Don Murphy is the first person CareerFuel has interviewed who has never had a full-time, permanent job. He graduated high school over 30 years ago and, unlike today’s high school graduates who are twice as likely to be unemployed than those with a bachelors degree, Don was never without work. He found steady employment the old fashioned way: working hard, seven days a week painting and fixing cars by day and working as a contractor to Con Edison in New York City at night. Working multiple jobs over the years, Don gained skills and experience that enabled him to take the entrepreneurial plunge at age 38. He purchased a gas station franchise from Exxon, which he eventually bought outright. A proud owner for eighteen years, he has a successful business which has afforded him the opportunity to buy a 55 acre farm.
He says it is still possible to own a gas station and make a good living, particularly now that the major oil companies (Exxon, Mobil, etc.) no longer own most of their gas stations.
Watch his story and get inspired by Don’s work ethic, solid business instincts, and strong customer service. If you think this is for you, here is a list of gas stations for sale to get you started.
For a great family business story, meet Ty of the Oklamoha State Horseshoeing School and learn how he changed marketing techniques to keep the business going.
This is another segment in CareerFuel’s “How America Works” series, a collection of job search and small business success stories. Do you have a small business success story? If so, we would love to hear about it!