Deanna Williamson- The Entrepreneur's Source

Experience is supposed to shorten a job search. Right now it is doing the opposite.

In July, 28.3% of job seekers 55 and older had been looking for 27 weeks or longer. And unemployment for workers 55+ climbed from 2.8% to 3.1% that month, even as the national rate fell to 4.1%.

This is not a story about a weak resume. It is arithmetic. Six months is now the likely scenario for an experienced job seeker, not the worst one.

A six-month search does not get solved by a better resume written in week two. It gets solved by decisions made while you still have income, leverage, and time.

That is the real work: My role as your coach is to help you map your goals while you still have options not after the search has already run long.

Take the Career Threats Assessment and see where you actually stand: https://dwilliamson.esourcecoach.com/assessments/?utm_source=SOCI_Assessment

The day after Labor Day used to mark the start of a season of movement. This year, almost nobody is moving.

The quit rate has sat at 2.0%, a third below its 2021 peak. And 5.9 million people say they want a job but have stopped looking for one.

Standing still feels safe when the exits look narrow. But a career that only moves when someone else moves it is not security. It is a bet and you are not the one holding the odds.

Instead of asking "Where can I get hired next?", ask what you actually want your life to produce? That is the shift from renting a career to owning one.

I help you explore what those options could look like with no pressure, no pitch, just a clearer picture of the possibilities in front of you.

You do not have to make a move today. But you should know what your moves are.

Start with the Career Threats Assessment and see how exposed your current role really is. https://dwilliamson.esourcecoach.com/assessments/?utm_source=SOCI_Assessment

FRIDAY CLIENT SHOWCASE: SHELDON COLE

Every client’s journey is unique, and after years of coaching, I’ve learned that the most meaningful part of this work is meeting people exactly where they are—helping them recognize their strengths, work through uncertainty, and find the path that feels right for them.

When I began working with Sheldon Cole, he was navigating a significant transition from active-duty military service into the corporate world. After years of serving his country while also building a life as a husband, raising a family, and continuing to grow professionally, Sheldon had already accomplished more than he sometimes gave himself credit for. He's incredibly humble even with everything he has achieved.

Together, we explored several possibilities for his next chapter, including business ownership. Through the coaching process, however, Sheldon realized that his best next step was a different kind of investment: completing his degree in Human Resources Management and taking time to focus on his personal and professional development.

That decision required its own kind of courage. Sheldon has worked incredibly hard to reach this point, balancing military service, marriage, fatherhood, education, and a new corporate career. Each step has helped him build on the leadership, resilience, discipline, and commitment to others that he developed throughout his military experience.

Sheldon’s experience as both a veteran and an HR professional has shaped the way he shows up for others—with thoughtfulness, empathy, and a genuine desire to help.

I’m incredibly proud of how far Sheldon has come and honored to have been a part of his journey. He has so much to offer, and I’m excited to see the impact his leadership, experience, and heart will have in the civilian world—and all that the future holds for him. 🤍

A house fire is probably unlikely, but a career change isn’t. Which one have you actually prepared for?

September is National Preparedness Month.

You probably have a fire escape plan, an emergency fund, and a will you updated in the last few years. But here’s a tougher question: do you have a backup plan for your career?

Most people don’t. It means preparing for a possible layoff, knowing how much money you really need and considering whether AI could replace your skills.

According to the TES Generational Career Confidence Survey, 83% of Americans think owning a business is a real alternative to a regular job. But most people never actually make a plan to see if that could work for them.

It’s about taking charge of your future, and you can start while you’re still working, when you have options and time on your side.

Take our Career Impact Assessment: https://dwilliamson.esourcecoach.com/assessments/?utm_source=SOCI_Assessment

And then, work with me now and prepare for what might and can happen!

For the very first edition of my Friday Client Spotlight, I’d love for you to meet one of my very first clients, Rick Travis . His story has inspired me (and continues to inspire me!) from the beginning, and I’m so proud to share a little more about his journey with you today.

I met Rick at a RecruitMilitary at Joint Base Lewis-McChord and was immediately struck by his determination, confidence, and entrepreneurial spirit.
Rick proudly served our country and deployed three times in four years. Two of those deployments were voluntary—he stepped forward when fellow airmen who had been selected did not want to go. That decision says a great deal about his character, his willingness to serve, and the kind of leader he is.
While navigating the demands of military service and civilian life, Rick persevered in earning his bachelor’s degree in business.

