The thrill I felt when I bought my first service van, a used Chevrolet with an odd dent in the back left fender. It was a big step for me, the point of no return. We were officially in business.

I discovered early in my career that not everyone does business the way I like to do it. For me, business is an extension of life. It’s a way to serve people, make friends, make the world a better place. In my corporate job, I never really fit in with the fast-paced, tough-skinned, “It’s just business” approach.

Running my own business is like the game of chess (my favorite pastime each Tuesday night). There are lots of options, lots of moving parts, like when 3 new customers urgently call for AC repair on the same blistering hot Texas summer afternoon.

I believe the best game-plan is to be honest, and treat people the way I’d want to be treated. It’s not always easy, but it is always worth it.

That’s why I love doing what I do.