Turning Passion Into Reality
The idea sparked in young Gregg Jantz Jr.’s heart back when we was about 9 or 10 years old. On vacation on the beaches of Waikiki, Hawaii, Gregg stepped onto his first Segway. He immediately fell in love, and he and his father booked their very first tour the next day. As they toured the incredible beaches of Hawaii, Gregg had an idea: We need this in Edmonds. Nobody would have guessed that a year or two later, 11-year-old Gregg would own his very own business — Segway of Edmonds.
He, of course, had some help from his father, Dr. Gregg Jantz, who owns The Center, a rehabilitation center, just up the road from Gregg’s storefront. Gregg is growing up in a home where business is simply second nature. It’s a unique situation, and his father’s influence encourages him. Gregg shared that his father is his biggest influence behind starting his own business venture. His father motivates him to believe that success is possible.
But it wasn’t until he moved to his own storefront that Gregg began to feel successful. Initially, the business began out of the garage at The Center, and when it came time to meet for Segway tours, they would make arrangements to meet people at the parking lot next to the Bank of America. Since then, the business has grown into its very own shop with tours, sales, merchandise, repairs and more. Gregg is even trying to bring Segways to the Boeing factories as replacement for bicycles!
“I’m proud of it, but it’s not done,” he said.
Gregg was Co-CEO with Dr. Jantz for the first two years, but once he moved into his own building, his father gave him more responsibility. Segway of Edmonds, was the first business in the strip. It took time for the transformation to be complete, but Gregg is proud of his accomplishments. Currently, Segway of Edmonds is the only authorized dealership in all of Washington. Other cities have Segway tour locations, but they are not authorized by Segway themselves. Gregg and his father traveled to the Segway headquarters in New Hampshire and received training to earn this title. It was quite an experience for the then 11-year-old; one he said he will remember forever.
In spite of completing this huge milestone, Gregg today is still your average 15-year-old. He attends Kings High School in addition to working on obtaining his pilot’s license. (What can’t this kid do?) When asked why he is seen as a leader, he humbly responded, “People will tell me that I am a leader, and I get that and I see that. But I just do my thing and guess people look up to it.” Gregg is a true leader by example, and his story demonstrates this ability.
It’s not impossible — it is more possible than you might think.
When asked what advice he would give to another young person looking to start his or her own business, Gregg shared, “I would just say be determined. It’s key to everything. You don’t have to be good at what you do, but you have to be determined to learn how to do it, and determined to do it. Determination is number one. It’s that mindset.” Determination played a huge role in Gregg’s hard work and dedication on this business, and seeing how far he has come, it is clear that all the ambition has really paid off.
It’s easy to see why Gregg has been so successful. His maturity is off the charts. He spoke about learning from failures as though he is someone who has truly seen it all. He spoke about the “growth mindset” and how he has adapted to learn from mistakes and failures from not only himself but others as well. He said that it’s important to see mistakes from others and not think you are incapable of making the same mistakes. Gregg will take situations of failure and gain as much as he can from it instead of dwelling on the loss. He has no regrets in his business; his passion still lies with the company, and he appreciates the endeavors he has conquered.
Don’t Step back.
Age has never really been an issue for Gregg. His parents’ names are still on the business as a means to get around the logistics of establishing and running the business. His parents are there for the legal reasons, but he has been trusted to be in charge of it all.
Gregg shares with fellow youth interested in making a passion into something real by saying, “Actually look into it — see what your possibilities are instead of just getting this idea — you could do a lot of things.” Gregg took an idea, a passion, and something he loved and turned it into a dream come true.
The success story of Gregg Jantz Jr. is a model for young entrepreneurs all over. Age is nothing but a number. One’s passion cannot be measured by means of years. With desire, diligence and some hard work, anything can happen. Thanks to Gregg, we can appreciate this firsthand.
As one final word of advice, Gregg shares that, “You can do it. Be determined!”
Feel free to visit Edmonds Segway Tours. The shop can be found at 201 5th Ave. S., Suite 106 in downtown Edmonds.