06/23/2026
I’ve been doing a lot of reflecting lately while working through the accounting and finances for our businesses.
One thing that has always fascinated me is how many people assume that if you own a business, you must have money or be doing extremely well. While that may be true for some, I would guess that for most small business owners, especially in the first few years, the reality is very different.
People don’t always see the late nights, the stress, the constant expenses, the sacrifices, or the fact that many business owners go years without paying themselves what they’re worth because they’re reinvesting everything back into their business. They don’t see that you never truly clock out. Even when you’re home, your mind is still at work.
The truth is, with my MBA, I could probably take a full-time job somewhere and make significantly more money than I do right now.
But then I started asking myself a different question.
Would that create the same opportunities for others?
Would I be able to hire people, help them grow, and make a positive impact in their lives?
Would I be able to support local organizations, give back to the community, and help people through difficult seasons of life the same way?
Maybe. Maybe not.
What I do know is that building businesses has never been about me. It’s about creating opportunities for others. It’s about serving customers, investing in employees, giving back to communities, and hopefully leaving things a little better than I found them.
That’s what makes all the sacrifices worth it.
As I was going through the numbers, something stood out to me. I looked back at all the donations, sponsorships, and ways our businesses have been able to help local organizations, schools, teams, families, and community causes over the years. To be completely honest, it surprised me.
Did we always have extra money sitting around to give? Absolutely not.
But seeing those numbers brought the biggest smile to my face because it reminded me that if I had never taken those leaps of faith, I would have never been in a position to help in those ways.
Looking back, some of the moments I’m most proud of weren’t sales milestones, revenue goals, or business achievements. They were the moments we were able to help someone when they needed it most.
I don’t share that for recognition or praise. In fact, I don’t even want to share the amount. I share it because I challenge other business owners to do the same. Some of the most generous business owners I’ve ever met are the ones who can least afford it, yet they still find a way because they care about making a difference.
A friend once told me something shortly after I graduated high school that didn’t make much sense at the time. He said, “If you own a business, treat every employee with the mindset that you want them to leave your company.”
Years later, I finally understood what he meant.
As business owners, our responsibility isn’t just to build a company. It’s to help people grow. Whether that’s within our organization or helping them develop into opportunities beyond it, success should be measured by how many people you’ve helped along the way.
I’ve always been taught that businesses run on numbers.
And while numbers absolutely matter, I don’t think they’re the most important thing.
At the end of the day, businesses don’t run on numbers. They run on people. The numbers simply tell the story.
Employees.
Customers.
Relationships.
The way you make someone feel.
How many times have you had a bad day and a boss, coworker, employee, customer, client, friend, or even a complete stranger said something small that completely changed your day?
Those moments matter more than we realize.
Just because we’re having a bad day doesn’t mean we should put that on everyone else around us. We all have things we’re dealing with that nobody else can see. One small act of kindness, one encouraging word, or one genuine conversation could make a bigger impact than you’ll ever know. No act of kindness is ever too small.
So my challenge today, and every day, is simple. Find one person and do or say something that makes their day a little better. It doesn’t have to be anything big. It could be an employee, a customer, a friend, a family member, or a complete stranger. You never know what someone is going through, and you never know how badly they may have needed to hear something kind.
If you focus on people first, I truly believe the numbers eventually take care of themselves.
Lately, I’ve been grinding hard trying to grow Starkey Insurance Group and our other businesses. Like most entrepreneurs, I often want things to happen on my timeline. But I’m learning more every day that it’s not my timing that matters, it’s God’s timing.
Starting completely over in my insurance career after years of stability was one of the biggest risks I’ve ever taken. Starting with zero clients and essentially no income was scary, and there were times when I questioned everything.
But watching the business grow one client at a time has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life.
To every client who has trusted us, every person who has requested a quote, every friend who has sent a referral, and every person who has supported us in any way, thank you.
You probably don’t realize how much it means.
Being able to protect what matters most to people and help them during some of life’s most stressful moments is a responsibility I never take for granted. There’s something special about being able to tell someone, “It’s okay. We’re going to help you through this.”
The businesses may have my name on them, but none of this happens without our employees, customers, clients, partners, friends, and family who support us every day. Any success we’ve had is because of all of you, and for that I am incredibly grateful.
This morning’s reflection reminded me that success isn’t measured solely by revenue, profits, or growth. It’s measured by impact, relationships, and the lives we touch along the way.
I’m far from where I want to be, but I’m incredibly grateful for how far God has brought me.
One day at a time. One client at a time. One opportunity at a time.
Feeling blessed.
