Past The Grind: How This Home Care Couple Learned To Lean On Their Team

In this episode of The Home Care Millionaire Podcast, Paul and Joan sit down with Ariauna and Jacob Ellzey, a husband-and-wife team from Columbus, Ohio, who left stable careers to build a home care agency together.

Four years in, two territories later, and a lot of hard lessons between them, they share what it really took to stop grinding and start leading. If you're building with your spouse and wondering when it gets lighter, this conversation is worth your time.

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Your next big win starts here. Serve with heart, lead with faith, and remember… compassion is your calling, and wealth is your reward.

Transcript

SPEAKER_02 0:06

Hello and welcome to the Home Care Millionaire Podcast, a show where compassion meets prosperity. I am Paul, and but alongside of you who have John here, we're honored to be your host. Together, John and I have built a homecare agency from a little$12,000 credit card loan, okay, from the call of the gambler at that time, we've built it into a we've built it into a an eight-figure business serving thousands of families over the years. And now we're going to share the lessons and the mindset that you can do.

SPEAKER_01 1:00

I realized there were not many podcasts out there. So podcasts.

SPEAKER_02 1:43

Practical insights and encouragement you need to live, build wealth, and create legacy through your agency. So subscribe, folks, join us on this journey to transform your business, your mindset, and your future. Welcome, folks, to the Home Care Millionaire Podcast. Serving lots of hundreds of clients in their community of Ohio, Columbus, Ohio, Arianna and Jacob Elsey. These are wonderful people, compassion, compassionate people, people who care. You know, when you do what we do, you have to care. And they have uh there's a lot to them. I'm not gonna spill the bin now, we're gonna get into this, but uh, we're so delighted to have him here today to join us.

SPEAKER_01 2:37

All right. So let's hear your wisdom and let's hear your story, whatever it is you have to share with our audience here today on the Home Care Millionaire Podcast. Over to you.

SPEAKER_02 2:47

Welcome to Elsies to the uh Home Care Millionaire Podcast.

SPEAKER_00 2:52

Thank you for that warm welcome. We really, really appreciate that. Um, I kind of chuckle when you said many, many years. It has been many years, but sometimes I still feel like a baby in the industry as we compare ourselves to such wonderful providers as yourself. Oh but you know, as we add on to four years at this point, um it is just going day by day. And uh someone reminded me just recently that four years is a accomplishment. Yes, are you kidding me? Oh, yes, a lot of small businesses don't make it past the two-year mark, and it is something worth celebrating every day because what we do matters, and our success only allows us to do it more. Awesome, awesome, yeah, um, but yes, my name is Ariana Elzy.

SPEAKER_05 3:47

And I'm Jacob Elzie.

SPEAKER_00 3:49

Um, and we were born and raised and provide care here in Central Ohio. Go Buck Eyes.

SPEAKER_02 3:56

Okay, okay, yeah, yeah, really.

SPEAKER_00 3:58

Yes, yes. Um, I guess we could start with a little bit about ourselves and our background.

SPEAKER_03 4:04

Um that'd be great.

SPEAKER_00 4:07

As I said, we were born and raised here in Columbus, and I'm grateful to be surrounded by lots of family love and support um that helps um us throughout our journey. Um, we have four beautiful children between the ages of five and twelve. Um that keeps us going every day, uh busy and going all over the place. So don't ask me how I do it. We just get it done. Um and then my background professionally prior to coming into the home care industry, um, I practiced as a pharmacist in a community pharmacy setting.

SPEAKER_04 4:46

Okay.

SPEAKER_00 4:46

Um and I believe that that translated in so many ways um as we decided to go along this journey. So I'll let Jacob tell you about his background and then how we got started and how that kind of correlates for me.

SPEAKER_05 5:03

Sure. Uh as she said, uh, born and raised in Columbus, Ohio, um my background is in finance. I'm a CPA. Oh, wow.

SPEAKER_03 5:11

Okay.

SPEAKER_05 5:11

I spent about four years in public accounting uh doing traveling and doing auditing work for manufacturing businesses. And uh it was around that time where we started having kids, and I decided that uh this probably isn't the best business for me. Uh so at that time I moved into corporate, um, specializing mostly in like software type of businesses. And um life as we kept having kids, like got busier and busier. Um and so uh anyone who knows about pharmacists, the schedules are are pretty crazy. Yes. Um and they they change from week to week, right? So um she would work in like nights up until nine o'clock, and then she was on a weekend rotation on Saturdays and Sundays.

