Celebrating Entrepreneurial Heroes

The other day, I was fortunate enough to speak with a true entrepreneur. This individual was a student entrepreneur who was able to come from the bottom to the top in one of the hardest industries in the world, the restaurant industry. His name is Dan Heuertz, and is truly hero to all young entrepreneurs. He is now one of the most well known and respected individuals in his industry. Dan even received the “Restaurateur of the Year” award. His story is remarkable and unique. However, I found his beginnings to be not to different from student entrepreneurs like me.

He started his professional life by opening a bar at age 19 while still in college. He went into the business as a simple college student and came out with a doctorate degree on how business should be run. It was not easy for him. Dan’s bar almost went bankrupt the first year he ran it. In his interview he told me he was broke and almost had to flee. Luckily for him, he did not and stuck to his core values. Dan started focusing on the customer, and in a short time was able to go from no profit to more than $350,000. From then on, Dan has focused on the fundamentals of a restaurant. He believes them to be capital, concept and experience. Dan stated, “The restaurant business is often very difficult, but if you stick to the fundamentals you will be successful.”

Dan has taken these fundamentals and has transformed the restaurant business many times over. One example of this can be seen in his ingenious approach to the business. He created two separate groups: a restaurant group and a real estate group. These separate groups complemented each other and helped grow each other quickly. These companies also had another profound consequence. They revitalized the community. Dan made a striking comment about this: “I truly believe the more you put in the community the more you get back.” If one were to look at the projects he has done, one can see this quite easily. He has helped to bring hundreds of jobs to communities, and has revitalized many micro-economies. Dan is a great example of what great entrepreneurship and stewardship can bring to the world. It can change the lives of hundreds of individuals and make the world a better place.

Taking a vision and bringing it into reality captivates me. However, being an incoming freshman at a college in a far away city at a place where I know few has its challenges. Hungry to succeed but unsure where and what to pursue can be overwhelming for any freshman, including myself.

Fortunately, Andy Tabar, a recent graduate from Belmont University, was in my shoes four years ago. Andy came to Belmont with few resources. However, what set him apart was his willingness to work.

Starting college well is an important point conveyed by universities all over the country. I want to get the most out of these next four years; reaching out to a role model like Andy makes sense because he excelled in the classroom, balanced a healthy social life and spent an average of 30 hours per week developing an extremely successful business (www.bizooki.com).

“The output of your experience is largely based on your input, how you approach it and use it,” Andy advises. The more I put into my college years, the more I will get out of them. Now is the time to start on the right foot. In these few short days as a freshman in college, I’ve been introduced to many new opportunities and people. I’ve noticed how the potential here is extraordinary, yet fragile if not cultivated. Everywhere I look there are new faces. Andy has told me the importance of “networking with a purpose.”

Along with that, I also have learned from how Belmont taught Andy to become conscious, realistic and calculative about his goals by creating roadmaps to achieve them. I also observe how each year Andy works smarter because it reflects on his character, revenue, vendor relationships, marketing and overall approach to his business.

“Start now, think bigger, execute practically and don’t lose sight of the end goal.” Andy also encourages me to find my passion. He’s described the power of asking people for help when I need it and being specific about what I need and what will result. He then finished powerfully, “Then do it.”

I’m will apply Andy’s advice to my own story and my own journey as I go through the same college Andy left his mark on. Andy is a hero for his character, vision, integrity, drive and aspirations as a successful entrepreneur. Entrepreneurship is the start of my college career.

This is the beginning of bringing my vision of entrepreneurship into reality.

On the journey to deeply connect with an entrepreneurial hero, certain connotations of “world-changer,” “paradigm shifter” and “famed innovator” are evoked. Going through my LinkedIn contacts, business cards and the memory bank, the burning question of “Is this person really of hero status?” kept me short of reaching out to anyone. Of course, all good stories have happy endings and in the spirit of entrepreneurship -- not just fame, money and influence -- I came across my hero. His name is Jing Wei. His is a story of fighting horrendous adversity since birth, enduring a childhood of poverty, making a daring escape to a new world and finding opportunity at last.

Jing grew up in an extremely conservative China as the youngest brother of two sisters— all three siblings were born out of adultery. They lived with their mother, blind from a chemical factory accident, in the project homes of urban Shanghai. Without an established university system, Jing attended technical college where he studied electrical engineering. In 1985, he met his wife, Yu Qun Xi, and later had a son. Jing and his family move back into the projects with Jing’s mother in a single room. As he felt this was unacceptable for his new family, he saw the Open Door Policy from the new Chinese government as an opportunity for a better life. Jing scraped together the money for a single flight out to Sydney, Australia, on a student visa. In 1988, he left the technical college, and worked wherever he could, from chocolate factory to garbage collector. He sent back everything he saved to his family in Shanghai. As his visa was nearing expiration, one of the biggest tragedies in Chinese history turned out to be the luckiest day in Jing’s life. With the Tiananmen Square Massacre of 8 June 1989, the Australian government granted all those on student visas refugee status.

