Gary Russell

When Gary Russell contacted The Entrepreneur's Source he was ready to take control of his destiny and his family's future.

After rising through the ranks of a retail services business and serving as its president for several years, the parent company decided to sell Gary's division. He had grown that start-up division from zero to $9 million in revenues in less than 2 1/2 years and established efficient procedures for the field and back office.

During his career transition he considered his options. Gary enjoyed controlling business decisions in his role as president. He felt he was beyond the point of reporting to someone else and had a compelling desire to build something for himself this time. His choices were to start a business or purchase a franchise.

"I found the coaching and guidance from Carolyn to be extremely valuable, from the explanation of the franchise industry to a better understanding of my specific interests."

Gary's goal wasn't to make millions. His objective was to maintain his standard of living, contribute to his childrens' college education, and enjoy evenings and weekends at home with his family. And squeeze in some golf, of course!

Gary's strong sales, customer service and operations background in the retail sector made his ultimate choice an ideal match. After diligently investigating several business models, Gary chose a franchise that operates Monday through Friday during business hours, allows him to work with local businesses and utilize all of the skills he had honed in his years in the retail sector.

There were several hurdles that could have kept Gary from achieving his goal of business ownership. He travelled extensively for work which minimized his time to investigate his opportunities. His mother passed away which some people might use as an excuse to "put things on hold" . And several close family friends were experiencing personal problems that impacted Gary's attention. These distractions did not stop Gary. Rather, they gave him more resolve. He was committed to his goals and diligently, decisively pursued his investigation - albeit more slowly than he expected.

"At no time during the process did I ever feel pressured to move more quickly or to make decisions without fully researching and discussing the topic. Carolyn was very patient and supportive throughout the entire process knowing when to back off and when to push a bit harder to ensure tasks were completed on schedule. The experience I had in following The Entrepreneur’s Source process with Carolyn was an exciting and, at times, laborious journey. But I enter a new stage of my business career with a great amount of confidence due to the research I completed with the watchful eye of Carolyn."

On his 50th birthday, Gary's birthday present to himself was to submit his franchise agreement to Signs By Tomorrow.

Gary will be opening his doors for business at the end of January 2005 at 6419 Penn Avenue South in Richfield. His understanding of how businesses should effectively promote themselves makes him the ideal consultant to organizations that will be fortunate enough to do business with him. Be sure to stop by to congratulate Gary when his new store opens in January!

"Without the assistance of Carolyn I would not have completed the journey to purchase a franchise. I am also certain that I would not have selected Signs by Tomorrow without the introduction of this opportunity from The Entrepreneur’s Source."

Please let us know if you encounter someone who might be in a similar situation as Gary. Business ownership is easier, more affordable and safer to attain than many people believe. The key is to become educated about the possibilities and to obtain support. The Entrepreneur's Source specializes in providing education, coaching and knowledge of business and franchise opportunities for our clients, allowing a safe and thorough exploration of all options.