Field Notes #5: Life Has a Funny Way of Coming Full Circle

Life has a funny way of coming full circle.

I grew up around a family business that traces its roots back to 1894.

What started as Fawcett Coal & Ice eventually became Fawcett Oil, and later evolved into Fawcett Energy as customer needs changed over time.

My dad took over from his dad. My brothers and sister became the fifth generation.

Growing up, I think it was assumed I would eventually join the business too.

About 20 years ago, I decided to pursue a different path and see what I could build on my own.

That path took me through AOL, GoDaddy, Indeed, and Constant Contact, working with businesses on growth, technology, partnerships, and customer acquisition.

At the time, I never connected those experiences back to where I came from.

Lately, while building ReadyGetGrow, I’ve started to see it differently.

I’ve spent countless hours talking with HVAC owners, studying customer journeys, thinking about operational challenges, and building technology designed to help service businesses improve responsiveness and follow through more consistently.

Somewhere along the way, I had a realization.

I somehow ended up building something for the very industry that shaped so much of my life growing up.

Not because I planned it that way.

It just happened.

The older I get, the more I appreciate how much my early experiences influenced the way I think about business, customer experience, adaptability, and building something that lasts.

I’m incredibly proud of my family, everything they’ve built, the example they’ve set, and the opportunities I’ve been given throughout my life.

And I think it’s pretty cool that after spending 20 years taking a different path, life somehow brought me full circle.