Over time, Yu and their son immigrated to Sydney, and Jing started work in fresh fruit and vegetable produce stand. In 1995 with his family still living in poverty and sharing bedrooms with other families, Jing decided to risk it all and branch out in the fresh produce business for himself, buying a small business with a small piece of real estate in a farmer’s market. From sheer commitment to a quality product and valued customer service, Jing Fruit and Veg began to dominate the market. He was innovative with everything from the physical positioning of his stand, to bringing in large lights to increase the luster of his produce. He included his family in the business, as Jing managed the supply, while Yu directed sales and their son spent most of his young life at the market. As his customer base grew, he took on larger debt and expanded the business into wider fresh produce products. Over 14 years, Jing grew from one small corner of the market, to dominating the entire market with 27 stands and more than a dozen employees.

Through a steep learning curve, Jing Fruit and Veg’s asset value rapidly appreciated with the booming property prices. He expanded to his native Shanghai market in 2004 to further diversify his business portfolio. It gives Jing a great deal of pleasure to look back on the most humble of beginnings to risk all, fight for values of financial and political freedoms. He reached the destination he has today with love for his family and a determination to succeed.

I have dealt with many business owners over the years as I currently own six companies myself (Spa Siam, Hairmax Software, SiBoom, Maysiware, Innercharge and 3L), but I have yet to meet Frank Etsey’s equal. Frank is not a member of the Entrepreneurs’ Organization, but yet he epitomized the many principles that the EO members embrace.

Frank Estey is the true definition of the word entrepreneur. Frank started Marshalls while in his twenties with two other business partners. Through the years, he took this startup company and transformed it into a hugely successful corporation. Frank stayed on as CEO after Marshalls was sold to TJX and later took on other ventures, namely Lords and Lady’s Salon. Frank invested in, and helped run this company during difficult times, and nurtured it so it was issuing distribution checks again.

Sadly, he passed away a few months ago from an inoperable brain tumor. I was fortunate enough to speak to many amazing and successful people in his life, and I would like to share some of their thoughts about him, as a boss and as an entrepreneur. Here’s what Tori, one of Frank’s employees from Lords and Lady’s Salon, had to say about him:

“Frank was the only person I have ever looked up to in my life. He was not only a mentor for me in the work environment but became a surrogate grandfather. He always took everyone into account that worked for us no matter what their levels were within the salon. He was also never afraid to challenge you, and he was the first to give praise where and when needed. Frank worked with his heart on his sleeve. He was a sensitive man but private, as well. Every day, we see people at the mall that worked with him in his Marshall years and they have nothing but positive remarks. He touched many people and he was a very fair man, open to a changing society. Most of all he was constant and dependable.”

Frank empowered his employees to work harder by showing everybody that he wasn’t afraid to get his hands dirty. And when his employees did the same, he made sure to thank them. Frank appreciated the little details in life, whether they came in the form of a spreadsheet or a turkey sandwich; and he never lost sight of the people that put those things together. Frank also became a mentor to many, including myself, with his uncanny knack for taking the complicated and simplifying it to a point that anybody could understand. He was always willing to take the time to explain whatever you needed to know, as long as you were willing to listen. Here is a quote from one of his business partner’s daughters who later went on to work with Frank:

“Working with Frank was a learning experience. I learned more from him than any business class could ever teach me. His work ethic was unparalleled. He worked through brain cancer, never considering stopping. He worked up until the week he died, reviewing financials and traveling to various salons. Working in the salon business was the perfect match for Frank. He loved women and women loved him! He had a charm and charisma that really attracted people to him. I always found it amusing when a young stylist would comment that Frank reminded her of Hugh Heffner. He was a shrewd business man but he had a huge heart.

He would say that family came first and that should always be your focus. Frank was always the first person I would go to when I had a huge decision to make, whether it was in business or in my personal life. I learned so much from Frank about life, and miss him every day.

You are probably becoming aware of the way everyone portrayed Frank.

He touched so many lives - directly and indirectly. These people think of him now months after his passing and will tell stories about Frank to their grandkids, forty years from now. This is the true meaning of an entrepreneur - a person who is successful in his own right, and also makes those around him more successful.”

