My story begins in high school, and like most kids at that age, I had no idea what life had in store for me, and I had no intentions on going to college. So when I was 17, I decided to enlist in the ARMY reserves. As long as I can remember, I always had that entrepreneurial itch. A growing and eager entrepreneur in the military is like mixing oil and water. Long story short, I found out the hardest way possible that military life was not for me.My story begins in high school, and like most kids at that age, I had no idea what life had in store for me, and I had no intentions on going to college. So when I was 17, I decided to enlist in the ARMY reserves. As long as I can remember, I always had that entrepreneurial itch. A growing and eager entrepreneur in the military is like mixing oil and water. Long story short, I found out the hardest way possible that military life was not for me.
So after that, when I was 19, I went in the complete opposite direction from the military and thought being a daycare teacher would be for me. I enjoyed the job for the most part, but I saw myself going down a different path in life. After about a year and a half I said farewell, but fortunately, before I quit, I met this girl who would soon be the reason why you're even reading this right now.
I suddenly got intentions to go to college after seeing first hand what life was like with out it. So at the age of 20, I enrolled. One of my first classes was entrepreneurship. That class inspired me more than anything else ever has in my entire life. It was what I was looking for all along. It was what I needed to get me started. If I had known then what I know now, that class would have been the only college I would have ever needed.
Getting back to the girl I met at the daycare job, she turned out to be a girlfriend of mine for a couple of years. I became very close with the family, especially Mike, her father. We hit it off at the very beginning, and you guessed it, he's a pool guy, a very successful pool guy. He has been for the past 30 years.
Call it faith, call it coincidence, you could even call it luck. Whatever it was, the combination of that class and knowing Mike at the same time would soon to be the best thing that would ever happen to me.
During the winter of 2003, at the age of 20, Pool Pals was born.
I had 12 pools that first year, and you can imagine how important each one was to me. I worked very hard and did the best job I could. My customers were happy with me, word got out, and by the end of the second season, those 12 pools turned into 42, more than tripling my business in one year! By the end of the third season I had closed 135 pools! Again, more than tripling my business from the previous season. In three short pool seasons, Pool Pals had gone from 12 to 135 accounts. At that point I realized I had something solid here. What started out to be a summer job during college, turned into a full time seasonal company.
I run a fair and honest business here and my prices follow the same guidelines. I have a very friendly and personal relationship with all of my customers and above all, I take care of them. I think you will be very happy choosing Pool Pals to maintain and service your swimming pool.
Thanks
I would like to say thanks to all my original customers who gave this kid a chance. I appreciate it more than you will ever know and I will never forget it. Mike Besso at Central Pools in Framingham, if it wasn’t for him, there would be no Pool Pals. Todd, Ernie, and Scott at Pool Care and Spas in Sandwich for teaching me so much. Much of my skills and know how are owed to them. Crystal Industries and all the help and business they gave me my first couple of years in operation. Mr. Bejtlich for all his moral support. My mom, Phyllis Spurling, for all her strength, guidance and for her continuous help within the business. And Mark Anderson, a very special thanks, I would not be where I am today if it wasn’t for him and all the great advice that I’m glad I took.