This is one of our most frequent questions. I (Bonnie) began the business in 1988 as a local sharpener here in Atlanta. I got into this business because I had a number of previous careers (teaching school, sales, and publishing) and was currently the General Manager of a wholesale knife warehouse. In all those careers I felt I had not found the final job where God wanted me. I believed then as I do now that God designs each us, our desires, our abilities, our experiences for specific purposes. I began praying about what I was to do and I did not get an answer except for the strong impression that I was not where God wanted me. So I stepped out on faith and gave my notice to my boss first, then began looking for what I was to do. One of our customers who bought sharpening supplies from the knife warehouse always seemed so happy with his work. I began to have conversations with him and found out he was sharpening shears in beauty salons. This intrigued me. I really felt God had put this man in my path. My husband and I traveled up to Massachusetts in the dead of winter and I was trained by him to sharpen shears. Back then, we didn't use any machinery and all the sharpening was done with ceramic stones by hand. I loved the freedom of spending more time with my children and having flexible hours. I was happy when I walked in a salon and all the stylist would shout, "Bonnie's Here! Bonnie's Here!" I never had that greeting as a school teacher. I enjoyed teaching about shears in the cosmetology schools as a guest teacher and of course getting paid well on a daily basis made the whole family happy. As time went on I came out with my first shear design after the 1996 Olympic Games here in Atlanta. A year later, my husband then other family began joining the business and now we are an international company. My advice to people looking to change careers is to pray about what God wants you to do and reflect on what He has equipped you to do. This job works well for those who can be self motivated and enjoy working with people. The mechanical ability helps but is not as important in your income and success as your ability to be an entrepreneur and go out and develop your business. I used to be scared when I first started and read the passage from Matthew in the Bible about Peter walking on the water. I felt like I was walking on the water everyday and would sink if I took my eyes off Jesus and began looking at the waves. Being in business for yourself can be scary but it can be incredibly exhilarating as well. I love what I do and my husband and I have discussed that we would like to continue doing this for the rest of our lives. |
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