This quote is from his business partner at the successful urban clothing company Karmaloop:

“Frank has been a huge influence on me personally and on my business. Frank taught me and my staff pretty much all we know about retail. Not only was he a master at understanding how to manage inventory and run businesses, he was a good friend and mentor to me. Frank had an amazing temperament; cool, calm, and level- headed in all situations.

Frank always let me and others know how much he believed in them. He also was willing to lead with his chin and put his money where his mouth was, investing in my company, Karmaloop when the chances for success were anything but certain. Frank always put human relationships first ahead of business and encouraged everyone to find a balance between work and life (something I think he learned from his wife Evelyn, who he spoke about often).

He had a great sense of humor and loved to give you some good natured ribbing. He was always respectful but he was tough and could make the hard decisions and he taught me how to face some of the hard decisions that are part of business. He stressed the importance of making crisp choices based on fact and that the need to terminate employees should always be done in a professional manner.

Without Frank I am not sure where my business would be today. I know I would be a different person and would not have been able to achieve the success that I have had to date in both work and in my personal life.”

Angela, from Lords and Lady’s was quoted as saying, “I don’t have to think very hard when asked what Frank Estey meant to me! Frank was not your typical business man, he was much more...he was a loving husband, father and to me he was my mentor and my friend.

“Frank was honest, loyal and always willing to listen. He was always teaching and understanding. Frank was patient and kind. His thoughtfulness will never be forgotten! I can remember a time that my husband had just started a new job and wasn’t eligible for health insurance for six months, my son was very sick with asthma as an infant and Frank knew this, as he would always make it a point to ask how my family was. Knowing that I had no insurance and that my son was sick, Frank immediately stepped up and helped my family out with insurance.

I will never forget his generosity. There are so many things that I could tell you about Frank, but the list would be much too long. As I said in the beginning, Frank was not your typical businessman. Don’t get me wrong, he was a very successful businessman, but he never forgot the people who worked for him and I will never forget him.

You will be forever in my heart and I am so glad that I had the opportunity to have you in my life. Thank you for teaching all of us not to forget the important things in life... people.”

Being an entrepreneur means finding a balance and terminating employees that are disturbing that balance. As an entrepreneur, this is difficult to do as you feel that it is your failure. Frank disliked letting any employee go, but always made sure to do it in a fair way.

Frank wouldn’t gossip or speak badly about people, if he had an issue with you, he would deal with you directly. Frank was a fair and passionate man who could organize a business’s financials better than anyone. His business acumen and his heart could not be surpassed.

Frank was also always a step ahead of everyone else when it came to doing business as can be seen from his quote to the Globe in 1977.

“We came up with our own concept of discounting quality brand name merchandise, including clothing for the entire family, shoes, and domestics,” he told the Globe in 1977. “The customer has become more oriented to shopping for value. While still label-conscious, there is no longer

Dedication to a particular store because people are so mobile now.”

Being an entrepreneur is a gift that comes with many responsibilities and if you do it right you can touch more people than most could ever dream of. This of course comes with monumental challenges, as you need to insure that you are there for your family and friends, as well as your company and its employees. Frank was able to do all of this, and then some... and for that we will be forever grateful.

I will leave you with a couple of words from his family and hopefully a better understanding of what it means to be a true hero entrepreneur.

He was mentor to me for life and for business later on, and he was always there when I needed him,” his son said. “He was a pillar of strength.”

“That strength didn’t waver, Mr. Estey’s wife said, even when he was diagnosed with cancer.

“They only gave him 5 1/2 months to live, and he lived 19 months,” she said. “He never complained or tried to cut back on his activities, and he worked until his last week. Two days before he died, he found some mistakes on some business documents that a partner showed him. He was an unbelievably strong guy. I just can’t describe his strength and dignity.”

When e-mailing Peter H. Thomas to invite him for an interview, I presented the entrepreneur, author, philanthropist, (and my “virtual mentor” – a mentor I consult in my imagination) with two options: a 30-minute phone interview or a virtual interview with the image of him as he exists in my mind, an image shaped by his life-long achievements expressed in his writings, his speeches and our brief personal encounters at Global Student Entrepreneur Awards. Having never been interviewed virtually and valuing a wide range of personal experiences, Mr. Thomas chose the virtual interview. While at first I was intimidated by the challenge of accurately representing Peter Thomas, the answers to my questions started to flow freely and confidently. A conversation and interview far longer than 30-minutes ensued.

Why did you become an entrepreneur?
After five years in my first professional job, First Investors Corporation of Edmonton, for the first time in my life I was faced with a situation I did not like and could not control. Despite the enormous value I was creating for the company, my attempt to purchase an ownership stake was shot down before I could even present my case. My resolution was to never be enslaved by someone else’s plan, and to create my own. I realized that while I was a great salesman, I would never be happy playing the role of a good employee. Armed with the quote, “the view only changes for the lead dog,” I committed myself to leading the pack.

