products Mike offered his community. He generated 10 times more than projected revenue in his first month in business!

Mike’s business outgrew his facility quickly, and he had to expand to keep up with demand. He’s delighted with his role of commanding officer in his own business and enjoying the freedom and flexibility his new position offers. So much so, that his wife, a schoolteacher, has reached out to me to explore business possibilities as well.

Whatever your personal income, lifestyle, wealth or equity goals are, and whether you are transitioning out of the military, a long-time career or simply tired of answering to someone else, you already have many skills that are transferrable to a business of your own.

By following the recipe for success and leveraging a proven system that a franchise offers, second chances exist for you. Why not explore all the possibilities for your Career 2.0 and make an informed choice based on facts just like Mike did?

Susan Scotts is a multiple award winning career transition coach with The Entrepreneur’s Source® and possesses three decades of experience in helping empower individuals to become entrepreneurs through franchise business ownership. For a complimentary consultation, she can be reached at 561-859-9110 or SScotts@EsourceCoach.com.