Raymond VanderLouw
Owner/Operator of EnviroPro Pest Solution Professionals
Long story short.
11 years ago guy quits his job as a restaurant manager (with a little encouragement from his wife) and gets a job as a pest control technician with Terminix.
Guy works for Terminix for 2.5 years. Guy quits Terminix and works for Ecolab as a pest control technician for 3 years while finishing college. Guy gets in to management with Ecolab after college and moves his family all over the western half of the US for 3 years.
Guy learns that he is passionate about bugs.
Guy dreams about someday owning his own business but the time is never right.
Guy and his family really want to move home to the west.
Guy takes a job with Sprague Pest Control in Washington.
The job is rocky, to put it mildly, for the. entire. 2. years.
Guy and his family prayerfully consider their options.
Fervently.
About a year and a half in guy realizes that the job situation with Sprague will never change and starts to work on his plan to get out.
Discontent becomes the great motivator to fulfill his dream.
Guy starts working on his business plan in November.
Guy doesn't talk about it much to anyone in case it doesn't work out, but quietly goes about his plans.
His family starts preparing.
Guy takes his plan to the first bank in March.
The bank says NO.
Guy is very discouraged, but bucks up after a talk with his father-in-law who tells him that he had to go to 4 banks before he could get his small business loan.
Guy finds another bank that can capture his vision.
THEY SAY YES!
It takes a really long time to get there, but they finally do.
Guy signs his life over to the SBA for up to 5 years.
Guy and his family gulp down their fears and take a big 'ol leap of faith.
Guy quits his job and starts working (more) on his dream the day after the papers are signed.
Guy and his family are surprisingly optimistic and feel not a whole lot of fear.
Maybe just a little nervousness and a whole lot of excitement.
But they know that they are doing what they are supposed to be doing.
And they have a really good plan.
They know it will be a whole lot of really hard work and sacrifice, but they are insanely excited about their next adventure together.
The End (I mean, The Beginning)
16 comments:
That's wicked awesome news! I'm really excited for both of you!I'm sure it'll be lots of work, but at least you get to reap the rewards! Love you guys!
can he come work our house? is that in his territory? we have ivy on our old home and with ivy comes nice little critters. christian's soccer coach is our bug guy but we'd be willing to switch. :)
congrats on being business owners. it is a WILD ride!
America the land where dreams come true!
Awesome! I'm really excited for you guys, Congrats :)
Yaaaaaaaaaay VanderLouws!!!! I know you'll be wildly successful, this is Ray after all! I can't wait to watch where you guys go with this.
Jason is a little disappointed his business isn't called VanderKill though.
Super good luck to you guys! That is really great news! Best of luck for you, and I hope everything turns out amazingly! I had no idea all this was happ'nin. I really like the truck though, super-sweet!
HOOORRAAAAAAAAAYYY! I am so excited for you. So, so excited. This is so big. Yay.
You won't regret it. I'm so excited for you guys.
Congrats to your entire family!!
With Ty & I both being business owners, I can truly speak from experiences when I tell you that this whole journey will be one with many hurdles to jump & mountains to climb...but once you get to that point where you can SEE your accomplishments & see how your decision to 'go for it' has impacted your family for the best...it will be a moment you will NEVER forget!
The scary sacrafices you may make today, become the pathway to living your dreams and fulfilling your desires.
How bout JPs Exterminating.
Don't ask.
When can I become a fan on facebook?
Finally, VanderKill is a reality!! Or is it DerLouw? Whatever, congratulations! If anybody can succeed in this type of thing, it's Ray, especially with the awesome support of a good wife and four beautiful children.
Dad
didn't i suggest vanderminator?
i think i suggested vanderminator!
You did suggest Vanderminator. Awesome.
that is awesome! congrats and good luck!!!
Yeah!!! How exciting for Ray to finally begin working on his new business after all these months of planning. :) He will do awesome.
I'm so proud of both of you! Maybe you'll inspire the rest of us to get a move on and follow our dreams. ;-)
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