How do you define success?
Success is the attainment of a predetermined goal. It’s not about the money. For me the goal was to live a balanced life filled with the widest possible range of personal and business experiences; trying as many things as I could, so long as they aligned with my values.

What made you successful?
Discipline, creativity, unyielding commitment, a positive attitude, clearly defined values, attainable goals, salesmanship and my many mentors all played a critical role. Some of my greatest successes in business can also be attributed to appropriate timing— knowing from both research and gut when to take a leap into the window of opportunity, and when to move on.

What advice would you share with entrepreneurs that are just starting their businesses?
Entrepreneurs create value by identifying the right opportunity, finding the people capable of exploiting this opportunity, motivating these people and delegating both authority and responsibility to this team. Once the opportunity is clear, complete dedication and a vivid, justifiable faith in your success are required. When it comes down to tactics, my formula for success is AMC + G (that RUMBA) + H: Attitude, Motivation and Commitment focused on Goals that are Realistic, Understandable, Meaningful, Believable and Achievable, enabled by physical and emotional Health.

What mistakes should entrepreneurs look out for?
One of the greatest threats to an entrepreneur, especially once they have had a taste of success, can be described as the King Arthur Syndrome— believing that one is invincible, and can never make a mistake. Life has a way of humbling those that fall prey to this fallacy. Stay humble, surround yourself with people whose opinion you respect that will question your ideas, listen to your mentors and advisors, but ultimately make your own decision; go with your gut.

What does it mean to navigate by your values?
Life constantly presents you with choice. No choice is inherently right or wrong, but rather it is the alignment of a particular choice with your individual values that makes it the right or wrong choice for you. Identify and prioritize your values, and the choices will follow.

There are many local business owners and entrepreneurs in my area, many of which are great people and worthy asking for advice. One thought was to ask my grandfather about the history of his own business career. While asking I learned about a side of him I never knew about. I decided to interview my own grandfather about the endeavors as an entrepreneur and the reasons for starting his own company 50 years ago.

As I walked into my grandfather’s library, we started our conversation like usual. We started talking about how my grandpa was the inspiration to start my own company, and I asked what he did and why he started his own company in 1954. In 1949, my grandpa graduated from Michigan State University with his engineering degree. While starting right out of college working as an engineer for a local company, working long hours and being bossed around, he worked for three years at a few different places. While meeting his future partner at one of the firms, they both thought they could start an engineering firm better than any company. He and his partner started the company in the basement of a house and started the dream.

In 1954 when Vern Spalding and Frank De Decker set out to start Spalding De Decker and Associates, they finalized their dream of becoming their own bosses. Starting out small, they struggled for the first years, but after receiving a few small jobs they made their big break. At a local meeting the township was looking for a new township engineer; Spalding De Decker signed with them to be their township engineer. This meant they would be able to check every job that took place in the township. The end of 1956 was the busiest year yet. But it was also a bad financial year— the developers had gone bankrupt and were unable to pay their bills. The next 10 years went fairly well and they were able to hire their first employee. Still not growing into a huge corporation, they were still a success and able to stay afloat.

After about 15 years of being in business, they were able to grow a lot and the 1970s were the busiest and most prosperous years. They hired many employees and finally built a state-of-the-art facility: a two-story, 4,000 sq. ft building able to house employees and many crews to go out into the field. While the decade was the best, it was fast to slow down during the early 1980s. During the first few years of the 1980s there were many layoffs and bills were hard to pay.

Another big break soon came fast after the hard times. Chrysler Automotive Company announced in 1985 that they would be building a new headquarters and Tech center, and Spalding De Decker was announced to be the head Survey Layout Company. They were hired to do the entire layout of the building. This project took nearly 14 years to complete. These years were the best years in history of the company. In 1991, Frank De Decker decided that after nearly 40 years of work he wanted to retire and enjoy the next few years of his life. But he soon found himself back in the office After getting a call from the owner of the Bridge company they asked to hire Spalding De Decker to do a new truck exit project. After this project in 1994, it was the end of his career and owner at Spalding De Decker Associates.

At the end of this project, he gave the company to the current employees of the company. Now Spalding De Decker is a corporation which is 100% employee owned and your share of the company grows with the efforts and time put into it. Was rated one of the top companies to work for in Michigan and is recognized all around the country.

During the interview, Frank De Decker told me that being an entrepreneur means always having to work harder and harder. Owning a business means not getting a break, and with more employees means working even harder. During the interview, I also asked what I should live by when in running my own company. He stated, “never lie, steal or cheat.”