Along the way, he also became a husband, parent, homeowner, landlord, and successful branch manager. None of these accomplishments came without obstacles, but Rick continued moving forward.

As an adult, Rick had the courage to bet on himself by launching two small businesses with limited capital, industry experience, or support. Although those ventures ultimately closed, they were not wasted chapters. They gave him firsthand experience, strengthened his resolve, and eventually led him to explore the structure and support of the franchise model.

What inspires me most about Rick is that through deployments, major life transitions, setbacks, and responsibilities, he never lost sight of his goal: to become a successful entrepreneur and business owner.

His story is a powerful reminder that adversity may shape the road, but it does not have to determine the destination. Sometimes the ventures that do not work out are the very experiences that prepare us to recognize the right opportunity when it arrives.

Rick, I’m incredibly proud of everything you’ve done to reach this point. It has been an honor to walk alongside you, and I can’t wait to see what you build!



Read more about Rick’s inspiring journey: 👇

Air Force Veteran Finds New Mission: Why The Junkluggers Is a Top Franchise for Veterans Learn how Air Force veteran Rick Travis is using military discipline and mission-driven purpose to launch a Junkluggers franchise

AI makes Ownership More Possible. The Question Is Whether It's Right for You.

The headlines frame artificial intelligence as something coming for your job. Another way to read the same data: as evidence that the barrier to ownership has dropped further, and faster, than most people realize.

Stripe found thousands of solo operators generating over $1 million in revenue with no employees at all. That group more than doubled between 2023 and 2025, and the number clearing $10 million nearly tripled.

A one-person company is a specific life. You're the sales team, the support desk, and the person fixing things at 9 p.m. on a Friday. Some people thrive on that. Others don't.

Read More: https://dwilliamson.esourcecoach.com/blog/?utm_source=SOCI_Parameter

The real question is which version of ownership fits your goals . The career coaching process starts with you, not with a business. AI is going to keep getting better. Whether that's a threat or an opening depends almost entirely on whether you've looked at what's available to you and most people haven't looked at all.

Take our Assessment and find out if Your Current Career Aligns with Your Goals: https://dwilliamson.esourcecoach.com/assessments/?utm_source=SOCI_Assessment

Calling all of our North Bay friends—come golf with us and help send a veteran to Washington, D.C.! 🇺🇸⛳️

DM Wooster and I are incredibly proud to support the upcoming "Tee Off For Heroes" this coming October 27th, 2026. It is so much more than a great day on the course. Every golfer, sponsor, donor, and volunteer helps make it possible for local veterans to visit the memorials built in their honor—at no cost to them.

We are also incredibly grateful to Alaska Airlines for their amazing support of this year’s tournament (Grand Prize of 2 Round Trip Tickets anywhere they fly!) and continuing to support our local veteran community in such a meaningful way.

If you’re local, we would love to have you join us—bring a foursome, become a sponsor, donate a raffle item, volunteer, or simply help us spread the word.

And if you’re not in the North Bay, you can still make a difference. Donations of any size help fund a veteran’s trip to Washington, D.C., and sharing this post may introduce our mission to someone who wants to help.

Come golf with us, support a veteran, and be part of giving these American heroes the recognition they so deeply deserve.

https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/tee-off-for-heroes-honor-flight-inaugural-golf-tournament-and-silent-auction

For anyone who could use a little inspiration while scrolling through Facebook, I’m launching my new "Client Spotlight" on Fridays to share the real stories of people I have the privilege of supporting—the challenges they’ve overcome, the courage it takes to imagine a different future, and the many paths that can lead to business ownership, or even clarity about a career transition.

My hope is that these stories inspire anyone who may be wondering whether it’s too late, too difficult, or simply too uncertain to pursue something of their own.

*Spoiler alert* It's not too late.

Every client's journey reminds us that there is always something new to discover—and another possibility waiting ahead.

Follow along on Fridays as I introduce you to some truly remarkable people who are taking meaningful steps toward creating what comes next.

I look forward to sharing these incredible people and their stories with you!

What's waiting ahead for you?