SPEAKER_03 5:59

Oh boy.

SPEAKER_05 5:59

And so as I was kind of ramping up in my career, um, you know, I was working high hours, but then trying to navigate her schedule with the kids, it got a little hectic. Um, and so that's part of the reason why we we did move into entrepreneurship. Then, you know, I felt like that was always a call in our lives. I didn't exactly know what it was gonna be. Um, we know we wanted to be entrepreneurs, we didn't know if that was starting something new or if it was you know acquiring an existing business, but um, you know, we knew that our schedules were crazy and we knew we needed to do this, so that's kind of how we we launched into it. Wow so um, yeah, that's uh we can get into more details later, but yes, yeah, so what that's a powerhouse right there, right?

SPEAKER_01 6:44

So, how were the early days for you?

SPEAKER_00 6:47

Yeah, so actually, you know, our early days um was a lot of exploring uh prior to getting into home care in industry, um, like Jacob mentioned, we knew we wanted to do something, something of our own, put our stamp on the Columbus area, give back to the community that had helped develop us over time. And um in that situation, it was figuring out the balance. So because I did not have a background in business, um, and I was going to be spending most of the time inside of the business. Um, I was happy to learn and understand more about franchising. I mean, kind of started what is franchising, what does it look like? How do you get into it? Um, how do they support you? What are the benefits? And I was really drawn towards that concept of having a support system um to help build where I lacked. Um, and I would feel like I would have a community to rely on. So that was um something that was important to me. Um, but also coming from the care industry, from a medical industry and all of my training, I knew that it had to mean something. I I could we explored different options, um, but I had to be connected. And um, as soon as we were connected with someone who actually owned a visiting angels, it wasn't local, but they were able, we were able to sit down and just have a conversation. What do you do? Why do you do it? And I was sold from day one.

SPEAKER_03 8:37

Wow.

SPEAKER_00 8:38

Wow. And we just were really blessed to be sold on the idea, and then it the floods gaped came our way, you know.

SPEAKER_02 8:47

All right, all right.

SPEAKER_00 8:48

It was a blessing. Um, we were talking to someone that didn't live in our city or in our it wasn't local, so we were like, How do we make this happen? We got connected with uh visiting angels, and they were willing to push us along the way and lead and guide us, and so it was um it was just like a blessing to sit in that confidence because it was a big move. We were transitioning from, you know, uh working for other people and changing our lives to pull all that we had into something. Um, and so it started with a lot of research. I stepped away from work and started learning how to write business plans and invest in learning the industry here, calling around, asking questions, listening to podcasts, just getting a clue. Um and that helped um prior to you know, some of the things that visiting angels helped through their training programs and information that they shared. So I was lucky to have that time. Um, and also I think it's just a blessing that we were able to purchase a business that was already existing. It allows us to transition. As we said, we had busy lives, we had built our life and had bills to pay, and that was necessary to um continue on our trajectory of life. So we were blessed to come across these opportunities, and um, I'm grateful that I could sell my heart into something that meant a lot to me.

SPEAKER_02 10:37

Wow, awesome, awesome. I was gonna add also that it's interesting because you guys did some legwork. I mean, you you researched, you know. I mean, you're smart anyway, you know. So you need some you do some legwork, you you know, you um, and it's interesting when you're going for something. I say this because June and I were in the same boat like you guys. I mean, because you know, and I'm gonna ask this question, you could answer later. Working as a couple is not easy, right? Yeah, so we'll talk about that as we progress here. And um, we we're the same way. We're professionals too, both in IT at that time, and uh but we wanted to, we we just felt constrained, you know what I'm saying? Like trapped, you know what I'm saying? You felt like, I mean, I shouldn't be here, you know. I could do better. I want to serve. I mean, I don't want to join the army or anything, but you know, I want to serve, right? That's what we felt. You know, we felt like we wanted to get out there, and um and even though we had a job, we found a way. I mean, I'm telling you, right? I mean, it was like, you know, I don't care if Joe was taking calls on lunch breaks, you know, for clients calling, you know. I'm sure you guys have done that. You know, we were after hours. I mean, in the course of our journey, we because we didn't have an office. We mean when we started, you did not have to have an office, right? We rented a mailbox address thing, you know, and then uh we operated a house, the basement of the house. I had two phones, one for caregivers, one for clients from the basement, right? I mean, this is interesting, and then it was and then we we found that uh we called McDonald's, you know. Um, you know, we called McDonald's was our office because that's how we get give checks to people. Me, me and McDonald's. We have no office, right? So I say all of that to say that the journey is very it's so similar, you know. But when you want something, when you want that freedom, we want to own your own thing and control your destiny, you're gonna do whatever. And I see that in you guys.

