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Waylon and Jerrel Mathern are like any small-business owners: They know how important communication skills are. But the brothers have had to work harder than most to get their message across. They were born profoundly deaf, a term that means they’re unable to detect sound at all, and so have spent their lives reaching out in a hearing-impairment-unfriendly world. In succeeding, they’ve defied the odds: About 50 percent of deaf or hard-of-hearing people in the U.S. are unemployed, and another 20 percent are underemployed.

The brothers first worked together as kids on a lawn-care business, for seven years. After college, they entered different industries but always dreamed of teaming up again. Their mother helped make it happen by finding a franchise opportunity with @tailoredliving, which installs custom closets and storage. Now the brothers own the brand’s Seattle franchise, and they have a clear division of labor: Jerrel does floors, and Waylon is in charge of cabinets.

Q: How did you prep for ownership? Jerrel: I reached out to several financial advisers who are profoundly deaf to interview them about how they managed to overcome obstacles. I did the same with those who work at the corporate headquarters around here, including Starbucks, Amazon, Microsoft and Boeing. Never be afraid to ask if you can job shadow or become an apprentice, which can pay dividends down the road.

Q: Any advice for other deaf people who would like to open a business? Waylon: There are organizations out there providing seed funds. I participated in one where I invested $2,000 initially, and then an organization contributed $4,000. If you look hard enough, there are excellent resources available. Ask, ask and ask. When you get the funding and are also fortunate enough to hire staff, the key is to “find the right person for the right seat on the right bus,” which is a quote my mother repeated time and time again. Each employee we have has done more than we expected, which of course contributes to the bottom line. We couldn’t have done it without them. _

Visit the link in our bio to read more from this story. (📝: Jason Daley 📷: @johnwclarkphoto) (@entmagazine March ‘17 issue) via Instagram http://ift.tt/2pgkmcR

“be stubborn about your goals but flexible about your methods.” the best advice I’ve ever received.

To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment.

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You are not the voice in your head; you are the silent voice, which listens to that voice.

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