137 | Steve Acorn | Biggest Lessons I Have Learned After Playing the Game of Business for Three Decades

In today’s show, Chris interviews Steve Acorn, President, Student Painters. 

This show starts with Steve recalling his life as a teenager. Specifically, he talks about his biggest frustration in this phase of his life when he was working odd jobs. Later, Steve joined Wilfrid Laurier and then Student Works in 1985.  

This is where Chris and Steve worked alongside as student district managers. 

In the next segment of the show, listeners will be regaled with some interested anecdotes form Steve’s entrepreneurial journey. Steve got the opportunity to establish the student painting business in Michigan. Starting from his living room, Steve hustled up sales of half a million dollars in the first year itself.  

Steve had to face considerable hardships along the way – and his biggest challenge came in the year 1999 when he went bankrupt. As these crossroads, Steve could have thrown in the towel and tried his hand at something else. However, he persisted. How did Steve muster up the courage to take this hard decision? Was it worth it in the end?  

Today, Steve’s Student Painters has a presence in 10 states, employs 220 student managers, and does business of more than six million dollars. 

Other topics discussed in today’s show include the importance of implementing systems and process, recruiting the right people, discovering your big why, and much, much more... 

We hope you enjoy this show. 

 

Resources 

Young Entrepreneurs Across America 

Student Works  

Chris Thomson LinkedIn