Thedewsperspective

As far back as I can remember, I aspired to be an entrepreneur.  I learned early on “you should always have something to sell.”  And everything was for sale, except my soul.  When I was a child, I remember being gifted a wholesale catalog.  That was my first entry point into sales.  I was no older than twelve.  My mother would take orders from her co-workers.  We’d order the merchandise from the catalog and split the profit.  She was my worker.  And my investor.

From that point onward, I sold everything.  Catalog items, clothes, mary jane.  Anything that I could buy for $1 and sell for $2.  Without risking spending the rest of my life in jail during the process.  The art of flipping money became my compass.  Yet, it wasn’t until my sophomore year in high school that I began to understand Business 101. 

The Academy of Finance at Lake Clifton High School was a four-year business program. It prepared students for careers in the financial service industry.  After my freshman year, I was one of about 25 transitioning sophomores who received an invitation to join the Academy of Finance.  My grades warranted me the opportunity.  That’s when I started studying business.  I began to learn about accounting, banking, and finance.  I read the Wall Street Journal daily.  I was introduced to the stock market and competed against other schools and teams in the Stock Market Game.  I was entrenched in business.

As a matter of fact, anyone who met me in my late teens and early twenties will tell you that my conversation was anchored in business and the pursuit of a dollar.  I was convinced that I was going to live like Reginald F. Lewis, Nathaniel Chapman, Michael Milken and guys like that.  I wore suits and carried empty briefcases. I looked the part.  I pursued my degree in Business from Coppin State University.  I studied for my Series 6 and 7 licenses.  And I discovered what true entrepreneurialism looks like. 

I had many teachers and examples in both the corporate and street spectrum of business.  I soon discovered that their philosophical approaches were aligned in many ways.  And their outcomes could possibly be the same.  Good or bad.  They were monetarily motivated and driven by financial independence. I wanted to be that!  I swore to become that!

As fate would have it, my life would take me on a different course.  Outwardly, one less driven by financial gain.  Nevertheless, the flame of entrepreneurialism and financial freedom roasted me internally.  It’s always been imperative that I made something happen for myself. Or I would be subjected to take it from someone who did.  Figuratively speaking of course. 

What I now realize is, it’s not just the money that I was after.  It’s freedom.  And all that it entails.  It’s the ability to take a thought and materialize it into a tangible thing.  It’s the fulfillment of allowing myself to be fearless.  Going against the grain, doing what many say is impossible.  Don’t you have that same desire?

In this latter part of my life, I’m focused on finding personal happiness. I aim to achieve my goals by pursuing my dreams.  I intend to chase my dreams until my dreams become my daily reality. My childhood dreams.  My entrepreneurial dreams.  The dreams that ultimately birthed my brand that I’ve been standing on forever!  Many years ago, my mother told me that I’m the only person that I need to convince to believe in my dreams.  And I believe her. 

Make It Or Take It!  MIOTI ‘83 by Cornell Dews