From employee to business owner: a journey to valuing people

A big problem that many businesses face today is understaffing. You hear it all the time: "People just don’t want to work these days." The reality is that people are tired, tired of being overworked, underpaid, and unappreciated.

 Throughout my life I have worked many jobs, some for extended periods and others for only a day or a week. I quickly realized that some workplaces have completely unrealistic expectations when it comes to what they demand from employees versus what they are willing to offer in return. Too many employers carry an outdated mindset that they are doing their employees a favor by hiring them, when in fact it's the employees who keep their business running.

 A happy employee makes for a better customer experience, this is an undeniable truth. Some business owners argue that employees are replaceable, a dime a dozen. But quality employees are rare and invaluable. The success of a business starts with its people feeling fulfilled and respected, which fosters a work environment where employees genuinely want to contribute to the company’s success.

 This realization played a major role in my transition from being an employee to becoming a business owner. I wanted to create a workplace that reflected the values I wished I had experienced in my own jobs. A place where employees are treated with respect, compensated fairly, and encouraged to grow.

 Starting my own business wasn’t just about financial freedom or independence; it was about fostering a culture of appreciation and mutual success. I wanted to prove that a workplace built on respect, fair compensation, and genuine care for employees can thrive. When people feel valued, they bring their best selves to work, and that energy is contagious; it reaches customers, impacts service quality, and ultimately drives business growth.

 As I continue this journey, I remain committed to the principle that success is built on people. Employees are not just workers; they are the heart and soul of a business. Treating them as such isn’t just good ethics, its good business.