| "I am going to make fresh, organic food for kids. It will | | | | the sole reason an idea is transformed into a passion. |
| be fun." Little did I know that what I was actually saying | | | | However, this same entrepreneur must recognize |
| was "I am going to enter into the food manufacturing | | | | when to shift roles from the excited driving force to |
| industry with no experience". The business was | | | | the reserved strategic planner and leader. I have found |
| actually launched in early 2007 producing organic | | | | this transformation to be critical as someone must be |
| meals for children in Salem, Oregon. A reflection on my | | | | looking at the big picture. As a company grows and |
| first year has yielded four lessons learned. | | | | begins to gain momentum, somebody must be |
| Lesson 1: In hindsight I believe that very naiveté | | | | "steering the ship." |
| is what carried my company through those first few | | | | Lesson 3: Cash is king. If you are out of cash, you are |
| months. I had no idea that what I set out to do is nearly | | | | out of business. We hear about it all the time, but how |
| impossible, which made my grand visions attainable. | | | | true it is. As new businesses we must find new and |
| However, I have not been able to do it on my own. | | | | sometimes creative ways to preserve our working |
| The key principle, I believe, is to surround oneself with | | | | capital. |
| exceptional and experienced people. Not necessarily | | | | Lesson 4: People talk and write often about time |
| your friends, but trusted people who you know to | | | | management. But when you are the president of a |
| have different skill sets than your own - people who | | | | company, especially a new company, you must be |
| will "tell you as it is." Finding said people is not an easy | | | | spending time, effort and resources on activities that |
| task. One thing I was told early on from an investor is | | | | are immediately relevant, necessary and profitable. My |
| that he was not investing in my product or company, | | | | personality tends to be people pleasing and polite. I am |
| he was investing in me. You attract talented people by | | | | happy to speak with anyone who shares my passion |
| selling yourself as an entrepreneur first and selling the | | | | for organic foods, healthy eating for kids and |
| actual business concept second. Dealing with rejection | | | | sustainable practices to save our planet. Although this |
| is just part of the game in these early stages. You | | | | all makes for great and inspiring conversation, it is not |
| must be able to put yourself out there by picking up | | | | always the best use of resources. |
| the telephone and participating in any event you can | | | | The four lessons I learned are people, leadership, cash |
| find to sell yourself. Eventually, if you are interesting, | | | | flow and resource management when starting a |
| passionate and simply a person people want to be | | | | company. However, I believe the real challenge is |
| around, the talented people will come. | | | | constant improvement and always being willing to learn |
| Lesson 2: The drive that exists in an entrepreneur is | | | | new lessons. Our job as business leaders in a |
| what keeps you working when everyone else has | | | | company is never complete. This is what makes life |
| gone home and refuses to take no for an answer. | | | | as an entrepreneur so challenging and so rewarding. |
| This is the force behind a brand-new company and | | | | |