Today we’d like to introduce you to Heather Duke.
Hi Heather, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My name is Heather. My business name is Essential Onsite Solutions established in 2020..
As I was overcoming quitting a career after 14 years, I sat distraught as to what to do next in life.
New management had taken over in my previous employer and the man now in charge chased me with my HR file stating I was useless, I was nothing without that company and did I not understand I would do what he said when he said it so I better answer my phone when he called.
I began having heart palpitations, I was terrified I would be fired every minute of everyday….until one morning while showering I decided I would quit.
Can’t fire someone if they quit.
I prayed alot in those days and this particular morning something in my mind just said enough was enough. I went into an office I was directing finding the most senior employee asking them to sit with me. After 14 years of working there and with this gentleman I say to him, on this paper you will find a list of items I am going to hand you. Keys to every office, company equipment from my car and I need you to sign this as accepting this as my resignation.
I loved that job, I loved the people, I loved the patients. The new CEO however, could not stand he couldn’t get his footing with the employees with me around and he made sure my last day would be in his hands, but now I must go.
Walking out of that office, I went above the CEO to the President calling and telling her – I quit- your equipment is here- I turned off my phone and drove home not knowing what I was going to do, but I was free.
I was depressed for months. Hardly showering. Hardly eating. It nearly hit a point of my girlfriend calling asking me what size I would like my fuzzy socks in, she was ready to make me a reservation.
I prayed. I prayed in joy for freedom, I prayed crying and I prayed mad.
Getting a call from a colleague who had watched me grow, “Where are you?” Pulling me into the conversation of could I possibly help some nurses don masks. It would be good for me she said. I would be paid as an independent contractor but something was brewing and she needed help.
I entered the hospital like atmosphere being walked to a conference room.
Patient room doors were open to hospital beds covered in plastic like an apocalypse was coming.
Ummm, excuse me, why are the beds this way.?
Something is scaring the medical field and here I was preparing nurses when I was beginning to think maybe I was unprepared. As I began, the nurses came in droves being fitted for hooded masks, regular masks and teaching them how to take on and off protective equipment.
I did this a few times and then I got a call from another facility to train their staff.
Drinking my coffee, the news came on, the world had shut down.
Calling my contact asking if we should cancel I get a response of absolutely not! When I got there, they actually had two other facilities that needed me.
I got a call from another colleague. Because employers fell under “Essential” they needed help with temperatures could I come take temperatures. If anyone had an elevated temperature I would advise them and their employer to put them out for 10 days. Looking at my current operations of protective gear I jokingly ask one of the nurses if I could borrow some of this lovely attire of masks and scrub coverage. Sure they said and as I left the nurses, I went to take temperatures to a few clients.
It was only going to be a few weeks right?
A few weeks turned into a month and here I was thinking this independant contractor stuff was nice. However, Uncle Sam may have something to say about these funds and wait a minute, I could be writing off some of this travel as a business expense. Hmmm, and down a rabbit hole of how to open a business began. First question as I opened the IRS website, What is your company name? Oh, yeah, that would probably be helpful.
Essential Worker Helper? No.
Hmm….
So I prayed and needed sleep.
3 am I awake from a deep sleep, Essential Onsite Solutions!! Thats it!!
I got on my laptop. Dove into irs, state, and everything LLC.
Who is in charge? I am.
Seeing the ex CEO, his face a vivid memory in my brain, his voice “You are Nothing” whispering in my ear. He isnt real Heather, focus. He can no longer hurt you another softer whisper came.
I was alone in a rabbit hole on my laptop yet these whispers haunted me along each step.
The man’s voice whispering “This is all going to be over soon and you will have nothing.”
Another whisper of a softer voice saying well when it is over what would you do? Ahhh…an office!! I need an office!!
I had to get to work and in my car I went and checked in temperatures at one employer. I scrubbed down, changed clothes, sanitized and off to the next employer to mask them up, declothed, prescribed, resantized and off to another temperature client. 18 hours a day I worked.