SPEAKER_01 12:30

Yeah, I was gonna add, you just um talked about doing your due diligence, doing your homework. Yes, many people getting into the industry kind of negate that, yes, they overlook that, and just well, in the in your case, you were buying the franchise. Okay, the franchise will do it for me, the franchise will do everything. It doesn't really work like that. So doing your homework lays that, yeah, period of it lays that solid foundation. So you were going in. Well, you may not have known everything, but at least you know something to get you on the right footing, yeah. So that that was great. Yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_02 13:05

Congrats again on buying and existing. That's wonderful. Now, let me just ask you. I mean, you know, I know that challenges come as you run run the business. How was that transition? I mean, you know, especially as a couple, I'll let you guys speak speak about because some folks, you know, a lot of these folks, you know. I mean, like I said, Joan and I have Astra, we'll tell you about that. But how has that been for you guys? The challenges working as a couple with a family, how do you navigate all of that to build such a successful business that you have in four years?

SPEAKER_05 13:32

I'll start and then I'll I'll let you take it from there. Okay, um, yeah, so I I think Ariana kind of alluded to this a little bit. She's the one who started in the business full time, um, and I stayed working within corporate. Um, and so my assistance was kind of you know, nights and weekends, uh, long hours trying to help from that standpoint. Really, you know, I was kind of more of like a back end like finance operations, some strategy and things of that nature. And she was diving, you know, head first, uh, you know, 10 toes in with the team learning all the operations, actually do you know, doing the roles herself. Wow. And um, it was a grind. No lie. I mean, it was a grind. We we knew it was gonna be work, uh, you know, coming in, but we we didn't really, it's one of those things where you don't know until you actually get into the business.

SPEAKER_03 14:24

That's right.

SPEAKER_05 14:25

Um, and so you know, we had a lot to learn. Um, one of the things that we were super grateful for is like she said, having an existing team, and not only just an existing team, but people who you know been in this industry for years. Good deal, you know, 10 plus years.

SPEAKER_02 14:40

Yes.

SPEAKER_05 14:41

And doing this, and not only the experience, but the passion, right? And and and the love uh for what they do. And so, you know, it helped. We leaned on them a lot early on. Um, they were super helpful, kind of teaching us the ins and outs, um, learned by trial and error, um, but then also, you know, researching, figuring out what not to do. A lot of that was the case. Um, as far as balancing work, you know, leveraging our village. Um we have younger sisters and getting help with the kids and our parents and whatnot. So you know, it was a process, but I'll let you know.

SPEAKER_00 15:17

The the first year was definitely uh had its trials and errors in a lot of different ways, but how related in my sense is you know, he discussed that as a pharmacist, I was working till nine or would have to do weekends and things like that. And it did require that I would miss family events or kid events, and it it would tear me up inside. So I was grateful for at least the flexibility to make my schedule to attend, to show up and to do the things that were important to me at home. Um, but yeah, it still translated to working weekends at home or at night after people went to sleep and just long days, you know. Home care is a 24-7 business place. And so there's always that challenge too, um, that care is always being provided. Well, at least we always provide care, and um, sometimes that does bring family and life interruptions. Um, so navigating what does that look like? How can I show up for home and show up for my staff, um, leading by example and you know, just learning those ins and outs of how to find balance. Um so it's it definitely allowed us to focus on pursuing what matters to us, um, but still always has its challenges. Um, as you might hear, being entrepreneur is not for the week. Um, so it it might not be a nine to five, or you're not working for someone else in the sense of that someone else is signing your paycheck, but um we have a lot of people relying on us, and um, I took that pretty personally on how serious that was. So that was a big shift. Um, but it was a good one. It was a good one.

