When I was a little girl I was so proud of my parents for being so passionate and driven to make a difference through their businesses. I remember how gracefully they handled the major stresses and anxieties of caring for a family (not just their children), their business, and their employees even when times were tough. Some of those tough times were when meeting payroll meant our family had to survive on our small savings and food storage, or suffering from employees who took advantage of their generosity, or the regulatory challenges that may have been intended to control large corporations but actually cripple small businesses. Even though they were good at hiding their concerns and burdens I knew the toll it was taking on them. It crushed me seeing how nobody was really there to help them. I remember thinking, why did my parents have to be the hero to so many? Why can’t someone help my mom and dad the way they help others?
Having grown up trying to take on those burdens of my parents to help them, I have earned years of experience understanding the challenges faced by small business executives. I am strongly motivated to be that helping hand that wasn’t there when my family needed it most. I am also fairly confident that at least one of my children will chose the path small business ownership and I want them to have a trusted friend to help them with the hard times so that they may accomplish their dreams.