JACKSON, Tenn. – Concerned about high gasoline prices, small business owner Christine Manns took matters into her own hands by opening a gas station. But for Manns, entering the world of petroleum retailing is more about teaching her family a few important life lessons than combating high gasoline prices.

Following the death of her husband, Manns has opened two small businesses in Jackson, Tenn., to teach her daughters about a few life-lessons: independence and self-reliance.

“I want to instill in my girls not to rely on anybody,” Manns told The Jackson Sun, adding, “You have to make your own decisions in life, because you only get one chance.”

First, she opened a small business to teach her daughters about the “intricacies of preparing taxes” by opening Manns Financial Service. Her next business venture led her to the convenience and petroleum retailing industry.

Manns recently put down $12,000 of her own money, agreed to a two-year lease and opened the Goldrush service station, selling unbranded fuel at the former ExxonMobil site. Inside the Goldrush convenience store, there is one cooler and a few snack racks stocked with salty snacks and candy. Although her in-store offerings are sparse, they have helped keep Mann’s start-up costs low, writes the newspaper. Customers are required to prepay inside, and the dispensers do not accept credit cards.

Manns didn’t decide to become a retailer to put the competition out of business. She considers her venture “another teaching tool for her family and community.”

“To be independent, you have to believe you can do whatever you want to do,” Manns told the newspaper. “It will take planning, and objectives, but it can be done.”

So far, her business venture-lessons are resonating with her 21-year-old niece, Shurita Boyd. “I've learned that if she can do it, one day, so can I,” Boyd told the newspaper while sitting behind the station counter. "It makes me more independent.”

“I have done very well just in the sale of gas,” said Manns. “Everybody is complaining about the gas prices and everybody is working hard … and I just wanted to put back into the community and help out."