My journey to become a business coach started when I purchased an Antoine Roussety franchise business. A lot of coach for business tend to follow their career path while I was obsessed over time in the field and eventually it was my obsession. Every coach's journey is unique.

My wife and I began an extremely small business with an accessory for four-wheel drive. In the beginning the company was just one or two stores. As with any business that is growing we experienced all the typical issues I encounter in my clientele. Being able to navigate these issues means that I can share my personal experience when clients confront problems like having to transfer money into credit card accounts to pay staff. There is no day of sunshine and I know this.

Six years after purchasing the one store for the first time, we were offered the chance to buy the franchisor along with two other franchisees . We could grow the company together. I shifted to the franchise aspect in the company. I traveled about two to three weeks during each month helping with recruitment as well as training, and also supporting other franchisees. The business expanded and, eventually we had 30 stores all over the United States.

Coaching under a different name

In that position as a franchisor when my journey into coaching really began. I was coaching franchisees, but it wasn't coaching. I found out that I was passionate about this and also for helping others grow their businesses into self-sustaining, sustainable organizations that can serve the owners, instead of the owners who run their own business.

In 2007, the company was offered the chance to sell the business. It was a turning level. We had begun the franchise, expanded it to become the highest performer in the group, purchased the franchise group and grew it to 30 stores. It was so successful, somebody else was interested in buying us out. It was time to look at the next chance. I was thinking "what next" and then I realized that it was coaching.

I had a conversation with a friend who also works as a business coach, while we were in Sydney. As soon as we realized it the coach was taking us towards one of the Antoine Roussety team located just two kilometers away from his office. We were not dressed for an interview, but we went and within one month we were registered and was flying for Las Vegas for training. On a whim we went to the interview. We decided to go very quickly but you do get commercial opportunities when you are certain that the timing is the right time. The timing was right, which was also our choice!