My Dad Was A Serial Entrepreneur

He would get an idea or see an opportunity and, knowing absolutely nothing about what would be involved, would jump headfirst into the process of making something out of nothing. His businesses were all “human scale”. Nothing huge or flamboyant. That wasn’t what he was after. He wanted to fill what he thought was a need, address something that he could address, solve a problem he knew he had an answer for, be his own “boss”. For the most part he was successful…and, perhaps more importantly, he was happy.

Dad was fortunate. He had my mom in his corner every time. She was his partner in life and in business. If she ever had any doubts (and I’m certain she did!) I don’t recall her ever voicing them or, once the enterprise had been launched, ever second guessing the decision. He eagerly welcomed becoming a beginner again as he learned what needed to be learned. He could easily laugh at himself. Events outside of his control were taken in stride. Even in the rare instance when one of his businesses went upside down, he handled it without losing his integrity or compromising his values. An example of this happened following the first oil embargo in the 1970’s. He had started a trucking company (which he did while not knowing the first thing about long haul freight or driving an eighteen wheel semi-truck) that grew to a number of rigs that ran seemingly nonstop serving small groceries in rural Oregon. When the economy tanked as a consequence of the oil embargo, he was left holding outstanding and uncollectable receivables from clients that couldn’t pay, many of which eventually declared bankruptcy. Rather than following suit, he and my mother brought all of us together, presented the situation to us and declared that they would find a way to pay all of the debt to the suppliers that had trusted him. As the middleman between the suppliers and the grocers his word was his guarantee he said. Although it took a number of years, pay it back in full they did. Doing so was more important than compromising their values.

For both of them, once the decision had been made it become more important than any fear that may have arisen. That is where courage is derived. People who are seemingly courageous have simply made a judgement call that something else – “it” – is more important than any fear they may experience.

These past two years of COVID have been trying and fearful for many. And, according to the US Census Bureau, there were 5.4 million applications to start companies in 2021, a 53% jump from pre-pandemic levels in 2019. This period has become one of the hottest start-up periods in U.S. history. And the trend continues. In the first three months of this year there have been almost half a million new businesses started.

The U.S. isn’t alone in this. According to UHY International, a leading network of independent audit, accounting, tax, and consulting firms, during this same period, China was in first place among 22 countries in a study of new business creation around the world during the Covid-19 pandemic.

The Great Resignation is much more likely a Great Reclamation. Having gotten off of the treadmill and away from the mind-numbing repetitiveness that many experience at work people are deciding that reclaiming their agency, living a life that is theirs, having “it”, is more important than any fear. Might many of them fail? That truly depends on how failure is defined by each individual. These folks, these newly minted entrepreneurs, are courageous and that’s what it takes to live a life on your own terms.

When I was born, I was given a ticket…it said Admit One. No guarantees appeared in fine print. When you find that it no guarantees are needed.

Courage. Without it life isn’t worth living. Growth requires change and, conversely, change requires growth. Both require courage if we are to be successful. Which leads me to a question that I want to leave you with. What is the “for the sake of what?” that is your “it”? This is different than asking “why do we exist?” or “what’s my purpose; it’s different than asking “why do I want to do something new or different?” Asking – and answering – “for the sake of what?” brings you face to face with what’s truly compelling and meaningful for you. It’s a question that, if you live with it, taps into the soul of who you are. It’s about acknowledging that desire that is wanting to be birthed and that can’t not be birthed. Answer this question and you will have discovered what for you is always more important than fear. And, you’ll look good in that super hero cape!

I welcome your thoughts and comments...