While Kim was building the business from home, I (Kelly) was right there beside her—running deliveries, picking up samples, helping customers, and learning every step of the way. I was studying business in college, already dreaming of entrepreneurship, convinced that I wanted to build my own path rather than follow someone else’s. When Kim’s cousin helped her create the first website, everything changed for me. The moment I saw how online sales worked, I knew this was what I was meant to do. But even as I poured my time into growing our online presence—quadrupling sales in just two years—I kept quiet about it. I felt shy and unsure because everyone around me insisted I needed a “real job” after college. Eventually, I gave in to the pressure and accepted a position at an online retailer called Outlet Bait & Tackle. What I thought would just be a job ended up being a turning point. They taught me everything—SEO, digital marketing, purchasing, shipping, graphic design, website management, you name it. It gave me the skills and confidence I needed. After three years, I made one of the biggest decisions of my life: I quit my stable job to take a chance on myself and pour everything into building Macke Pool Products. It was terrifying—but it was the moment that changed everything.