Doing this will enable a client base to grow, as opposed to staying the same or shrinking. He also said that patience is the key for a successful business. Nothing will come unless you work for it. My grandfather Frank also made sure I remembered to worry about others before myself. My grandfather also was the father to nine kids, all of which worked at Spalding De Decker with internships. Frank De Decker always showed his own kids what it was like to work, so he hired each one through an interview process. There are currently three of them that are working there. He says all nine of his kids have college degrees and successful careers. To know this man as a grandfather is one thing, but to have met him as a business owner is the best thing I have learned in my life. Interviewing my grandfather helped me learn the real business side of him, something that I never knew about before. I was able to learn a lot of new advice and it helped me learn what challenges will have to be in the future. I will take what I have learned from him, and still continue to learn more and help make my own company or even another company as great as his.

Spalding De Decker is now one of the largest engineering and surveying firm in the state of Michigan, and has projects in New Mexico, Ohio, Indiana, Florida, Alabama and in Canada. Some of the clients they have now are worldwide companies, such as Thyssen-Krupp Steel Inc., General Motors Inc., Ford Motor Company, Mid-West Steel, Beaumont Hospitals, Ambassador Bridge, Blue Water Bridge, Michigan Department of Transportation, as well as many local cities, townships, counties and many other companies around the area.

According to the guidelines for this essay, I must pick an “entrepreneurial hero” and conduct an interview with him. The person who I have chosen is an interesting character. He originally started his business when he was 15 years old and it is still in operation. He lends a helping hand with community events and sits on a youth committee board. He participates in activities with the local school and maintains a high academic average. This man is a student, a scholar, an entrepreneur and a friend to many. I am this man. This may be an unorthodox approach to this essay contest however; it brings new life to the topic. I am going on 17 years old and have been running a Web design business, called D-M Design, for more than a year.

I began contemplating the idea of running my own business in seventh grade. I learned the basics of Web design from one of my teachers, such that I could design faculty Web sites. I began to gain more knowledge in this area and conduct research as to how a business was started in Canada. Being age 14 at the time, I was not ready to take on such a heavy responsibility. Then one day at my local high school, I discovered an advertisement for the “Summer Company” program. This government-funded project allows young entrepreneurs to gain a foothold in the business world and to develop their ideas.

I submitted an application to Summer Company the next year. The business teachers from my high school aided me in constructing a solid business plan and financial estimates for this application. I was accepted into the program and began set-up in May 2008. I was under strict guidelines to complete weekly activities, have bi-weekly interviews and run advertising campaigns for my business. My entire summer was consumed by running the business. My age immediately inhibited my ability to gain customers. Prospective clients automatically assumed that I was too young to develop anything professional, or that they could exploit me to get a cheaper cost. Nevertheless, I was able to complete the program.

I decided to continue running my business and I have acquired several clients throughout this year. I have been able to develop a name for myself in the local community. I have attended several events with administrators and government officials of Centre Wellington. I am acquainted with our mayor and sit on the CW Connections board with her. I was also nominated for Youth Entrepreneur of the Year, but I was too young to attain it.

I love the thrill of self-accomplishment when I develop a Web site that impresses my clients. I love volunteering in my community and meeting new people. My first year in business has taught me many life lessons and the experience is invaluable. I would not consider myself as a “hero” by any means, but “entrepreneur” seems like a fitting term.

Why is Tom, local owner of Mac’s Convenience, an entrepreneurial hero?

I enter the place — not too far from my home in the south end of Sydney, Nova Scotia, Canada. He ushers me into the back room. Noticing his snappy and polished demeanour, I got straight to the point. First was the subject of his background, and how he got into the retail business. Tom explained that he first got a business degree, and then dove straight into the industry. “For me, it was all about location,” he said, and clarified that he wanted to run a business in Cape Breton because of the people. Noting the proud gleam in his eye, I asked if there was any history here, being a mom and pop shop. “Twenty-five years of it, actually,” he reminisced.

I inquired if during that time there were any connections made to the community. “Most of the customers who do their shopping here are those in the community. I know many who do come in. We also sometimes donate to local charities. In fact not too long ago, we had donated funds to help a local athlete attend a tennis tournament.”

Afterwards, we had really got into the meat of the discussion. When I asked him the tough questions of if he made any large mistakes, if he had any significant triumphs, if he had taken any big risks, he denied it all. He said that most of the mistakes he made were when the business was getting underway. “Sure, starting out was difficult. Basically, I was given a set of keys to the place and that was it. But I got through it.”