How do you rent an office? Calling a location I was interested in, the gentleman was nice but said because I was just starting my business, maybe a smaller place.would be better. We went to look at it as he chatted walking up stairs. Now listen, we need to upgrade this location so we would allow you to chose colors and tiles and let us know the floor plan. We would do the upgrade to accommodate you.
As I peeked in the door, the smell of this place hadnt been opened in sometime and the pink carpet from the 80s aligned some of the floor anyway.
There were patches of carpet missing where clearly there were cabinets at one time, a toilet knocked on its side without any walls and the man I stood with selling it like it was a brand new car.
Sure I could rent you that office across the street. You could make do with it or you can rent this one, give us a few months to get it the way you want it and wouldnt have to “make do”. Sounds like your in the field alot nowadays anyway how about you take a chance.on yourself.
Ok buddy. Lets do it!
I signed the lease and calls and emails of patterns and colors and blueprints followed in the weeks to come.
I learned about building permits, business insurance, fire safety walk throughs during and after construction and learned about wiring is different in walls whether your business is considered medical or non medical and let me tell you, there is a significant price difference in said wiring.
Getting a call my business name sign was hung and they still had small door knobs to do would I come get the keys and do a walk through so when they do the small tidy up could I make a list of anything else I may want.
I took my girlfriend with me and we prayed on the outside of the building.
Turning the key I opened the door to fresh paint, recalling the sales man I say well he really did sell me a new new car didnt he.
It was beautiful. I was in heaven.
I continued my services and prepared for when the world opened back up I would hire a doctor, who I began training on an electronic medical record system. I then learned that when you hired a doctor, you are apparently responsible for insurance on them both liability and malpractice. I also learned that when you hire a.doctor they charge an hourly rate whether they see patients or.train on a computer. This was racking up and buying furniture was depleting me.
Its ok I told myself..I could advertise. Increasing my 18 hour day to 23 hr day wouldnt be so bad. I got this.
So I sent emails, I stuffed envelopes. I served clients, I trained the doctor, I trained myself on the computer system, it was a.whirlwind.
Then the services began to decline. I had trained over 1500 nurses how to be safe so I would no longer be needed. Which I took as.a relief. Maybe now I could get two hours of sleep.
Then temperatures were no longer needed.
Ok. The world was opening. What could I do?
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
In the moment of being in unknown territory it does seem like a struggle. As an Entrepreneur, you dont have a supervisor to get advise from. You have family and friends who try to give advice but also you have people who say you need to go get a real job. They dont see you pursuing your dream as a “real” job.
There are all kinds of obstacles of how to get money coming in while balancing what money is going out. Sometimes you cant pay yourself, you cant pay your own bills let alone the bills of the business. But keep going.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
I eventually gave up that dream office. But I tried. Was it easy? No!
I currently perform paternity testing traveling to homes, prisons and child support court, I also perform drug & alcohol testing for employers in every field from transportation to secretaries. I also consult others on pursuing their dreams by teaching them the lessons I learned both the good and the bad.
I also found a niche in praying adding Cremation Operator to my life’s portfolio.
After weeks, months and years of hard work I now enjoy services to my clients at my own pace spending time with my gorgeous grandson. I dogsit for fabulous people and while you drink your coffee wondering what to do, my only advice would be “Dont You Stop You!” Its is a Voyage that is scary. But do it anyway!
Is there something surprising that you feel even people who know you might not know about?
My recent addition of Cremation Operator.
I get “Youre doing what now?” Wait…so you cut people open? No. I do not.
You know those urns some people have in their houses? Those were once people. I take the people walk them to the elevator to heaven and well…they get to ash somehow.
Where are you today I get asked. In court listening to a man say that aint his baby and seeing a judge as he points to the blonde in the back (me), saying that young lady back there can help you with that. Or maybe Im at a trucking company as the fellas are pulling in for “Surprise” here’s a cup day.
Im doing what I love, when I love it and when I dont love it…I allow myself some Hulu and Netflix time.
