Signing a contract to play basketball overseas seemed like the best way for him to achieve that goal—the best way for him to avoid settling down with a tedious, nine-to-five corporate career. Marcie also wanted to delay settling down and was eager to explore the world.

Before he fully committed to that dream, though, Dean thought through his options and realized that his going overseas was just a diversionary tactic. It was a temporary escape, and he wanted to make a more lasting impact. He knew the shelf life of his basketball career was limited, and he also recognized that long-term success hinges more upon who you know than what you do.

With that realization in tow, Dean set out to surround himself with positively influential people. Because he allowed the input of successful individuals to override everything he’d been taught about the traditional paths to success, he was able to open the door wide open when opportunity knocked a few months later.

Over the course of a few weeks, Dean and Marcie underwent a thorough vetting process before they were able to enter into a partnership with some of the most successful entrepreneurs they’d ever encountered. These entrepreneurs not only offered Dean and Marcie business advice, but they also promised to mentor them in all aspects of their lives. That mentorship turned out to be the ultimate key to Dean and Marcie’s success.

Dean and Marcie were married on August 17th, 2007, but it took until June 30th, 2009 for them to fulfill their vows to one another. On that day, Dean retired from his full-time job and stepped into being a full-time husband. Because the Whalens had the unique opportunity to build their own business—with the help of their mentors—they were able to design an incredible life for themselves. This life they designed looked nothing like the ones they’d seen growing up. Instead of pursuing passions in their spare time, they were able to live life to the fullest all the time.

These days, Dean and Marcie spend the majority of their time being full-time parents to their three children. In their spare time, they mentor others, just the way they were coached and mentored. Moving forward, Dean and Marcie plan to continue being selective when it comes to the people they choose to vet. They only open doors for people who are serious about making a change in their lives. Earning a chance to be mentored radically changed the direction of their own lives, and they are very mindful to not cheapen that process for anyone they may consider entering into a partnership with.

When asked about the hard work he and Marcie put into the business, Dean says, “Carrying buckets is temporary until the pipeline gets built.”