SPEAKER_02 17:14

Wow, yeah. I was gonna add also that um, you know, I mean, the it's because folks talk about work-life balance, you know. I'm like, what's that? Yeah, right. I mean, work-life balance, you know, you know, I mean, hey, you do the work, I mean, and and you guys are so right though. You guys are so right because you know, you you you know, you work the long hours, I mean, you know, you work on weekends or whatever you gotta do to get it going, but you work in your business though. You see what I'm saying? And then you don't have to do it forever, which is the I think the big point here, because a lot of folks think, well, I'm gonna keep it. No, no, no, come on now. You work and uh you work at a certain period of time, you don't have to be around, you can remote do it. I mean, you see what I'm saying? So I think that's the beauty of it. I you know, I love do I love that kind of work, you know. I think I think it's a lot of fun to the entrepreneurial journey. I think so, you know, because you're making a difference, you have freedom, right? I mean, you know, you're able to control, like like you know, Irena, you talked about having time for family, you know, not missing out, making those choices that you can't do as a W-2 employee, right? I mean, you just can't do it. I mean, how how often is boss gonna let you out?

SPEAKER_01 18:25

That's right. I was I was gonna touch on the um the fact that you bought an existing office. You know, some people don't have a good experience. We we didn't have a good experience.

SPEAKER_02 18:36

Tell our audience, tell the elders and our audience about it.

SPEAKER_01 18:39

Yeah, when we bought one um one location, but you had been so blessed, you you fell on a uh uh a franchise that you know I guess they held your hands, you you fell into a good team. But some of the challenges with buying an existing office, especially if you're retaining the staff, is that they come with a certain culture, organizational culture, and a mindset that has existed and may not work with your culture, right? And you have to have them online that, and then you teach them your your ways. So that could be challenging. So I just wanted to shed the you know, just add to the fact that you guys had a positive experience buying an existing um yeah.

SPEAKER_02 19:26

I I was gonna add also uh the else is that you guys were blessed. I think I think Arena said that you guys were blessed. You see what I'm saying? You got because you know what ours, and I'll let you, you know, say our when we bought our third office, you know, we it was interesting. And Jonah, she touched on a little bit, it was interesting. Uh you know, because the first two we built ourselves, right? This third one we bought. This person was one out of was leaving, so we know for health reasons, so we bought their office. And um, we they came over to our main office, we cut them a check, the attorney was there, did everything on our way to the location. Because you know, you want to go inspect what you paid for, right? Which is what we're getting ready to do. We said, let's let's go, go show us what's out there because we had known this couple for a long time, wonderful people. So we got there on our way to the office. Well, as soon as we got to the office, uh, they gave us a key. Well, this is go there. We have our assistant, they had a manager, right? I think it was who was doing everything for the most part. Actually, one staff, you know, in there. We got in there, she had she was not there. She had left the office, she had left a note. I have resigned.

SPEAKER_05 20:31

Oh, wow.

SPEAKER_02 20:31

These are the keys. Oh, okay. Well, these are the keys. You go here, you get this. You go, she, I mean, it was like she scribbled a note, right? So we walked in there, we didn't know where to go. I mean, you know, we were like, wait a minute. I mean, what do we where is this? And we didn't know the clients. Remember, we had never been there before, we don't know nothing. You know, but she left some notes, you go here, and so we called our person. Wait a minute, I mean, this lady's gone. Oh, she looked they were surprised too, you know. But but the beautiful thing is that uh we rebuilt that office, you know, we went to work like you guys did, went to work and uh we turned around, right? I mean, you know, to a thriving office today. So you know, it was a blessing too. I mean, you know, like John said, I think I think it's a blessing all around. I think that's yeah, yeah. I think when you're looking for it, I mean, I I believe, and I know you you are people of faith like we are. I believe God does not give you something you can't handle. You know, yeah, and I think in your case that's what it was. I just wanted to share that because that was that we were that was our experience. It was something else, I tell you.

SPEAKER_00 21:33

Absolutely, and we relied on that faith too. We definitely experienced challenges, um, actually reflecting on you know what that first year entailed as far as turnover or change and how that was received. Um, it was it was a doozy some days. Um, but I think that when I reflect on it, I mostly reflect on how I handled it or how I've About because I had to overcome some personal challenges, such as like if someone left, you know, oh, we missed the six month mark, and we think that they're kind of getting it, we're kind of we're meshing. Yes, then something would happen, or something they thought was gonna happen didn't happen, and things started changing. And I'm like, Well, what did I do? I listened to the advice on you know what people said, and I was listening to their advice and trying to take that in and implement and work together, and you know, sometimes it just doesn't work like we planned for it to go. Um, and so I had to learn not to take it personal because that's the hardest part for me personally, is to not take um that change like I caused it or it was my fault and issue, um, but just take it as an opportunity to transition or shift or make the changes that are necessary uh to focus on the business and and what's best for the next opportunity.

