August 9, 2024
It is a perfect 10 today. Sweater weather in August, thanks to the cool air from our neighbor to the north, Canada.
I am a recovering entrepreneur. I couldn’t work for the man, I had to be the man. Every one of my attempts failed. Early in my career, I read an article in an in-flight magazine. I learned that 25% of the population are “risk-takers”. All the entrepreneurs come out of this group as do all the criminals. I am not sure where I inherited the trait since neither of my parents were entrepreneurs, but my mother’s brother Eldon was. I was a juvenile delinquent.
My first attempt at my own business was Draftech, Inc. a contract drafting service run out of the basement of our home in Coon Rapids. It was not very long before I went to work selling office furniture for General Office Products. My second attempt was an energy management company “Office Environmental Systems”. My office was in the Allstate building behind the car wash on Division Street in St. Cloud. I was probably the only one in the State of Minnesota out there on straight commission trying to sell computerized energy management systems to owners of large office buildings. I sold three systems in three years and then I went back to selling office furniture in April of 1982.
I have a collection of business cards that fills a ring binder. There are 44 calling cards from 23 different companies. The last eight are all from Minnesota Public Radio. I started working from our studio on the third floor of Wimmer Hall in 1999. I just received delivery of another box of calling cards for Minnesota Public Radio. I go through a box of cards every couple of years. I hope to go through a few more before I call it quits.
Oh, I almost forgot, the Upsala Heritage Festival is tomorrow in Upsala, Minnesota of course. I am on the board of the Upsala Area Historical Society. I will be at the open house for the Borgstrom House from noon until 3pm. We will be selling brats, a bag of chips and a can of your favorite beverage for only $5. The “Best Central Minnesota Small Town Parade” starts at 4pm. I hope to see you there. And, the Lakes Area Musci Festival continues through August 18th. The schedule of performances is online at www.lakesareamusic.org
“We all find time to do what we really want to do.” William Feather
Category : General 