Ready for a Career Change, but WHAT Kind of Change?
Career acceleration is the best way to achieve your goals – when you have a well-thought-out plan. Career Ownership Coaching(TM) helped two information technology executives from North Carolina discover a new path in the Sunshine State … with family by their side!
Chris and Wendy Benson have more than 25 years of experience working at large technology companies but found themselves at a crossroads. Currently, Chris manages a global team of 250 technology experts in Raleigh, North Carolina. Wendy served a variety of roles in the information technology field, most recently doing contract assignments.
The couple was weary of feeling battered and bruised at their corporate roles, despite achieving success in their fields. Confident in their experience and ability to excel at their jobs, the couple still felt unwelcome pressure from human resources professionals with an eye for younger talent. Nearly 82% of adults over 50 years old in the United States report experiencing age discrimination, according to a study by the University of Michigan.
The Bensons’ Journey to “A Point-of-Clarity” Begins
Ready for a change, the pair tapped Julian Reid, a Career Ownership Coach™ with The Entrepreneur’s Source® , (TES) to explore new possibilities for reaching self-sufficiency. “I.T. is always about problem-solving,” Chris said. We were looking for a business where we could bring our problem-solving skills to bear.”
TES uses a no-cost, education-based coaching strategy to help people achieve the American dream of business ownership. TES coaches help people identify their Income, Lifestyle, Wealth, and Equity™ goals for reaching financial freedom. TES coaching helps people determine if they want to take a new role in corporate America, start a business on their own, or pursue entrepreneurship through franchising.
Julian started his coaching career in 2013 after being downsized by his employer. Julian held a variety of senior-level positions in the corporate world at companies like EcoLab, UPS, and TAPPI prior to beginning his nine (9) year tenure as a Career Ownership Coach.
“My Fortune 300 employer was acquired, and the resulting staff duplication required changes. Predictably, as happens with many of my clients, people with gray hair and high salaries, were the first to go,” Julian explained. Reid is from a family of small-business owners. After being downsized, he decided to return to his roots and pursue entrepreneurship as a TES coach. “I get a big kick out of helping people explore business ownership; that is: I get a lot of intrinsic satisfaction from it,” he added.
The Bensons’ Client Experience Journey: From Discovery to Point-of-Clarity
Chris and Julian initially formed a rapport over their shared experience as Georgia Tech alumni. Shortly after Wendy and Chris started the coaching process, they realized business ownership through franchising would help them achieve financial freedom and enable them to go into business with their son, Joe Benson. After facing intense competition as a realtor in the current housing market, Joe needed a change. Finding a business that would allow him to use his skill set to drive sales helped propel their entrepreneurial vision.
iTrip Vacations, a short-term property management franchise, had two territories available in Florida, near Wendy’s extended family, and it matched their goals. After careful deliberation, Wendy and Chris listed their three homes in North Carolina for sale and made plans to relocate to Florida.
The short-term rental market is gaining steam as people choose private accommodations over hotels. Private accommodations outperformed the hotel sector following the pandemic outbreak in 2020, and experts predict the industry is poised to continue to grow.
“Even in the 2007–2009 downturn, property rental stayed strong,” Chris said. “People are attracted to Florida because of the business climate and the climate, climate.”
The Family iTrip Vacations Business Begins!
Being near family provided the perfect opportunity for Wendy and Chris to add more business partners. As a veteran teacher, Wendy’s sister, Suzanne Kyre, was ready to make a change. While she loved teaching, long hours and increased demands from administration were taking a toll. Joining forces with Wendy and Chris to run a successful franchise proved to be an ideal option. Suzanne’s husband Peter will also use his skills as a contractor to help keep the business running smoothly. Summarizing, that’s five (5) family members (either full-time or part-time) starting a new venture together on the west coast of Florida! Here’s the link for their biographies on their iTrip Vacations website.
“As a senior executive of a technology company, I knew running his own small business would be like child’s play for Chris,” Julian said.
Talk to a TES Coach
If you are striving to find work-life balance and flexibility, take time to chat with one of our career ownership coaches to discover your Career 2.0®. For more information about TES, visit our website, or check out our guide book, “Your Career 2.0® A Survival Guide for the Battered Career and Investor Syndrome®.”