Getting started as an entrepreneur can be a scary process. When you’re accustomed to having a reliable paycheck from a company, the idea of creating your own income can be hard. But if you have the dream of entrepreneurship, it can be a hard one to shake.

Starting a business often becomes a second career after working as an employee. A desire to set their own schedule, reap the benefits of the business’s profits, and build something from the ground up are just some reasons people cite for transitioning into entrepreneurship. But it isn’t easy, and there are some basic characteristics you need to have to make it a successful journey.

In today’s episode of Creating Your Encore Career, Chris Lalomia, owner of The Trusted Toolbox in Atlanta, Georgia, joins Lynn to talk about how he made the leap from a career in mechanical engineering to founding his successful handyman company. At 37 years old, he couldn’t ignore his dream of owning a business any longer. It coincided with the recession of 2008, but he persevered, his company survived, and today, he has 40 employees in the metro Atlanta market.

Chris Lalomia is still learning business lessons 14 years into his second career, and he shares some of his insights with Lynn.

We'll dive deeper into these concepts:

• Chris Lalomia’s background in engineering and banking, why he started his business, The Trusted Toolbox, and what his company looks like today

• The roadblocks he faced as he shifted into entrepreneurship and how his business plan helped keep him on track

• How Chris decided what he needed help with as he developed his business and how he prioritizes his time

• Why culture plays a role in how he runs his company and the feedback he receives from other entrepreneurs

• How timing and the effort you’re willing to put forth affect your business

• The reason you’re selling yourself to your customers as much as you are your product

• The three things you need to become a successful entrepreneur

• What The Trusted Toolbox has in its future

• Chris’s advice for those seeking an encore or second career

Now, for some action steps:

• Download the free worksheet: Three Steps You Need for a More Productive Workday

• Visit Chris Lalomia’s website: https://thetrustedtoolbox.com

• Listen to the podcast: The Small Business Safari

• Get the book: From the Zoo to the Wild: Your Guide to Entrepreneurial Freedom and Wealth

• Visit Chris’s LinkedIn page: linkedin.com/in/chrislalomia

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I thank you so much for being here and I’ll see ya next time on Creating Your Encore Career.

— Lynn