My mission is to help entrepreneurs and executives find work + life harmony. You can have “it all”- whatever it all means to you.
“As long as you’re true to yourself and your God-given talents who cares if you’re not ‘normal’?”
Secretary to Strategic Business Coach
My entire life I’ve never felt like I quite fit in anywhere. As a little girl, while others played house, I played office. Today, after becoming a very successful entrepreneur in the oil and gas industry, I am a woman in a man’s world. Which means I get to wear the hard hat and the high heels! The little girl in my memory would be amazed to see herself as a Strategic Business Coach and an entrepreneur.
The Seed is Planted
Although I didn’t realize it at the time, my maternal grandfather Melvin Deshon planted the seed of entrepreneurship. He was a Singer sewing machine salesman who eventually opened his own fabric/sporting goods store in Independence, Kansas. I spent half of the summer with my maternal grandparents, and I would do anything they would let me do at the fabric store. I worked the counters, cut fabric, and helped with office tasks (at least I thought I was helping).
The other half of the summer was spent with my paternal grandmother, and my namesake, Roberta. She would give me a tablet of paper, a pen and sit me down with her green touch-tone tabletop phone. I played for hours, taking messages for my imaginary boss and deftly transferring calls. I was probably the best secretary in the Mid-West, if I do say so myself! As I searched for a career after high school, nothing felt quite right: social work, teaching, psychology. I even sold Avon and Mary Kay for a while. Finally, I settled on nursing and started college. Life intervened in my grand plans to be a nurse in 2006 when my former husband was severely injured while serving with the U.S. Army, and instead, I became a caregiver. Being a caregiver became a full-time job, but, the pull to be in business was strong.
My Journey Begins
I started a part-time job with a small, independently owned oil and gas service company. It gave me the flexibility to finish raising my kids and fulfill my caregiver duties. One day I overheard the owner talking to one of my co-workers about a possible buy-out. And then they talked again……and again; and wouldn’t you know it, they talked some more!
As a woman of action, I spent hours researching how to write a business plan and contacted local banks to learn about the lending process. After learning everything I could about buying a business, I approached my co-worker and proposed we become business partners. It was a great match, I knew the administrative side of the business and he knew the technical side. In February of 2010 Arpco Valves & Controls, LLC opened for business.
“We, as strong minded business women should not have to apologize for the choices we make.”
I am a Leader
Using my talents as a strategist, I’ve led my management team to formulate and implement the vision and goals necessary for a fast-growing company. We have tripled our revenue, opened a second location, and recently moved to a building that is 3x the size of our old one! Our team feels like family and I’m very proud of our corporate culture! What I’ve realized in owning and running my own business is that I’m not just a boss, I’m a leader. I have been lucky enough to have it all–to have been the mom who was the room mother, soccer coach, and dugout mom and to have discovered my true calling as a Leader. And now, I help other professional women have it all–whatever “all” may mean for them.
I believe that we, as strong, business-minded women, should not have to apologize for the choices we make. Sometimes we need convictions, courage, and strength to make the choices we need to make for our own lives. Running my business and reflecting on the choices I had to make to get here, I’m proud that I’ve been called things like “out of control,” “opinionated” and “sassy.” These are not bad words! To me, they are proof that I’m being true to myself and who I need to be to be the best mom, boss, daughter, and friend to everyone I care about.
Paying it Forward
Work/life harmony is one of the most important aspects of my life and coaching. I believe that if things aren’t working at the office, our home life is affected. And if things aren’t working at home, our work life is affected. In my coaching programs, we explore what that unique line is between work and life for each individual, and what needs to improve. As a woman who has triumphed over both societal and industry stereotypes, it is important to me to serve other professional women as they find their purpose in life–both personally, and professionally. I bring a holistic approach, not focusing just on the business or just on personal life, but on both.
The road you are about to take will not always be easy. It wasn’t for me in the beginning, however, now I talk too much, laugh too loud, and yes, I am very opinionated (which often gets me into trouble!), but I couldn’t be any happier.