Growing a Business, Democracy

Growing a business requires:
money, partners - even if they're ardent supporters - a plan, a product or service and an attitude to prevail.

During the past 4 years, I've endured many challenges after stepping out of the corporate world - well, the non-profit world to be exact.

Since July 4th is coming up when Americans celebrate independence, I'd like to quote from a book that has become a favorite of mine, John Adams, a biography by David McCullough. Adams and his wife Abigail had to spend nearly two years apart during his trips to France as he sought to gain support during the Revolutionary War.

Her situation was described as "times of horrible duress with war at her doorstep and epidemic disease raging" (p216). She wrote, "This is a painful situation and my patience is nearly exhausted."

She later wrote to Adams that future generations would probably not understand the sacrifices they made.

The story of John and Abigail Adams has inspired me as I have not only set out in new career directions - and have faced tough times - but also as my wife and I have continued to guide our children - now in their mid-teens to early 20s: 4 adopted out of foster care at different ages and 2 guardians who came to us in their teens with no where else to go.

Each of us, in our cycle of life, may face our personal "revolutions" and that is why the story of American indpendence has always tugged at my imagination.

I am thankful for the sacrifices of many from earlier generations and centuries.