I resolve to rekindle a spirit of entrepreneurship

Our nation is struggling. Facts are taking second seat to attitudes and falsehoods. Good jobs of days past are gone. It is similar to 1776 when Thomas Paine said, 'These are the times that try men's souls …” People back then were only partly committed to the Revolutionary War. Without total commitment the revolution would be over. Paine's words rang out and changed people. They became dedicated. We need to become dedicated.

The past 70 years have been an aberration. The switch from horses and oil lamps to cars and electricity produced a huge manufacturing binge. A lot of decent paying jobs were created to fill the void for a new way of life. Now the void is filled, it is over. We are in maintenance mode.

Since the 1950s, people have become halfhearted about careers. We offered ourselves to businesses who trained us for what they wanted - not what we wanted. We lost personal ambitions. We were taught that if we worked hard we would succeed. All we needed was a basic education. Those days are over. The future is in creativity and in the service sector.

The mind-set of the entrepreneur teaches dedication and yields a purposeful life. Here is how it worked for me.

1) Assume responsibility. The owner is totally responsible for making a business work. Likewise, you are responsible for your career.

2) Buckle down and pay attention. Get clear about what you have to offer and what society needs. Stick-to-itiveness demands that we find the way. You cannot give up.

3) Define a simple goal. The goal I had for my remodeling business was to do my best to serve people. That simple goal drove me to constantly learning. Consider the focus statement for The Mayo Clinic, created over 100 years ago and still followed today, 'The best interest of the patient is the only interest to be considered.” Feel the power and clarity of those words.

4) Demand good values of yourself. During the early 1980s the economy was bad and I was constantly scraping for money. A job came my way that seemed to demand significant work, at significant expense, but turned out to need only a minor repair. Without hesitation I did the right thing, I set aside my financial needs and recommended the simple inexpensive repair. Honesty is paramount to good values.

Your work will make you a better person. I invite you to join me and make a New Year's resolution to think like an entrepreneur. Become all you can be.

Les Deal

Cedar Rapids