What challenge have you overcome that made you proud of your journey?
My name is Tavon Partlow Sr., MBA, founder of Re-Entry, Recovery & Beyond LLC. For many years, my life was filled with challenges, setbacks, incarceration, homelessness, and obstacles that could have easily defined my future. Instead, I chose to rebuild my life through education, personal development, entrepreneurship, and service to others. Today, I am proud to say that I have earned my MBA, published my first book, launched my company, built a website, started a podcast, and am working to create programs that help returning citizens, individuals in recovery, youth, and underserved communities find hope and opportunity. One lesson I've learned is that success isn't about where you start. It's about making a decision every day to keep moving forward. My business, Re-Entry, Recovery & Beyond LLC, focuses on: Reentry support • Recovery support • Youth mentoring • Public speaking • Entrepreneurship education • Community partnerships I'm sharing my story because I know there are others building businesses while overcoming tremendous obstacles. I'd love to hear from fellow entrepreneurs: What challenge have you overcome that made you proud of your journey? Thank you for allowing me to share my story. — Tavon Partlow Sr., MBA
Grass Roots Motivation
Hello to everyone. I am new to Jobber, but far from new to entrepreneurship. While still employed full-time I started teaching kids how to weld and fabricate in my job shop. That was 16 years ago and I call my shop (Metal Work By Carole a teaching job shop). I am retired now, but still take in side jobs or consult to local businesses. I knew a long time ago that I couldn't wait for educational institutions to teach in ways that really mattered. I took the alleged "skills gap" issue into my own hands. I am hoping to be awarded some funding from the Jobbers Grant process. That would be amazing. Thanks for reading and keep preaching that dirty hands make clean money. Rock on.How to stand out and build trust as a woman in a male-dominated trade?
Hi everyone! I'm a brand new member building a brand new business, and am so excited for the journey! With this excitement is a lot of nervousness. As a woman in a male-dominated discipline, I am trying to find creative ways to make myself stand out and ensure that my clients can trust my work. Any tips?
When do you turn down profitable plumbing work to protect your team and reputation?
In the early days of Sitko Plumbing and Drain Services in San Diego, I said yes to almost every call — evenings, weekends, 1+ hour drives, you name it. Sewer emergencies don’t wait, and I wanted the revenue. But I quickly learned that constantly overcommitting burned out my techs, led to rushed jobs, and hurt our quality. Last year we had a stretch where we were slammed with back-to-back mainline replacements. We pushed through, but the team was exhausted and one preventable callback slipped through. That hurt more than turning down a few jobs would have. Now we’re much more intentional: we protect core hours for our core customers, build in buffer time, and politely refer overflow to trusted partners when needed. It’s meant steadier growth, happier techs (just gave one a well-deserved raise and promotion), and better reviews overall. Question for the group: How do you decide when to say “no” or refer out work — even if it’s profitable — especially in a trade like plumbing where emergencies are constant? Curious how others balance growth vs. sustainability. Would love to hear what’s working for you!Where are all my ladies? Running a business while going through - you know ladies stuff?
My Oura ring asked me today to do a questionnarie on my menopause insights. So many great questions but one stopped me and made me think. Making decisions or solving problems feels harder than before? My first instinct was: Nah, it doesn't. I feel like I relaxed a lot more for my age. But, if I am being very sincere - it does. Fellow "seasoning women business owners" - what is your trick to get through some of the turbulences of menopause so you can be present and be your best self?
Entrepreneurship & Family Life: The Real Balance
Being an entrepreneur while managing a family is both rewarding and challenging. The Struggles: Constant battle between work and family time Stress and unpredictable schedules Feeling guilty for not giving enough to either side The Good Side: Flexibility to be present when it matters Inspiring your family through your journey Making family time more intentional and meaningful Quick Tips: Set clear boundaries between work and home Prioritize key family moments Give yourself grace—balance isn’t perfect every day Bottom line: It’s not about perfect balance, but making both your business and family feel valued. A few books to help you along your jouney The Family-First Entrepreneur – Steve Chou → Teaches how to build a business without sacrificing what matters most The Family–Business Balancing Act – Patrick Cummings → Helps you recognize imbalance and build better habits for both work and home life [amazon.com] Tandem – Married Entrepreneurs’ Guide → Great if family + business overlap (especially with a partner) The 4-Hour Work Week → Teaches working smarter so you reclaim personal timeA Reminder for Anyone Having a Tough Day in Business
Today was a tough day in business. As business owners, we see a lot of posts about growth, wins, and success stories—and those are great. But I think it's just as important to talk about the challenging days too. Not every day brings new leads, big contracts, or easy answers. Some days are filled with setbacks, unexpected expenses, difficult decisions, and plenty of doubt. What I've learned is that success isn't built on the easy days. It's built on the days when you keep moving forward even when things aren't going your way. If you're having one of those tough days today, keep pushing. The work you're putting in now still matters, even if you don't see the results immediately. Tomorrow is another opportunity. What's one thing that's helped you stay motivated during the harder seasons of business?If you could give one piece of advice to someone focused on growth this year, what would it be?
Morning everyone! New member here. I'm Aaron with All In One Contracting. One thing I'm excited about right now is focusing on growing the business and connecting with other contractors and service business owners who have been through the same challenges. Looking forward to learning from all of you. If you could give one piece of advice to someone focused on growth this year, what would it be?
