Guidance from The Entrepreneur’s Source® enabled a couple from the U.S. territories in the northern Pacific to gain a solid footing on the mainland as business owners.
Tony Sualog left Guam in 2004 to serve his country in the U.S. Army. He met his wife while he was stationed at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. Katie Sualog is originally from Rota, another one of the islands in the Mariana Archipelago.
Tony learned the skills he needed to be a combat photographer by attending the Defense Information School, which is dedicated to fulfilling the U.S. Department of Defense’s need for an internal corps of professional journalists, broadcasters, and public affairs professionals. After exiting the military, Tony held various roles in security and audio-visual production. Most recently, he served as a contract photographer and audio-visual technician for the Army Futures Command in Austin, Texas.
Katie had a vibrant career in the hospitality industry and recently attended Escoffier School of Culinary Arts. She got her feet wet in entrepreneurship as the owner of a home-based bakery and plans to open a retail bakery down the line when she has more real estate experience.
Chance Encounter Reveals New Path
The couple wanted to find opportunities that would give them more flexibility, financial stability, and independence.
“We both wanted freedom and time with our kids. We wanted a more stable financial life. And we wanted to be able to travel, especially going back home to Guam,” Katie said.
They connected with a franchise broker to learn more about franchising. At a franchise conference in Houston, they attended a seminar hosted by Dwayne DuBose, a Career Ownership Coach™ with The Entrepreneur’s Source. He spoke about the importance of setting goals, taking charge of your future, and investigating your options, possibilities, and dreams.
“Dwayne’s message resonated with my husband, who had just lost his job. We knew we wanted to start a business, but we were scared and didn’t know how to get it done,” Katie said. “Working with Dwayne was eye-opening for us. He cares about his clients. It’s not about what he wants, it’s about what we want for ourselves.”
The Entrepreneur’s Source uses educated-based tools to help people determine their Income, Lifestyle, Wealth, and Equity™ goals and find a new path to self-sufficiency. After exploring their options, the pair decided a franchise would allow them to pursue a service opportunity from a home office.
Uncovering a Surprising Match
Katie’s experience in hospitality prompted the couple to initially explore options in the food and beverage industry. DuBose’s guidance opened their eyes to new possibilities that were a better fit, and they reached a point of clarity with a business outside of the foodservice arena.
“Katie and Tony were already exploring self-sufficiency with a business broker before meeting me and were actively exploring business opportunities. They were doing the work, but the options did not align with their goals or were beyond their capacity. When they started their education, and I presented possibilities, they quickly found options that met their needs,” DuBose said.
DuBose started his coaching business four years ago after spending his career in accounting. He received the Coach of the Year award from The Entrepreneur’s Source in 2021. The award is presented annually to the coach who best exemplifies the qualities and spirit of The Entrepreneur’s Source, fosters strong client-coach relationships, and gives back to the system and fellow coaches.
Katie and Tony partnered with Joe Homebuyer to open a turnkey real-estate acquisition business. The emerging brand acquires discounted rental properties and provides real estate solutions by buying, fixing, and wholesaling residential properties. The concept enabled them to provide a service to their local community and work remotely.
“Joe Homebuyer combined the couple’s passion for real estate and offered them each a distinct role in the venture,” DuBose said. “It was a nice overall fit for their family’s future.
The Sualogs are currently participating in training. They’ve hired a virtual assistant and a scout to find potential real estate and plan to have their grand opening in July.
“The corporate team at Joe Homebuyer cares about their franchisees and the people we serve. They have an incredible amount of heart for people, and that’s what matters most in life and in business, and we’re grateful to be a part of that,” Katie said.
Explore Other Options
If you are ready to open your mind to explore new possibilities for your future, contact a Career Ownership Coach™ to learn more about entrepreneurship. For more information about The Entrepreneur’s Source, visit www.entrepreneurssource.com or check out our guidebook, “Your Career Revolution: Reimagine and Reclaim the Life of Your Dreams.”