Go West Young Man.
Back to Minnesota – Right about then, Dad (mine), called. He was in Eagan Minnesota and had started a painting company that was growing fast and he needed help. I told dad that I would ask my wife, but that I didn’t hold out too much hope. So, one day out of the blue I asked Khanh, “Do you want to go live in Minnesota for awhile?” A question, which, I know, left out a lot of important information. She said, “Sure.”
So, we moved from Colorado to Minnesota. In 1996, I started work for Imhoff Painting Co., in Eagan, MN. It was great; I loved working with my folks, John & Mary, and my brothers, Ben and Steve. And life in Minnesota was good: great neighbors, nice people, lush, beautiful summers, cabin at the lake, snowmobiling, sledding & ice fishing – just like real Minnesotans! In 2000, our second daughter, Hannah, was born. About that time Khanh’s sister moved from Illinois back to Colorado, making 2 (of 6) siblings now living back in Denver. Shortly thereafter, one of her brothers moved from California, back to Colorado, making 3. Meanwhile, in the family business, we began to experience what many family businesses do: discord. And, it began to feel a little bit like every family event became a board meeting; with Mom, Dad, and sons all in the company, no matter what we did as a family, it always felt a bit like work. We had moved to Minnesota to be near family, and work pulled us in so close that family had to get in the back seat. One day, after about 9 years living in MN, Khanh mentioned that she wouldn’t mind moving back to Denver. I felt I owed her one, so I said why not – I was ready for a change too.
Go West young man – redux. In 2005, we moved the family back to Denver. Khanh & I started Imhoff Painting Inc., she was the brains & central nervous system, and I was the rainmaker & hunter-gatherer. It was grand! We grew quickly from a 2-person family run business to over 14 painter employees! Then, over one month in autumn 2008, it all stopped. Just like that– I was back in the tools, by myself, and Khanh was once again running a 2-person company. Right about then another sister moved back to Colorado (this one from WA), which made 5 of 6 siblings back in their hometown, Denver. It’s important to note that in each of their cases it was by invitation of one sister that the others moved back – the invitation was to move home and join the local company she had spent a decade working for – a great company with excellent benefits and opportunity for advancement. It was with this inducement, 3 of them had moved family & stuff.