Melvin Buckley, someone you should know!

One Decision Changed Everything — What’s Your Story? For our co-founder, Melvin Buckley, the year was 1997. At the time, we were not married yet. Melvin was with his first wife and their two children, and he was making good money selling copiers for Xerox Corporation. But while he was working his regular job, he was also working part-time for free to become a McDonald’s owner. That is something a lot of people miss about success. Sometimes the opportunity does not show up first. Sometimes you have to prepare before the opportunity arrives. One morning, Melvin walked into his office knowing he had just been approved for his first McDonald’s. He sat down at his desk, thought about where his life was going, and made a decision. He quit. His manager came looking for him and said, “Hey Mel, why aren’t you at the meeting?” Melvin said, “I’m not coming. I quit.” His manager said, “What? Don’t go anywhere. I’ll be back.” He went to the meeting, came back shortly after, and asked Melvin what was going on. Melvin told him, “I just got approved to own a McDonald’s, so I quit.” His manager thought he was lying. But Melvin was not lying. He left that job, took the chance, and later went on to own up to three McDonald’s. That one decision changed the direction of his life. At BBDG, we understand that business is not always about knowing everything before you move. Sometimes it is about preparing, learning, taking the next step, and having the courage to trust the lane that is opening for you. Let BBDG help you find your lane in business. What year was it for you? What decision changed your direction? What is your story?

In 1997, I was 27 years old. I was hanging out in Chicago, going to all the hottest clubs, and enjoying life. There was a man I would see often who would always say to me, “I own a mortgage company. You should come work for me.” At the time, I had just been laid off and I was a single mother. Eventually, I said, “Okay, sure.” When I stopped by his office, he explained that the position was commission-based. My first thought was, “There is no way I can live off commission. I need the security of a regular paycheck.” But something changed. I had to change my mindset. I took the chance in 1997, and now, in 2026, I am still self-employed. I will be 56 in August, and when I look back, I realize that one decision changed the direction of my life. So my question for you is: What year was it for you? When did you realize you wanted more? What is your story?

After completing the NEMT Business GPS: First Steps course, introduce where you are in the process. Answer these three questions: 1. Are you in the idea stage, LLC stage, vehicle stage, insurance stage, broker application stage, or already operating? 2. What is your biggest question right now? 3. What decision are you trying to make next? This helps us understand where you are and point you in the right direction before you spend money, apply too soon, or move too fast. Remember, the goal is not to guess your way through business. The goal is to build with a plan.

This community was created for entrepreneurs who are tired of guessing and ready to build with a plan. Whether you are starting a business, organizing the business you already have, preparing your records, building your brand, learning your next steps, or trying to transition from employee to entrepreneur, BBDG is here to help you get clarity, direction, strategy, and support. Our goal is simple: help you avoid costly business mistakes by giving you practical guidance from real business experience. Inside this community, we will talk about business startup, structure, branding, websites, tax and record organization, operations, growth, and real-world business decisions. Your first step: Introduce yourself in the comments and tell us: 1. What business are you starting or growing? 2. What is your biggest question right now? 3. What do you need help understanding first? Welcome to BBDG — your Business GPS.