When I asked if there was anything that he wished that he had known then that he does now, he replied, “If anything, new entrepreneurs should do their homework on what they’re getting into before leaping into this. One learns as one goes.” The starkness of his answers was refreshing, as he was quite direct.

What struck me was that this was a very level-headed man, a man that knows his business and gives back to his community through this outlet. This is a man that through perseverance and dedication was able to make something out of nothing. This is man that represents the vitality and vigour of what makes Cape Breton stand out from the rest of the world. This is a man who has devotion and understanding to both his business and the source of it. When you walk into Mac’s Convenience, you feel at home.

Even though Tom doesn’t consider himself to be a hero, I do. “Sales have doubled since the grand opening,” he remarked. I then address the large, chain convenience stores near-by and how they fit into the equation. “If you want to give people in Ottawa or Montreal your money for the same product, that’s all well and good. But here, you are supporting Cape Breton business.”

Why is Tom a hero? It is because he is a Cape Bretoner who has succeeded where others have failed- all the while giving back to the place he had become a part of not by choice, but by heritage. “In the end, it is really all about the people.” Tom embodies the qualities of hero- courage to not let emotion control oneself, bravery in the cutthroat marketplace of competition from afar and excellence in upholding fair and just practices in maintaining an establishment of this nature. It was after the interview that I realized that Tom needs nothing of this nature said about him, because people are as they act. You can ask any of his loyal patrons, and they will say all of the aforementioned and more. In short, it is Tom’s connection to the community that makes him a hero, and I’m sure the people in the south end of Sydney wouldn’t have it any other way.

“What does being an entrepreneur mean to you?” I asked Heath. “I mean, what do you get out of it that other people might not see or realize?” Heath Bradley is the owner of Emergency Restoration Experts, a company based in Arizona, USA that services commercial and residential properties affected by service water, mold and fire-damage. Heath responded, “It’s really about taking my destiny into my own hands and making a huge difference at the same time.” But as with any entrepreneur, the path to success for Heath Bradley wasn’t easy. “The triumphs and failures— it’s a journey,” he says.

Success can be defined in various ways according to different people, especially in this generation when the economy isn’t necessarily thriving. For Bradley, success isn’t solely about financial status or measuring dollars. Success in Bradley’s vocabulary means facing challenges head on and conquering them. But before someone will even meet success, there are many encounters with failure, as well. “It’s important to believe in yourself and know that you can do it. A lot of people fall short when they quit believing in themselves,” says Bradley. Heath went on to share the motto, “Only the paranoid survive,” relating to the fact despite how good you are (or think you are), there is a strong possibility that you will fall. Knowing this will tell yourself not to get comfortable with failing, and that you will need to get help along the way. “You don’t need to have the answer to everything,” says Bradley, “you just need to know where to get it.”

Facing challenges requires some uplifting motivation and inspiration. Bradley claims that his personal and family goals help him get to where he wants to go as an entrepreneur. “I ask myself what it is that I want to accomplish, and whether or not I have set my goals big enough. If I don’t do either of those, I typically don’t find a lot of self-motivation,” says Bradley. “Knowing the answers to both of those questions helps me get out there and get it done.” Overcoming stress brought on by these challenges? “I like to laugh a lot, act like a kid and play video games,” says Bradley.

Getting it done is certainly something Bradley is capable of. His company, Emergency Restoration Experts, has offices in both Phoenix and Tucson, and was named on the 2007 “50 Small Businesses to Watch” by the Arizona Small Business Association. While those may be impressive remarks, Bradley and his company are also known for giving back to the community. Last year, Emergency Restoration Experts held their seventh annual charity golf tournament to benefit kids burned by fire. They also hold fiesta parties and poker tournaments to further benefit other charities throughout the year. The company’s slogan “Call a pro, call a friend” has a significant meaning towards lending an extra hand to customers as well. Bradley mentions, “It’s a feeling of despair when you open the front door of your severely damaged home or business. We not only put the building back together physically, but guide help them through the process so that they’re not alone.” By keeping the customer’s best interest in mind, it’s no mystery how Emergency Restoration Experts has truly restored people’s lives and businesses.

It takes some remarkable qualities and good perseverance to become a successful business owner, such as Heath Bradley. Building your company up the ladder of success requires more than just the personality of an ordinary-Joe. Bradley claims that his ability to attract people to work for him and bring on other high-caliber associates creates for a great culture in the workplace. As a matter of fact, Bradley’s most important self-proclaimed success point in his career thus far has been being able to create a safe, fun place to work for his company. Referring to happy employees, “That’s how a business makes profit,” he says. And although Bradley most likely demonstrates many other positive self-characteristics, it’s clear that his entrepreneurial spirit and warm-hearted background has allowed him to create a company that generates success. Bradley has told us that listening to family goals, contributing back to the community and caring for customers are just a few key ingredients in his entrepreneurial journey.