SPEAKER_01 23:07

So what would you say has been um the most the single most important factor that has helped you grow your business, right? Um, to a successful company during these four years now.

SPEAKER_02 23:22

And then onto it onto a second office, from what I heard. Yeah, yeah, that's it.

SPEAKER_01 23:28

Let's hear about that. That's right. You want to start sure.

SPEAKER_05 23:33

Yeah, I would say the biggest thing was learning how to uh lean on our team and and not feeling like we have to have a like control every step and how we do every single detail. Um, because what we found is when we do that, we end up running ourselves, you know, dry, super tired, overworking ourselves. So I think really leaning on the team, empowering the team, um, allowing them to be a part of the process and helping to improve things. I think um realizing that there are finding people who can do things better than we can. Um that was a huge, huge opportunity that we've unlocked. And really it's just been this last year, it's kind of been a huge transition year for us, in that um prior to the to to last year, Ariana was kind of running the day-to-day as the director of the business, and we kind of made a shift to where we brought in a director for them to run. There you go. So I would say we really have seen some really major changes in terms of our freedom um and flexibility, really, just in the last three months. Wow. And um, you know, six months ago is when we about when we acquired the second territory.

SPEAKER_03 24:45

Good for you.

SPEAKER_05 24:46

Um, and so that was some work, but it was nothing like the first time time. You know, we got it integrated and then you it was ready to go. Good to do. Really excited about that.

SPEAKER_02 24:55

Congratulations. Congrats, congrats. That's it's uh, you know, that's that's that's a way to go. You want to grow it. I mean, you want to you want to serve more people. I mean, you know, you want to grow this thing, and you know, and I think I think that's what it comes down to, just getting out of it serving, you know.

SPEAKER_01 25:08

Yeah, and relying on your team shows your humility, right? Because it's not like okay, we are the owners, we know it, you know, best and all of that. No, relying on your team is empowering everyone, you know, to to make sure that yes, you are the the leader, but you are empowering your team to grow, and that's where the trust is, the confidence, the you know, the loyalty comes. So it's very important to build that that team um uh relationship that you have. So that's really key. Yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_02 25:44

Uh yeah, go ahead, Irene. I think I think you want to say something, you know.

SPEAKER_00 25:48

Um, not particularly, but I I've piggyback off of what he's saying, especially from the perspective of being in the business. Um, as ownership, there were phases where I was, you know, filling in for the role that we were trying to recruit for or transition with, or you know, um in home care, there are call-offs, and that that could change the whole trajectory or one client event that um requires attention and attention right now, and that changes your entire day. Um, and so yeah, I found myself kind of running in circles and um it wasn't it was very tiring, however, I felt like I wasn't actually following through on anything because I was being stretched too thin, and then I started feeling like I'm letting people down, whether it's a client who thought I was gonna come and visit or a caregiver who had a really major concern. Um, that does sometimes require them to speak with someone in leadership. Um, but it was it was just time to share some of that responsibility um so that I could also operate in the space that I am best at, because I'm not best at doing payroll and billing. That's right, or even that day-to-day management and of individuals in their task. Um I I'm a different visionary. Um I find compassion and energy with spending time, seeing people one-on-one, um, getting to interact. And so I'm excited because this is still in transition mode of that being consistent, um, but that we've giving that power has allowed me to also do what I do best.

SPEAKER_03 27:48

Awesome. Awesome. That's awesome. I've been doing before.

SPEAKER_02 27:53

What's what's day-to-day work for you and Jacob? Because I know that uh I'm gonna ask that because as working in the I mean, uh, because I suppose both of you are working in your business right now. Is that correct?

SPEAKER_05 28:06

No, so I actually own a another business. Um there you go, there you go, there you go. So it's a it's a sign and graphics business. Uh there you go, class signs in Westerville. And so I'm splitting time between the two. Uh actually went into that business with my best friend. We've been best friends since age three or four. Wow, wow. And so with that one, he's he's kind of leading the day-to-day, but you know, I'm I'm kind of there with him and I'm splitting between the two. So that's uh that's the day-to-day for me.

SPEAKER_02 28:39

Good deal. Oh, okay, good deal. All right, super. Now, now now go ahead, Irena.

