Business owner made a million dollars in the pandemic but lost what he loved most
This cybersecurity consultant's business thrived as companies shifted to remote work at the onset of the coronavirus pandemic.
Editor’s note:This article is part of a series for ALM’s Small Business Guidance program, providing insights and information for small and medium-sized companies.
Diego Denson’s services were in high demand as companies shifted to remote work at the onset of the coronavirus pandemic. So much so that he said he became a millionaire, recording record revenue for his small cybersecurity consulting business.
But the virus also took from him. And his seven-figure enterprise could not protect Denson from what came next.
The uptick in demand catapulted him to millionaire status within months. He said $330,000 in revenue in 2019 tripled to more than $1 million in contracts in 2020. And this year, he said his company is projected to generate $1.7 million.
“My business has been skyrocketing,” Denson said. “I have … contracts that I can’t even fulfill, so I’ve been hiring people this year.”
‘Fighting for his life’
But tragedy soon struck.
“As I began gaining more success with business, building up my client base from California, Omaha, Denver, Canada, Atlanta and New York City, I got the news that my brother, who still lived in New York City, was fighting for his life,” Denson said. “The COVID pandemic was going on heavy in New York City. My brother ended up passing away on July 12, 2020.”
The death of his 45-year-old brother left a void Denson attempted to fill with his ever-growing workload. He said he often rose at the crack of dawn, and worked until well into the night.
Yet, as his company’s volume and value continued to appreciate, his perspective on wealth shifted.
“Even though I had so much success with finances, I felt like it was not worth it, because I lost my brother,” Denson said. “I got this new home that’s much bigger than my last place. I was hoping that him and the kids could come visit this summer with our mother. You know, hang out, get in the pool and all this other stuff. To just see that he was not able to even enjoy this at all, it makes me feel like I’d rather give the money back and get my brother back. So it’s like a high financial grievance.”
While initial restrictions on travel provided the IT entrepreneur a welcomed break from living a constant life on the go, continued restrictions on social gatherings have challenged his relationships. From having to find ways to safely keep up with family and friends, to getting creative to keep a new romance from growing stale, he’s had to continuously adapt.
“We began dating right at the beginning of the pandemic,” Denson said of his current romance. “I think it’s been more difficult for her because she’s been wanting to go out and do dating stuff. She wants to take advantage of my success when we go out and do fun stuff.”
Denson said while the couple had been able to squeeze in a few trips, the pandemic complicated their dating, forcing the pair to spend more time indoors, and prompting ample opportunities to evaluate their relationship.
“I think that she is probably a lot more bored than I am,” he said. “It’s forcing us to try to cope and get along and have discussions with each other and see what really makes up our relationship.”
‘Here for good’
Denson also reflected on the weight of the past pandemic year. His best year yet professionally and financially had also been his most heartbreaking, with COVID-19 as the impetus.
“I wake up every day, and talk to my brother’s picture,” he said.
While accepting the death of his brother had been tough, he had an easier time getting used to coronavirus-imposed restrictions on social gatherings and travel, citing it as the new normal for the foreseeable future.
He said, “I wouldn’t be surprised if five years go by before we get some kind of resemblance of what was, but I don’t really think we’re going back. I think we’re here for good. I’ve accepted it.”
