I remember standing in Checkers, and my store was performing well. I was grateful for the success, but deep down, I kept thinking, If I can do this for someone else, I can do it for me. I’m sure this thought has crossed your mind once or twice as well.

An opportunity came up for me to manage an additional store. I was excited, but I knew it would be a lot of work. I needed to ensure my current store continued to perform well, so I had to hire more staff. At the new store, I had to let go of people who weren’t pulling their weight, rebuild the team from the ground up, and focus on training, sales, and productivity.

I remember smiling to myself because I was thankful to even be in this position. When I was younger, I was a hustler by nature and did some unethical things in this same line of business. But by the grace of God, I was given a second chance, and this time, I was focused. It felt like God was giving me an opportunity to redeem myself.

Back to the story—during our monthly meetings, I would look at the P&L (profit and loss statement for those who may not be familiar with the term) and think, This could be my own business. This thought kept coming up. One day, I looked at my salary. I couldn’t complain because I was able to take care of my family, but still, it felt like pennies compared to what I could be earning. I couldn’t shake the feeling. I asked myself, Am I on the wrong side of the equation? Should I be starting my own business?

I knew I had the heart of an entrepreneur, which is why these thoughts kept surfacing. If you’re not an entrepreneur, continue working hard and give your all to your job. But if you are, take the risk. Build your business while you keep your job. Do it the right way so you can build something that lasts.

It wasn’t just me wanting to start my own business that pushed me, but God calling me to be an entrepreneur.

I’ll leave you with this line from KB, “The only life worth living is the one where you take risks.” There’s a lion’s share of purpose and opportunity on the other side of that risk. If God called you to it, He will get you through it.

God Bless The Entrepreneur