Part 2 with Dale Widmer of Petro's

SPEAKER_2 (0:22)

From the IT Company, It's Made Right Here, the stories of East Tennessee founders, creators, and builders, from the idea behind it, to the impact it had on the community, their employees, and their personal lives, we're taking you behind the scenes of the movements they built.

Macy Brink (0:38)

If you're in Knoxville, at some point you've probably enjoyed a cup of Petro's chili. In our last episode, we got to take you behind the scenes of where Petro's all began.

Hey, it's Macy Brink with the IT Company. On today's Made Right Here, we have part two with Dale Widmer. You're going to hear more about his heart behind Petro's, his experience in finding balance as an entrepreneur, and what he's learned along this path. You're going to love it. Check it out.

Dale Widmer (1:05)

The business, over the years, Stefan, there's been a lot of times, it's not all, you know, in having your own business, people ask us, well, we take a couple steps forward, then a step back, sometimes more than one step back. And so it's just been that. We've been in times I can remember a time when my kids were in high school, so I had to go to them and say, guys, business is really struggling right now financially, I don't know if we're going to make it, and I told my daughter that, and she's not, and Alex was okay, I mean, it's like, we're going to be okay, it's just that things may have to change in a big way, and all that, and so I freaked out my daughter a little bit. Anyway, so there's been some hard conversations, but the business has taken its toll at times, with my energy and time having to be committed to this, to the business, and where a lot of has. And so there's been times when I've spent too much time and dedicated too much time to the business, you know, at the expense of my family or my wife. But overall, I've really tried to keep that balance and make sure the time and the love and the care and all that, so I can sacrifice the business instead of my family. So, you know, that's the balance and tension as you go through.

Stefan Wilson (2:22)

What would you say to that entrepreneur that's out there, you know, listening to this, that's struggling with that right now, right? They've got a wife, they've got kids at home, and yet the business is demanding, you know, certain resources of their time, et cetera.

You know, what advice would you give to them to help balance that? What are some things that you've done, that you've experienced that have been positive for you, professionally and with your family, as you have grown Petro's over the years?

Dale Widmer (2:55)

Stefan, that's a tough question. And I can tell you 100%, you know, God first, your wife, your family, your business. In that order, in terms of priorities, it has to always be that way for me, in order to make sure that I'm doing the right thing.

And knowing that, if those are my priorities, then what am I doing to equip people and systems in the business to make sure that things aren't just falling apart? That's been part of the problem. I've worn so many hats. If I step out and I do things and everything starts falling apart, they need me. I'm so necessary to the business. I think we as entrepreneurs have to be able to recognize that and pull away and equip other folks and train and delegate it properly so that people can grow and develop and take part of the control of the company away from the owners in a healthy way. So we just always have to remember that. I remember no matter how hard I worked during the day when I came home and the kids are there and I had a long, tough, challenging day and I'm ready to go inside. It's like I need to reserve at least 10% of my energy so that I can go in and be a good husband and a great dad and all those things. And that doesn't change. I mean, even now, if I have days and they're just full of meetings, I'm drained after all these meetings and the hard work and all that. But God, my wife, my family, even my extended family, my kids both, they blessed us with six grandkids, four and under, so I've got to have energy for that.

So it's a blessing. I'm blessed, I'm thankful, and that's the other thing. It's always just being thankful for what I've got, regardless. It gives me the spirit of thankfulness.