Peter Stanimirovic is a 38 year-old male who has started working on his own five years ago. He has always been interested in technology and has had a knack for putting things together. He left home at a very young age and his previous jobs included everything from low-end physical labor to cushy jobs with high wages. He took an opportunity when new plasma and LCD technology was becoming popular to learn more about it. He worked part time for Future Shop and acquired product knowledge that allowed him to become an expert on the subject. Many customers recognized him and recommended his expertise to their friends in purchasing those new futuristic TVs. He subsequently reacted quickly and developed a technology that allowed for the TVs to be mounted to walls with no cords showing. He currently owns a business that installs and coordinates many technological extensions under one system while promoting crystal clear picture and sound.

According to Peter, the best thing about being an entrepreneur is being your own boss. The worst thing about being an entrepreneur is not having anyone to turn to when things aren’t going so well. Nobody can help you figure out what to do and no one can advise you of the right decision, but having the freedom to be creative, to learn from own mistakes and to form your own business practices makes this hard role one worth pursuing. Peter says he would never be able to learn as much as he did about the mechanical and electrical knowledge he has previously acquired unless he started his own business. He knew he had talent and understood more about technology than most people and therefore had acquired an education that allowed him to expand his knowledge. While he was able to apply some of what he had learned through experiences in different companies, he was not truly happy or satisfied with the lack of freedom and creativity in these positions. His greatest success was the first anniversary of his company. While Peter still continuous to work harder than anyone else I know, he also allows himself to take a step back and enjoy what this hard work has given him.

The biggest mistake Peter says he made was waiting this long to apply his talent and ambition to owning his own business. He worked for great companies and even though he was never truly happy, he made very good wages and was secure in his job. It was hard to take a step away from that security and take a risk, but he also knew that he had to apply himself to something he truly loved and felt inspired by. Peter now works just as hard and has even brought on assistants to help him manage the large number of calls that come through every day 24 hours a day.

As a young man, Peter did not grow up around a lot of money and his success was motivated by financial security in the past, but now being able to apply himself and feel satisfied is what he considers his greatest triumph. Peter has had many struggles during his journey but has risen above it and is currently going on his first vacation in five years. When asked if it was worth it, he says, “The biggest mistake people make is trying to make easy money in this country full of opportunity, however there is no such thing, nothing can come out of nothing. Hard work and a real commitment are what bring results. After five years, I get to do what I want and enjoy a full month off with my family, so yes, I say it is definitely worth it. But make no mistake: it doesn’t happen overnight.”

Clark Waterfall has been an entrepreneur his entire life, even during his childhood when he developed a drink concession monopoly at a local tennis club. Today, however, Clark is not only a successful entrepreneur, but also an entrepreneur whose business plays an instrumental role in helping other businesses succeed. Clark co-founded BSG Team Ventures 12 years ago, and now specializes in building executive teams and boards for technology and life science companies.

Clark always had an inherent entrepreneurship “bug” while growing up. Initially following the career path to be a musician, Clark received two degrees in five years from Tufts University and the New England Conservatory of Music. Then after transitioning to the corporate world in a few different fields, Clark decided to leave the executive search firm he worked at and start up his own.

Leveraging their personal assets, Clark and his co-founders started BSG Team Ventures in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. Clark enjoys helping new clients and forming relationships with them. He understands what his clients need and has to find the people which will be the right fit for the company. Every situation is different and BSG Team Ventures separates itself from the competition by identifying with their clients to deliver the best solution.

Clark’s business success is clear. After starting with one firm in Boston, BSG Team Ventures has expanded to London, England; New York, New York, USA; and Silicon Valley, California, USA. However, this success has not slowed down Clark one bit. The next area of expansion is Asia which plays an ever increasing role in sourcing world class talent for his clients.

Clark and BSG have encountered hurdles along the way and, like all successful entrepreneurs, they adapted and persevered. Specifically, they experienced a “perfect storm” in 2001. There had just been a tech bubble, there was an economic bust, and then the 9/11 tragedy occurred. By adapting their business model and creating additional pricing models to appeal to customers, BSG Team Ventures made it through and also learned a great deal from the experience. Clark used this dire circumstance to his advantage by learning to further diversify their clients, provide flexible cost structures, and put more emphasis on senior positions over junior positions.

