TES Insights
Career Ownership Coach™ Success Story: April Saavedra-Duran
As a mother and grandmother, April Saavedra-Duran understands that defining moments are not always limited to the grand occasions; they can be found in the small moments as well. One seemingly insignificant incident, where she styled her nine-year-old daughter’s hair for picture day, a task she had never been able to do before becoming a business owner, left an indelible mark on her. Reflecting on this moment, she shares, “My daughter told me she was so happy she could have pretty hair on this picture day. I realized this was the first picture day that I was able to be there to help her get ready. I knew in that moment I had made the right decision.”
Prior to venturing into entrepreneurship as a Career Ownership Coach™ with The Entrepreneur’s Source®, April spent a considerable amount of time traveling across 22 states due to her corporate job. She explains, “My role as Division Manager with a Food Service Company was pulling me away from what I truly desired. Although I generated substantial profits for the company, I often felt undervalued and underappreciated. While I was accomplishing my goal of securing a stable income, I was neglecting other vital aspects of my life, such as my family.” Adding, “I now recognize the irony of how hard I worked for my family while missing out on truly enjoying life with them and being fully present.”
April recalls what led her down that path, “Like many others, I was sold ‘the dream’ and I bought it for over 20 years: earn the degrees, secure a job, climb the corporate ladder. I would spend my week on planes, driving, or in meetings. Then I would spend my weekend catching up on household chores that had accumulated during the week, only to repeat the cycle on Monday. I didn’t want to wait until I turned 65 to truly start living my life! We only live life once, and it’s essential to seize every moment and live life to the fullest. We won’t get a second chance.”
She goes on to say, “We often choose to remain in toxic or limiting situations because we are providing for our families. Yet, what people fail to see is how staying in such circumstances stifles personal growth. To advance my corporate career, I would have eventually had to uproot my family, which was simply not an option. It would have meant making sacrifices without a fair return. The corporate world offers a false sense of security, they could have laid me off at any moment, even if I had uprooted my entire family for them. True security lies in self-sufficiency.”
Over the years, April had supported her husband in the building of his own business and watched him experience the benefits of being his own boss. She recalls, “On Friday afternoons, I would call him and ask about his day. He would share stories of golfing or picking up the kids from school and taking them for ice cream. I wanted to be able to do things like that! I realized it was my turn to pursue my dreams!”
Becoming a Career Ownership Coach™ turned out to be the solution for April. She explains, “I saw how much time it took my husband to build his business from scratch. The learning curve was steep. I didn’t want to invest that much time in my own business to achieve the desired results. Being a perfectionist, I knew that if I started a business from scratch, I would waste significant time trying to perfect the plan, preventing me from executing it effectively. The Entrepreneur’s Source® system helped me move beyond mere contemplation and into action.”
April serves as an example of someone who decided it was time to effect change and not leave her destiny in the hands of someone else. Franchising with The Entrepreneur’s Source® enabled her to achieve her financial and lifestyle goals in a rewarding manner. “We have the power to create any life we desire if we are willing to put in the effort. Maintaining discipline and overcoming fear are crucial to attaining the life we want. I take great pleasure in helping others realize that what may seem impossible is within their reach.”
Adding, “I am here to assist my clients in identifying what truly matters to them and present new possibilities for consideration. It’s not about closing doors; its about realizing there are endless doors waiting to be explored.”
Reflecting on her decision to take control of her life, April offers this advice, “I encourage everyone, but especially women, to ask for what they want. Don’t believe the fallacy that things must be done in a particular way. I am thrilled that I took the leap,” she says. “I don’t have to wait until I’m 65 and my children are grown to enjoy life. I can plan my week and allocate time according to my preferences. Now I can take my kids for ice cream on a Friday afternoon or give my daughter “pretty hair” for picture day. Now when I travel, it’s for fun with my family or friends, not for work. I get to be there for all the moments, big and small.”
If you would like to embark on your own journey to Career Independence, a Career Ownership Coach™ with The Entrepreneur’s Source® is ready to support you in your journey in a safe environment. Explore the possibilities today! Interested in becoming a Career Ownership Coach? Learn more here.