Reflections

I recently chatted with somebody about the decade-long journey I’ve had as an entrepreneur. The years have been rich with experiences and opportunities I find myself fortunate to have amassed.

As an entrepreneur, you see the the world a little differently than those around you. Opportunities tend to present themselves as problems to be solved; revealing themselves in the most interesting of circumstances. It’s the little details that count most.

For example, one of my mentors is the original founder of a well-known coffee shop chain in Columbus, OH. Prior to opening his first location, he visited over 1,500 coffee shops in the United States. One of his takeaways was noticeably low ceilings in all of the coffee shops that were constantly busy.

The takeaway? Lower ceilings provide people with a sense of homeliness and security. As a result, he installed paneling on the ceilings of his first location. His shop went on to become one of the most successful chains, resulting in a successful exit.

It’s these little details that seem to make the big difference in the world around us. You don’t have to be an entrepreneur to make others around you feel at home, either.

The past few years have been a bit of a roller coaster for me. I’ve navigated through jobs, relationships, locations, social circles and vice. Life’s provided me with an abundance of opportunities that appear to be miraculous and tailor-made for my interests.

It’s these reflections that help me look ahead at the new journey ahead in 2019. For the past few years, I’ve felt a tug at my heart to return to the world of entrepreneurship. Specifically, to build the Trident Motorcycle and publish my first book.

Over the years, I’ve had many adventures that took me away from these two pursuits. However, they never left my heart. Instead, the call got louder the further away I ran from them.

As this year winds to a close, I can only look back at all of the memories and be thankful for them. Thank you for being part of the journey.