Ready to Take the Business from Level Two to Three

Here's another entry in our Big Business Contest describing a company's personal struggle to grow, succeed, and thrive.

Judging of the entrants has begun, and 15 semi-finalists will be notified on Monday, May 5. Come back to vote on the finalists as they compete for the two final prizes -- specialized consulting from a business expert and a trip to Maui for business- and wealth-building seminars.

I have built 3 businesses in the oil services field (plus a roofing company in Denver to pay for college). After selling my last company to a large firm, and while working full time with that company for 3 years as part of the buy-out (which were the longest 3 years of my life!), I also went through an executive MBA program. I had built these businesses by the seat of my pants, and I wanted to see what "book learning" would do for me on the next business. The program was great, and one of the most challenging steps I have ever taken. There were only 3 of us out of the 55 students in the 2 year intensive that owned our own businesses. One of the biggest take-aways for me was that all 55 were there, not primarily because their companies were paying them to take the course (true for most of the non-business owners), but because they all had a dream to create a business!

I then spent time as a volunteer coach (while completing my last year with the firm; post MBA) assisting energy field, entrepreneurial start ups at the Houston Technology Center. My motives were not entirely altruistic; partly, I was "shopping" for a company that I could help build when my commitment was completed. But by the end of that time, oil prices were spiking and clients were stacking up with work for my then, newly created, geophysical consulting firm.

My current company is based on services I provide, together with my wife (controller). It is clearly a level 2 business! (I've read all or most of David and Diane's books and recently attended Mini-Maui in Atlanta). We have very good cashflow, but no clear path to a level 3 business. All of my clients currently expect to get "me" for their projects. So a large part of breaking out of level 2 and into level 3 will be for me to let go of my apparent need to "be everything" to my clients. In the end, they simply want an excellent service. I've created the illusion with them (or is it just me?) that I'm the only one that can provide the service that they require. Now, how do I leverage this illusion and transform it into a real level 3 business?

Partly why I am drawn so much to the notion of Maui Millionaires is my constant questions of: "what's next?", and "what else is there?", and "isn't there a greater good I could serve and STILL make a lot of money?". In part, I've been providing the same general type of services for over 25 years; I have allowed myself to stop at this "comfortable" level. But I want more!

I believe surrounding myself with like-minded business creators who have reached beyond similar self-imposed blockages, would be a fantastically enriching opportunity. I would be honored to be considered by your contest committee.