Clark is also able to channel his energy and concerns into positive drive and determination. He harnesses the potentially worrisome responsibility of having employees relying upon him into the drive to succeed. He is also motivated by his intellectual curiosity. Every day he learns new things when dealing with his clients and sourcing the best talent in the world in search of the perfect match. He also takes pride in being able to make an impact. By succeeding in his business, he helps other businesses succeed, as well.

In one of the worst economic periods in the past 80 years, Clark has positioned his firm properly after learning from 2001. Now, he is looking on the horizon and expanding into Asia, while others are selling assets and repositioning. BSG Team Ventures thoroughly understands their clients and provides a global approach differentiating themselves from the competition. Clark’s “hero story” is not only that of himself and BSG, but also of all of his client companies which have prospered as a result of his hard work.

The dictionary’s meaning of a hero is “In mythology and legend, a man, often of divine ancestry, who is endowed with great courage and strength, celebrated for his bold exploits, and favoured by the gods.”

The inspiration: Donna Burgess a mother at age 18, a survivor of a serious car accident, a qualified chef, a founder of five businesses, leading business women in her community, an academic high achiever, an inspirational mentor, a caring sister, a mother of two beautiful kids and loving wife. All of these things are part of her day-to-day challenges.

In 1998, Donna was involved in a serious car accident. This gave her the vision to become an entrepreneur three years after her first venture was formed, Friends on the Hill, in 2001. This proved to be a challenging experience because she was in business with friends and lost money after selling the business two years later. Still striving for the entrepreneurial dream and providing for two kids, two days after selling Friends on the Hill, Donna took the plunge again. But this time, she had the valuable lessons learnt from the first venture. The dream would take it`s next step.

The Entrepreneur: With a deadline of four months and an empty space, the challenge was to have a fully operational restaurant open for business. Two full-time staff and seven part-time staff along with a lot of hard work, the doors were open on time. Now employing 10 full-time employees and 15 part-time employees, the Reel Cafe in its sixth year is a thriving business. However, Donna defines the key driving force behind the success comes from the passion and drive from her employees. She encourages them to extend themselves and grow as human’s not just employees.

The entrepreneur is always growing and on the hunt for a new opportunity and Donna is no different. She started Ample to compliment the Reel Cafe in providing premium organic and imported deli products. After three years, another challenging decision was made to close the business and lease the property, proving to be a valuable decision in turning a cash draining venture into a positive return.

Community Leader: President of the Belgrave Traders Association, Volunteer at Vision Australia along with providing $12,000 a year in sponsorship programs for the local community. Donna shows a great compassion for the growth of her community and of individuals playing an active role in developing community projects.

The student: Challenging yet so rewarding! A student in entrepreneurship at RMIT, Donna will complete her degree with a high academic achievement in 2009. Engaging with other students providing advice from her entrepreneurial experience is enjoyable; however, the “most exciting thing is learning and engaging with young minds as they are the future.”

The Sister: With a brother slightly off -track and no support network around him, Donna, the person she is, took him under her wing to help him to go from struggling student with a learning disability and no drive, to a successful Webs ite and graphic designer for a high-profile record label. She provided a loving home, driving him an hour to college four days a week for two years, providing him all the opportunities to become the best person he could and achieve his personal goals. This is one of the proudest things in Donna’s life and it is fitting that both Donna and her brother will graduate at in the same ceremony at RMIT in December 2009.

The mother: “Oh you do all that and run a household, too?” I asked in amazement. “Yes,” Donna replies, “however, the most challenging thing is achieving life balance.” Being an entrepreneur has caused Donna to feel she neglects her children in some respect not with material things, but with the most important thing of all, time which cannot be replaced. Realising this, Donna has come to the understanding that the reason for being on Earth now is to provide the best opportunities for her two kids: Edward, age 17; and Josephine, age 14.

What Donna means to me: A hero is defined in some respects a legend of the past; however, Donna epitomizes the meaning of a hero. A hero shows courage and strength through challenges. Donna more importantly while showing courage and strength empowers others to become heroes in their own right by providing them the inspiration to show courage and strength. This is not celebrated for bold exploits, yet it is seen as a normal task for the many who know her.

Not favoured by the gods; however, loved and enjoyed by the people on whose lives Donna has had an impact, Donna is the whisper of wisdom in my ears, giving me the courage, strength and inspiration to become the person I want to be. If one can become as humble, loving, driven, passionate and inspiring as Donna, then one has the power to achieve great things and have a great impact on this world. That is why she is my entrepreneurial hero.

Donna’s final word: “I see myself as an entrepreneur who has the fortune to be able to nurture the potential in the people around me as well as in the community. This is the why I get up in the morning and will continue to be the driving force behind my vision as a business owner or employee.”