SPEAKER_00 28:45

Um as I mentioned, I probably my day-to-day has changed every six months over these four years. Um but my goal is to get back to kind of what we said I wanted to do in the beginning, which was be the face. Um so for me, the goal is to be in the community, um getting to know people. Um although we purchased a business and it was operating, there were lots of things that we had to change.

SPEAKER_03 29:18

Of course.

SPEAKER_00 29:19

Um, and it it varied. Um, previous owners liked paper, and I mean paper everything.

SPEAKER_04 29:26

Yes.

SPEAKER_00 29:27

Um, and just simple changes like that were took some time to execute. Um, but also when we purchased, we were on the tell-in of COVID, and a lot of changes had been made in the city in general, and so you know, previous connections, um, whether they were medical or non-medical, a lot of those relationships had closed the door and we kind of started fresh in that space. Um, and so with being the only visiting angels in central Ohio, with acquiring a second territory, um, the future and being out there in the community, getting to know people. Also, uh, just more recently being um approved for veterans care. Oh, right, all those things allow me to focus on building relationships and representing what we do out in the community.

SPEAKER_02 30:24

Good deal, good deal. Wow.

SPEAKER_01 30:27

Interesting.

SPEAKER_02 30:28

You guys are busy. Yes, yes, yes, making things happen. That's that's the way to do it, you know.

SPEAKER_00 30:34

Yeah, that's it. And I'll give a shout out to my team for allowing us to focus on making things happen.

SPEAKER_02 30:40

Awesome, awesome. But listen, I mean, what it says, it's no I and team, right? I mean, it's all about the team.

SPEAKER_01 30:45

And teamwork makes the dream work. There you go. There you go.

SPEAKER_02 30:49

Yeah, we yeah, I like the delegation part. I think I think that when you get to you, you get to the sooner we can delegate certain things related, we're not it's not a forte, to the team members that can better handle the better for us. I mean, you know, because then we can kind of really be an expert in what we love to do, we shine at. So I think, I mean, I really salute you all for doing that. I mean, it it's it's so important. I mean, uh, we for the longest time, the challenge we had was that um I'm a control freak. I mean, yeah, I'll just say it. Okay, I mean, you know, so I wanted to make sure everything was done, but then I realized and it was interesting. Years ago, our um uh 401k gentleman came by. You know, I'm don't I don't care for numbers. I'm sorry, uh Jacob, not a numbers, I mean, not those numbers, not those kind of numbers, okay. Yeah, I mean the money part, I'll go with it, but yeah. So um payroll, I was dope. Listen, I was doing payroll, I was well, I was doing a bunch of different things, but more payroll stuff. Man, he came, he looked at me, he said, Paul. Um, what are you doing? I said, payroll. I said, Listen, it's gonna get done. I mean, I'm the guy who can get it done here, you know. I uh be exact paul. I think you're wasting your time. I said, What? So are you wasting time? He said, Listen, you need to hire someone and pay them, you know, whatever at that time it was. I think it was maybe$40,000 that time years ago. They'll do that job for you free of it. I did not believe this guy. He insists, he said, Listen, if the next time I come and I see you doing payroll, I'm not coming back. Hey, I you know, and this guy was so smart, you know, and he had he was very successful. So I listened to him. So I said, Donald talk, I said, you know, I think we need to hire someone for that job. She said, Yeah, we have to. So went and hired this young lady, she came. And let me tell you, you know, talk about freeing you, you know. I mean, that person came for a while, and then we had to hire someone. We got used to it, so I said, I'm not going back. You know, when she left, we look for someone who has been with us for about eight eighty years now, close to nine now. Yeah. And uh, so to your point, it free you don't know what you don't know, right? And and once you like like Arena talked for once you bring a director in there or someone that can take take over some things that you don't really, it's not really your forte, it frees you up to then shine where you really call to shine, and then be the visionary that you are. That's what we found out, you know. So, so and and it and there's something to be said about working on your business rather than working in your business, right? Yeah, which is where we all want to be, you know. So, yes, yes, yes. Well, wow, thank you.

SPEAKER_01 33:32

We're gonna be wrapping this up soon, but one last question for someone who is looking to get into the industry, what are some nuggets you could share with them and our audience?

SPEAKER_02 33:41

So they can avoid some common pitfalls, you know. Uh they can still try what what has been the key to your success that you may want to share?

