When Joe Corey decided he wanted to join the family business, Day’s Jewelers, his parents, owners Jeff and Kathy, had him apply for a customer service spot as if he were a regular Joe—not Joe Corey. “We were not involved in any way, shape, or form in his hiring,” explains Kathy, who bought the Waterville, Maine–based Day’s Jewelers, now six stores strong, with Jeff in 1988. “The person who would be supervising him made that decision.” Having grown up in the business, Joe quickly excelled, eventually entering the Day’s management trainee program. (He now manages the 10,000-square-foot Manchester location.) Still, he says, “I’ve had to prove myself. I’ve worked hard to eliminate any thinking that I am where I am because of who I am.”CAUTIOUS PROGRESSJeff: In planning for our future, we’ve been cautious to grow in the right way, and we’ve taken a look at reason