Why a First-Time Business Owner Decided to Open a Seniors Helping Seniors® Franchise

Dadong Wan has spent most of his professional life trailblazing in a leading global consulting firm as an IT business innovator. But, in 2021, a tragic family loss shattered every dream he had, throwing him into the deepest valley in his life. Soon after he started searching for a reason to live. With that in mind, Dadong began exploring options ahead of him. Through his research, he discovered Seniors Helping Seniors®, the 100-plus-unit at-home senior care franchise, and decided quickly that is his true calling – a business but also a cause that enables him to go beyond himself and make an impact in his community.

So, that’s what he did. Despite not having any previous business ownership experience, Dadong signed on with the Seniors Helping Seniors® brand and is set to open his very own franchise in the northeast DFW metro area.

1851 Franchise recently spoke to Dadong about his transition from the corporate world to pursuing his dream as an independent business owner.

1851 Franchise: Frame your personal story for us. What did you do before franchising, and how did you decide franchising made sense for you?

Dadong Wan: I’d spent many years as a school nerd, also as a technology innovator in the big corporate world, but I’ve never owned a business before. I started looking into independent opportunities after leaving my previous job in 2020. I connected with a career coach, a man named Ed Gow, who has since become a friend of mine. We talked about my goals for the next chapter of my life, and we went back and forth for a while. Tragically, around this time my wife passed away unexpectedly. I suddenly found myself in the deepest valley in my life. It felt like my entire world was shattered in front of me, and everything I had worked so hard for is all gone. It felt so hopeless. Soon after, I got another corporate job that led me to move from Chicago, Illinois to Dallas, Texas.

After the move, things started to get a bit brighter. I reconnected with Ed, telling him that the new job feels transitory to me; I was still on the lookout for something aligned with my heart – a cause so to speak. Life is too short to continue toiling in the corporate world. In passing, I mentioned to Ed one of the projects I did 15 years ago with my previous employer, which struck a chord with many people, including the mainstream media. The project involved a cool technology solution to help seniors improve social connections and overcome loneliness. Upon hearing the story, Ed asked, “I might have something for you. Have you heard of Seniors Helping Seniors?” I said, “No, but tell me more about it.” When Ed recounted the co-founder Kiran Yocom spent 14 years with Mother Teresa before co-founding this company, I knew right then, “This is it!” 

This business just feels right as the anchor for the new phase of my life so I wasted little time and jumped right on the opportunity. Of course, I did my usual due diligence, but I was on board right away and I officially signed on in January.

1851: What was your perception of franchising prior to becoming a franchise owner, and what do you want people to know about franchising now that you are in it?

Wan: It’s funny, throughout my professional career, I’ve always worked to innovate and think outside the box, inventing new technology-enabled products or services, or new ways of doing things better, cheaper and faster. But franchising is completely opposite. You have a proven business model and system that just works. All you have to do is just stick to the system, put in your heart and efforts, and execute it to the max. In my case, that was exactly what I was looking for. I wanted to focus on the end impact, not wasting time to experiment with something that may or may out work. The services we provide are so compelling, and there’s a growing demand for them. Before getting into franchising, I knew I wanted to invest in a proven system rather than start from scratch, which is why franchising seemed super appealing to me.

1851: What made you pick this brand? What excites you most about this company?

Wan: I went to the franchise’s Discovery Day and the DNA and heritage of the brand captured my heart. Not to mention, this really is a unique opportunity. The focus of Seniors Helping Seniors® isn’t transactional, it’s nurturing a relationship between a Caregiver and Care Receiver. Our peer-based care model stands out in the marketplace, and it’s doubly rewarding for both senior caregivers and recipients. On a personal level, I’ve found that working in a post-COVID corporate world is quite an isolating experience. The camaraderie with co-workers is much harder to come by when working remotely. This business will enable me to alleviate my own loneliness by physically getting out there to understand the needs of seniors, connect with them, and become part of a community. It’s truly a win-win-win situation for all involved: clients, caregivers and myself as the business owner.

1851: What do you hope to achieve with your business? What are your plans for growth?

Wan: Even though I’d say this is a business of Heart, I also recognize that it’s still a business. We need to focus on our business metrics and growth, financials, monthly and annual goals and all of that. I do have a goal in mind in terms of the number of clients and revenue targets. However, at the end of the day, the financial reward is a byproduct, not my primary motivator. Financial success will follow, but people's impact comes first. That’s what I’m going after.

As far as growth goes, in a year or two, I just want to become the fabric of my community – a go-to agency for senior care in the community we serve. I want to become the most trusted and high-quality brand in the community. Right now, I’m only focusing on one market, because it allows us to become a household name in that market.

1851: What is the one thing about your story you want us to know?

Wan: I’m a person with a big heart, believing that kindness matters in this world. I want to use this business as a platform to build a strong community that brings together those who are caring and kind to others and to each other. I want to set an example of what is possible if we can all be kind to one another. I want us to look beyond ourselves. For me, this is all about cultivating genuine human connections. I’m very passionate about this; this is my calling. I want to hire only those who are just as passionate about this cause as I am to our team so we can get out there and collectively make a difference.

1851: What advice do you have for other people thinking about becoming a franchise owner?

Wan: Follow your heart. Warren Buffet once said, “Do things you love and with the people you love; the rest will take care of itself.”  That’s my motto. And that should be yours, too. Running your own business is hard work. There are insane hours involved and, at the beginning, you may also dig a financial hole for yourself, too. So, it’s super important to find a business that feels right to you. There are so many opportunities out there, spend time exploring them until you find the one that’s aligned with your heart. Just like falling in love, you know it when the right one is showing up in front of you.

ABOUT SENIORS HELPING SENIORS®
Seniors Helping Seniors® was founded by husband-and-wife duo Kiran and Philip Yocom. Kiran, who grew up in India, later worked to advance humanitarian efforts alongside Mother Teresa. After moving to the U.S. in 1995 and marrying her husband Philip, the Yocoms felt called to provide loving care to seniors and to cultivate an exchange of gifts at every generational level. Together, the Yocoms founded Seniors Helping Seniors® in 1998, opening the brand up to franchising in 2006. With a mission to be the most respected and rewarding homecare provider in the U.S., Seniors Helping Seniors® stands apart from competitors as the only company that prioritizes hiring active seniors to provide care services to their less-active counterparts. Seniors Helping Seniors® aligns caregivers and care recipients based on the abilities and needs of both by offering a wide range of care services. Seniors Helping Seniors® has grown to nearly 200 locations in 30-plus states and seven international locations, with 125 franchise partners. For more information on Seniors Helping Seniors®, visit https://seniorshelpingseniors.com/.