SPEAKER_00 33:50

That's a good question. So, I mean, I think one of the things you highlighted based on what we said is do your research. Um, and that that could look a lot of different ways, you know. I do believe um that home care is successful because people are passionate about what they're doing, and so I see that in two ways. We are serving an aging community, um they're special in my heart. My grandmother was a vital part in raising me. I spent a lot of time um with individuals who are aging in different circumstances. Um, I even saw my grandmother act as a caregiver to others when I was a teenager. Um, and so having a connection to the community is really important. So you know what their challenges are, how to overcome them, um, and have that connection. Um, they're so sensitive, they're so sweet, and we want to protect them. Um there are challenges. There are challenges to overcome, and you have to understand those and why they exist. Um, and then I also believe we're serving uh our community of caregivers. Um, we're nothing without our without our caregivers, and they are the representation of who we are and what we stand for out in the community on the day-to-day work that they're doing. Um, and we're not just providing them employment, we're providing them with the opportunity to uh care for others, to give with their heart, their give their time, give their energy, give their soul, all those things that they're giving when they're providing that care. Um and then hopefully what we're giving back to them and training, development, mentorship, um, and the compassion for and our care for them. Um, and so both of those are really important to the success of connecting with both your caregivers, your staff, and the community that you're serving.

SPEAKER_03 35:57

Wow, wow, awesome.

SPEAKER_01 35:59

I like that. Um, Jacob, did you have anything to add?

SPEAKER_05 36:02

I was just gonna Yeah, I would just say it's a it's a 24-7 business. It's not something that, you know, if your your goal is to do it halfway or you know, part-time, it's it's not something I would recommend. Um, you know, this is a full-time commitment. You're you're dealing with you know a vital uh service that you're providing to for for seniors. Um and so just you know, you know, go all the way in, give 110%, um, pour into your people. It's a people business. Um, show them appreciation, show them, show them that you appreciate them, that you care about them, that you're supporting them, give them the resources. Um, and that I think that you know, as long as you're you're fully committed and you're supporting your team, then you'll be in a good place. Awesome.

SPEAKER_01 36:46

I just like to touch on what um Ariana mentioned. I see how you all are focusing on your community. That is key, especially starting out. Someone who's thinking of getting into the industry. Many times they think, okay, I need to go to the hospitals, to the nursing homes, and the rehabs to get clients. But you have to start where you're true, where people know you and they trust you, and that's your community. So when you start there, you start building that relationship, you know, and then you get the referrals, you know, into the hospitals and to the other places. So it's really important that you're focusing on your community.

SPEAKER_02 37:20

Good job, yes, yes, yes. And and and what it said, is that people don't do business people, the people do business with a like, right? And no. I mean, to to Arena's point, if you get out, they get to know you. Hey, that's how the battle right there, that's right. That'll have the battle. Yes, yes, yes. Wow, thank you all so much. Thank you all so much. I think we we we're good for now. This is boy, you guys have shared so many nuggets, you know. Man, we gotta go by and do some things, you know. We have to go, yeah. We look it's a learning process for all of us, you know. So, but I want to just thank you all so much. Thank you, the Alzheimer's Jacob, for making the time to be with us here today. I mean, your contribution to what we do to our industry that uh means so much to us, you know, means so much to all of us. June and I have been here. This is our 24th year, uh, in the business, and we just I tell you, we're more excited now than ever before. Yeah, yeah, because when we started, we did not really know much. I mean, we wanted to serve and then hopefully making a career out of it, right? And then the more you go, the more you know, you don't you know the more you see you really gotta learn more to Arena's point. You you just keep learning and meeting nice people like you guys, you know, who care, who serve from the heart, you know. And uh thank you all, thank you all so much, and thank you again for for making one point, which is so important that I really want to make sure our listeners get is that learn, be eager to learn, eager to grow, because this is a growth. I mean, uh hey, I know we're serving folks who are gonna leave us pretty soon, transitioning, right? But we gotta keep learning. How do we do it better? I like your point, Arena, about like Joan talked about, getting the community because that's who you want to be. You want to you're serving people, we gotta get out there. So thank you all so much. And uh, I know you guys have a busy day, the busy life. We're not gonna take too much more of your time. Thank you all so much. Thank y'all.

SPEAKER_05 39:12

Thank you for having us. Really appreciate it.

SPEAKER_02 39:14

Thank you, thank you. Thank you so much for joining us today on the Home Care Millionaire Podcast. We hope you found inspiration, encouragement, and practical tools you can apply right away in your own journey. I'm making a simple folks to shine a light on the incredible impact that focuses on every single day, and to use the mindset and build property and prosperity.