My husband and I didn't start out trying to build a business; we started by accident really. I worked from home for a software company. which was ideal as I had 2 small children. I really loved the job but it was isolating. I came up with the idea of opening a kiosk at our local mall on my days off. When I signed the lease, they asked me for my business name. I didn't have a name so they put us down as Florida Gifts. We didn't have a sign so I didn't think a name was needed; Florida Gifts would do. The kiosk got me out of the house and interacting with other people.
My dad was a salesman for an import company so I purchased some merchandise and opened the kiosk. I didn't expect to be successful especially since I had to pay full rent even though we were only open 3 days a week. We did pretty well and it was a fun way to get out. We are in Florida so when it started getting hot, we decided to close up for the rest of the year. I was going to store the merchandise until the next season but I decided at the last second to instead put it online. I quickly sold out most of the leftover merchandise so I decided to buy more. Over time online became nearly a full-time job so I decided to quit my job at the software company and start my own website.
My dad was not a believer. Maybe it was not so much as he didn't believe in me but that he wanted me to stay on that safe path. He could not fathom that I would quit my good job with retirement and benefits to start a website. He had little faith. Yes, he did pay for my education but I knew my husband and I could make a go of this. If not, back to work I would go but that thought never entered my head. He didn't remember that he once quit a steady job at GM with a wife and 3 kids at home to work at a novelty gift importer.
When we started our business, we were not much different than others that started a business.
69 percent of U.S. entrepreneurs start their businesses at home
It was not much longer after I quit my job that my husband joined me. Fast forward a few years and my daughter also works with us full time. My son worked with us a short time but it was just not his passion. Of course, it was not that he didn't enjoy working for his parents.... I mean we are amazing! Just ask my daughter...
I look back on the time I spent working for someone else. That used to be the norm, get a company job and stay there for 30 years. That is so uncommon now. I wish we had gone in business for ourselves long ago but I realize that was our path to becoming successful business owners.
