How Growing Up in My Dad’s Store Shaped My Coaching Philosophy

When people ask me how I learned to run a business, they usually expect me to mention an MBA or a favorite mentor.But the truth is — I learned almost everything that matters standing behind a counter in my dad’s small-town electronics and appliance store.

It was the kind of place where everyone knew your name. I started working there around age ten, sweeping floors, unpacking boxes, and watching how my dad treated people. He taught me that success wasn’t about selling the most — it was about serving the best.

The Real Lesson Wasn’t in Sales — It Was in Service

My dad had this saying: “We don’t sell products. We help people make good decisions.”

That philosophy guided everything. When microwaves were brand new, he didn’t just push people to buy them — he had me facilitate cooking demonstrations to show busy moms how to use them. He didn’t see a sale; he saw an opportunity to make life easier for someone else.

That’s when I learned the heartbeat of business — understanding people before you pitch to them.Because when you care enough to listen, your clients will tell you exactly what they need.

Every Interaction Is an Experience

Long before “customer experience” became a buzzword, I saw it modeled for me every day. My dad remembered names, asked about families, and followed up after a sale just to make sure everything worked as promised.That personal touch created loyalty — the kind you can’t buy with fancy marketing or discounts.

Fast forward a few decades, and I’ve built and run more than a dozen businesses myself — from mortgages to commercial and residential window washing to solar energy to leadership coaching. Different industries, same principle: people first, profit second.That mindset has carried me through every pivot and reinvention.

The Connection Between Events and Entrepreneurship

Later, as a professional event planner, I realized that what I learned in that store translated beautifully to large-scale experiences. Planning 4,000 events taught me that details, follow-up, and connection matter just as much in a ballroom or arena as they do in a small-town appliance store.Both experiences hinge on one thing: making people feel seen.

That’s what my coaching philosophy is built on today.Whether I’m helping a coach turn a book into a brand, or guiding a team through leadership development, my focus is the same — create meaningful transformation through genuine connection.

Building Businesses That Last

In a world obsessed with overnight success, I believe in the long game.I believe in clarity before speed. In people before products.And I believe that when you build relationships with integrity, success follows naturally.

Every lesson from that store still lives in my work:

• Serve before you sell.

• Listen before you lead.

• Follow through long after the transaction.

It’s what I teach every client who comes to me feeling stuck, unseen, or uncertain about their next step. The answer isn’t another tactic — it’s remembering why you started in the first place.

Bringing It Full Circle

My dad passed down more than a business model — he passed down a way of life.And now, through Post Script Strategies for Coaches, I get to do the same: help entrepreneurs build something lasting, purposeful, and human.

Because when you focus on service, your business becomes more than a brand — it becomes a legacy.