Leading a business in never an easy calling, but the five men we asked to share with us all have one thing in common, they love what they do, and they love to serve the community of Snohomish and beyond. Take a moment to get to know them and who knows, you might find some worthy advice to apply to your life.
Sheldon Schuler
Co-owner
Cascade Concrete Coatings, LLC
What was the best business advice you ever received?
The best piece of advice I received when starting Cascade Concrete Coatings was: Don’t take on more than you can handle. In a new and growing business, it’s easy to feel like you need to say yes to everything—more clients, bigger jobs, new marketing opportunities. But without clear boundaries, you risk missing details, compromising quality, and falling short of the level of service you want to provide.
How did that advice affect the trajectory of your business?
Learning to recognize what my team and what I could realistically take on—and prioritizing the projects we could execute with excellence—has been one of the most important factors in building Cascade. That advice pushed me to focus on doing things right the first time, putting strong systems in place, and committing to a five-star experience for every client. Having a solid foundation has made all the difference. It’s allowed us to grow at a sustainable pace, deliver consistently high-quality results, and maintain the kind of customer relationships that fuel long-term success.
Dana Swanson
Owner
Allied Motor Sports
What was the best business advice you ever received?
I never wanted to own my own shop, I am not comfortable with the notoriety and my biggest concern was being responsible for putting food on someone else’s table. When I was forced to make the decision to go out on my own, I approached it with much prayer, so ultimately my best advice came from my faith and doing what I knew I was called to do, even when it did not make sense.
How did that advice affect the trajectory of your business?
Because I have followed a path that is based on what I was called to, every decision has been an act of faith that when I do what is right, our business and the families I feel responsible for, are blessed.
Darrick Philp
Co-Founder
Lifetime Heating, Cooling & Electric
What was the best business advice you ever received?
Always do the right thing and the success will follow.
How did that advice affect the trajectory of your business?
Because of this advice instead of chasing profits, we are always looking for creative ways to help our community and “the community”. Find ways to use the gifts God has given to help other. It has never hurt us. That’s how God’s economy works!
Jake Miller
Photographer
What was the best business advice you ever received?
The best advice I ever received was, “Don’t focus on having; focus on becoming.”
How did that advice affect the trajectory of your business?
This quote/advice has served me well because whatever I am working on, my craft, business, skills, etc. Success will ultimately follow.
Ben Richards, PGA Associate
Assistant Professional
Snohomish Golf Course
What was the best business advice you ever received?
The best business advice I ever received was from my father regarding how to provide a great experience for our customers. I am a fourth-generation golf professional, and my family has been running golf courses for over 60 years, so they have seen all of the ups and downs in golf demand throughout the years. I was told the most important part of running an entertainment business is to provide the customers with an escape from their daily grind, and to make sure they are treated well and taken care of. People are paying good money to come enjoy a 4–5-hour golf experience and it is our job to make sure that experience meets and exceeds their expectations.
How did that advice affect the trajectory of your business?
This advice has allowed our business to thrive throughout the years and even more so since Covid-19. With all our employees focused on customer service and providing the best experience possible, we have been able to continue to refine and improve the golf course. We hope to continue making the golf course a great community hangout for years to come. Thank you to all our wonderful customers and we hope to see you soon!
A special Thank You to Allied Motorsports for allowing us to use their facility to capture our business owners for this feature - Go visit them at