“The Power of Owning a Business”
I remember the first week after we bought our first company, July 5th, 2011. I began receiving the daily sales reports. That first email reported $ 15,208.51 in daily sales. The company earned roughly 10% net margins, so I did some quick math and figured I had just pocketed about $750 (I was still quite naïve about the difference between income and cash flow!)
What I felt at that moment, earning $750, was freedom. I had earned them without being at the company. Without selling my time. They had in essence been earned for me, and I was hooked.
I started working at 14 years old bussing tables at an Italian restaurant. I moved on to bagging groceries at Safeway. I held a job throughout college and put in 12-hour days in asset management after graduation. I know what working hours for a paycheck feels like.
This was different. I knew this was what I wanted.
Since then, we have acquired seven more companies. While I still put in many hours, I put them in because I love it. I put them in where I feel I can add the most value. I put them in to realize the fullest version of myself and to continue building this company. I never put them in for a paycheck.
Of everything building AH has given me, this is the greatest. Leverage over my own life.