“The biggest change from “high school Garv” to now is the realization that your attitude can, and will, have significant impacts on your life. I’ve always had a strong work ethic; I’ve worked multiple jobs since I was 15. My problem was never intelligence or behavior: it was boredom.
I had many plans after high school, but getting arrested wasn’t one of them. When I was nineteen, I was convicted of multiple felonies, and spent nine months in county jail. When I was released, no one would hire me. I was extremely frustrated that my record affected my ability to be hired because I’ll outwork anyone. Eventually, I had a few people in my life, whom I’m still very close with, give me opportunities for work, and after a few years, I was able to get hired more easily based on those references. I worked every type of job you can think of, went back to college twice, and had no idea what I wanted to do, but I knew I didn’t want to be just another employee. I hated not having a say. Working on the gas pipeline when I was twenty-one made me realize how much the “boredom” aspect came into play in my attitude: I need to be going 100 miles an hour at all times; I get stagnant and lazy if I don’t.
I fell into buying my first business–it was never a plan, and it wasn’t easy. Everyone told me I was crazy. Almost everyone said I knew nothing about owning a business and it would fail. I made an astronomical number of mistakes, and I’ll most likely make many more. But five years later, I bought my second business, and again, everyone told me I was crazy and I was setting myself up for failure; I couldn’t possibly handle two businesses. Three years later, I’m now in the process of purchasing my third. (I won’t be taking anyone’s opinions this time!)
Owning one business, let alone two, is insanely stressful, time consuming, and exhausting. I do try to help out people in the same way I was helped: I hire other people with criminal records or who are recovering addicts. I’ll hire anyone and give them the benefit of the doubt, but it doesn’t always work out. It costs me sanity and money. But, in the end, it’s worth it. Even with the aggravation and all the complaining I do, it’s worth it.
There’s no secret to success, and only you can dictate what your success means. The first step: stop making excuses. If your life isn’t the way you want it to be, stop. Change it. Take accountability. The best way to control the outcome of your future is to be honest and straightforward. Be kind, be helpful, be strong, don’t litter, return your shopping carts, and treat everyone with respect. Be the hardest worker in the room. I promise, you never know who’s watching.”
Ryan Garvey, 2008
Owner, Quality Overhead Doors and
Quality Custom Awnings
