Q 1. Kindly give our readers an introduction to your business. Please include what your business is all about, in which city you are located and if you have offices in multiple locations/ cities.
Ans: Loved Ones is an in home care service which provides assistance with activities of daily living to Seniors and the Disabled allowing them to receive the care needed to remain in the comfort, familiarity and safety of their home. I am the franchise owner of the Missouri City, TX location.
Q 2. Kindly give us a brief description about yourself (it should include your brief educational or entrepreneurial background and list some of your major achievements).
Ans: I graduated Salutatorian from Willowridge High School and earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Biology from the University of Texas at Austin. I worked in the laboratory for the Memorial Hermann Hospital System in Houston as a Histology Aide/Morgue Assistant for many years before being led to return to school to become a Registered Nurse. I earned a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from The University of Texas Health Science Center School of Nursing at Houston.
The most recent major accomplishment I have experienced is successfully navigating the process to become licensed by the State of Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services (DADS) to provide Personal Assistance Services and Licensed Home Health Services.
Q 3. What inspired you to (start a new business venture) or (to make significant changes in an existing business)? How did the idea for your business come about?
Ans: My most recent employment has been in a Wound Care Center. It was while working in the center that I realized the need for services that would assist seniors to “age in place”. Upon attending the Franchise Expo in Houston, TX in February of 2016, I was introduced to Loved Ones and knew that its premise was in tune with my desire to utilize my skills, education and values to make a positive impact on numerous people’s lives.
Q 4. What three pieces of advice would you give to budding entrepreneurs?
Ans: I would advise a budding entrepreneur to first seek a business or service that is in line with their natural inclinations and talents and not on what will earn the greatest income. Secondly, I would advise that the budding entrepreneur research the industry in which they are interested. Lastly, the budding entrepreneur would be advised to continue to push forward despite any obstacles.
Q 5. What would you say are the top three skills needed to be a successful entrepreneur?
Ans: The three skills that I believe will lead to success are being disciplined, persistent and teachable.
Q 6. How many hours do you work a day on average?
Ans: On an average I work 10-12 hours a day on the franchise to prepare for its launch/Hard Opening.
Q 7. To what do you most attribute your success?
Ans: I would not yet label myself as “successful” as I am just getting my business started. But I would attribute my getting to this point by making a plan which includes realistic goals and working hard to meet those goals.
Q 8. How do you go about
marketing your business? What has been your most successful form of marketing?
Ans: Being a vendor at a community fair and church fairs; being a guest on a local radio program and visiting a Senior Independent Living Apartment. Currently, I am also building my website authority by employing SEO marketing services, although this approach does not have immediate results and is a longer term plan.
Q 9. Where did your organization’s funding/capital come from and how did you go about getting it? How did you obtain investors for your venture?
Ans: I funded my business by accessing my 401K. I rationalized that the money would be better suited in building a business which would grow well into and past retirement.
Q 10. What is the best way to achieve long-term success?
Ans: I believe that the best way to achieve success is to find the venture that best utilizes your skills and God-given talents and to remain diligent.
Q 11. Where you see yourself and your business in 5 – 10 years?
Ans: In 5-10 years, I see myself being a back seat driver (thus, never completely giving over the steering wheel) to the business upon hiring competent, trustworthy people to fulfill some of my responsibilities.
Q 12. Excluding yours, what company or business do you admire the most?
Ans: The company I admire most is the Walt Disney Company. Walt Disney took a love for drawing and turned it into an empire built on making people happy.
Q 13. How important have good employees been to your success?
Ans: Having good employees is vital to business success especially in the In Home Care Industry. Caregivers (Home Health Aides) not only must be skilled caregivers but they must have integrity, be trustworthy and have a caring heart.
Q 14. How long do you stick with an idea before giving up?
Ans: I stick with an idea longer than I should. There have been instances when I have spent hours trying to resolve an idea and will finally either reach a satisfactory conclusion or decide I have “wasted” too much time and move on.
Q 15. What motivates you?
Ans: I am motivated by doing or saying something that makes someone’s day.
Q 16. What are your ideals?
Ans: My ideal is a strong faith in God who is the author of my life.
Q 17. How do you define success?
Ans: I define success as making it to the finish line even if you change paths along the way or have to crawl to get there.
Q 18. What is your favorite aspect of being an entrepreneur?
Ans: My favorite aspect of being an entrepreneur is the anonymity of being in control of my own future
Q 19. What has been your most satisfying moment in business?
Ans: Although I am now working prn (as needed as an RN), my most satisfying moment in business to date was submitting my 2 week notice from full time employment.
Q 20. What kind of culture exists in your organization? How did you establish this tone and why did you institute this particular type of culture?
Ans: The culture I wish to develop in my organization is one of mutual respect for one another in the common goal of providing exceptional care to our client or our client’s Loved One.
Q 21. In one word, characterize your life as an entrepreneur.
Ans: In one word, I would characterize my life as an entrepreneur: fulfilling
Q 22. How can you prevent mistakes or do damage control?
Ans: You may not be able to prevent all mistakes but you should learn from them. The best lesson is learned from someone else’s mistake.
Q 23. What are your hobbies? What do you do in your non-work time?
Ans: In my non-work time, I participate in ministries and events at Brentwood Baptist Church which I am a member and have attended since 5 years of age. I also enjoy binge TV watching with my husband, going to Zumba and Urban Line Dancing.
Company Detail:
Loved Ones Senior Care Missouri City
Edith Bryant-Hayes, RN, BSN
President, Hayes In Home Care, Inc.
Loved Ones-Missouri City, TX
2440 Texas Parkway, Suite 330
Missouri City, TX 77489
Office: 281-969-9878
Fax: 832-567-1967