Hey, Life with Justin Stephens community! Justin here, with a journal entry at WinCo—it's been an eye-opener, and I'm excited to share. As we document this journey through personal finance, success, business, sales, and marketing, today's update ties into long-term wealth-building through ESOPs. The job at WinCo is going really well, and I like the job, but the hours are really hard on my time with my kids. It is also not making enough to cover all the bills, so I am looking at other ways to supplement my income, or even change to another job if that opportunity arises. I've had a couple discouraging conversations the last week, which is why I took a break from journaling, to let them marinate and figure out next steps. The more I think about it, the more convinced I am that I am doing the right thing and it just takes time. So this is me putting in the time to bring my vision to reality. I am going to start doing trainings and work on educating people on the financial infrastructure that I have created within America's Holding Company, and we are going to start today with understanding the concept of an ESOP.

Working at WinCo: A Solid Start

My the role has been going really well—I have learned a lot through the onboarding courses, and one of the biggest takeaways was WinCo's intense focus on customer service. They may be the low-cost leader, but that does not mean customer service lacks. It was cool seeing how much they encourage us to interact with clients, help them find what they need—we can even help them bag their groceries if requested or load their car. It is our job to make sure the client has an amazing experience, no matter your role within the company. I started working nights as a freight clerk on August 13th from 11 PM to 7:30 AM, so if you are a late-night shopper in the Meridian area, I might even get to see or help you!

The ESOP Advantage: How It Works and Why It Excites Me

WinCo is an ESOP, which means I will be earning ownership in the company as well as the hourly rate that I get, and that's one of the main reasons I've been trying to land a job at WinCo. It also works out well that I work nights, so I will be able to run my handyman business during the day and at night I will earn my steady paycheck and benefits so that I can better provide for my family. I am very excited to see where this adventure takes me!

To explain how an ESOP works: It's an employee benefit plan where the company sets up a trust fund and contributes shares of its own stock (or cash to buy shares) to it. Employees earn an ownership interest in the form of stock shares over time, often based on salary and tenure. This motivates workers since their efforts directly impact the company's value, and thus their shares. When employees retire or leave, they can sell the shares back, often at fair market value.

How it differs from a 401k: A 401k is a retirement savings plan where employees (and often employers) contribute money to invest in various assets like stocks or funds. It's flexible for individual choices but doesn't give direct company ownership. ESOPs are company-funded with its own stock, focusing on ownership rather than diversified savings—more like being a shareholder in your employer.

This ESOP model inspires AHC's vision—ownership as a path to freedom.

Reflections: Time and Conviction

The discouraging talks marinated, but I'm convinced—this path takes time, and I'm committed. WinCo's stability lets me build without desperation.

Why This Matters for Your Journey

Updates like this show how jobs with perks like ESOPs support dreams—in finance (ownership growth), business (team focus), and life (family provision).

At Life with Justin Stephens, we share raw Journal Entries like this, alongside Point of View stories, Life Strategy tips, Resources, and Great Causes to inspire your path in finance, business, sales, marketing, and beyond.

Call to Action: Subscribe at justindcstephens.com for daily motivation. Share if ESOPs intrigue you, and comment: What's one benefit you'd want in a dream job?

P.S. Tomorrow, a Life Strategy post on time management for new routines. Stay tuned!

To your success,
Justin Stephens