“Don’t complain unless you can also present a solution!” Those were the words of one of my commanders during my stint in the U.S. Air Force. Those words have stuck with me for many years and are partially what drives me to make a difference in the world of small business. Want to know what I mean by “making a difference,” keep reading!

If you’re an entrepreneur/small business owner, I’m sure you’re familiar with the struggles presented by not having enough time, revenue, capital and/or basic support for growing your business. These factors can be so draining that it can render one powerless if an answer to those challenges aren’t soon found. I’m deeply familiar with that challenge and believe there’s a better way. Before I delve into my story, I think it’s important to share why this mission is both important and dear to my heart.

Over the course of my journey, I’ve noticed a transition that has progressively become more extreme over the past decade. I’ve seen more and more “Too-Big-to-Fail” companies! Some businesses have become so powerful that they make it extremely challenging to compete. Some ask that the government step in to regulate, but I don’t believe that should be the case in a capitalist society. I think if we want consumers to patronize small businesses, we have to create circumstances that inspire them to do so. 

I’ve watched the growth of Walmart and how they over the course of decades strategically wiped on the local clothing stores, grocers, pharmacy, gardening, gift shops and more. It’s not just Walmart anymore, many big names are dominating and taking over several industries. I often see entire strips where there are no options other than chain restaurants and clothing stores. Again, I’m not hating on their success. I just see the bigger picture and hopefully you will too if you don’t already.

Here’s the bigger picture! Money carries a certain power, largely the power to influence. If that power is concentrated within the hands of a few, corruption tends to ensue. As the saying goes, “Absolute power corrupts absolutely!” On the flip side, money in the hands of many distributes power to many. This is but one of the reasons I’d rather see money go to small businesses than big corporations. This returns the power to the people instead of power to the corporations, which is often used to influence government. Today, we’ve become more Government of the Corporation, for the Corporation, rather than Government of the People, for the People. Our money speaks volumes. Sure, we can often save money by going to big businesses, but at what long term cost. 

Yet another factor, when we patronize small businesses, more of the money stays local, which makes our communities stronger. When we support big conglomerates, who knows where the dollars we spend end up. Who knows what we’re permitting to become stronger. Sometimes it’s clear, but oftentimes it’s a mystery. The way we spend our dollars matters and my mission is to create a path to influence fellow citizens to choose small businesses first, whilst it’s still an option.

My entrepreneurial journey began in 2005. This was the year I broke the cardinal rule that says there are three things one shouldn’t do in the same year, get married, move to a different state and start a new career. I did all three! I’d learn later why those are three things one shouldn’t do in one year, yet alone within one month, but that’s a different story for a different day.  

Over the next five years, my wife and I would find ourselves in real estate as realtors, lenders and investors, Interior design, HVAC and fashion boutique ownership. We found the journey both liberating and painful. Because we were chamber members, we met many other business owners. We learned that they had many of the same struggles as us. We all wore many hats and the struggle for time, money and new customers was a common issue.

By the recession of 2009, we had shut down our boutique as well as every other business venture upon which we’d embarked. We’d officially lost everything with the exception of the will to win. It was tough staring failure in the face, but life goes on and we chose to also. Afterwards, I began to explore all that went wrong and what could have been done differently. I wondered if there was a way to not only resolve our problem, but the problem other entrepreneurs faced on a daily basis. Since then, I’ve explored many possible solutions. 

The formula has been flawed and/or failed for various different reasons. Back to the drawing board I went. I basically ended up taking what worked from each attempt and putting it all together in one elaborate plan. I wanted to make it easier for small businesses to succeed. The 9 out of 10 businesses failing within the first two years simply wasn’t acceptable. I knew that I’d have to be relentless in my pursuit. Mainly, because I had nothing to work with, just a desire to make a difference. 

Without taking you down the road of the following 13 years, I’ll sum up by saying there have been 5 different iterations of the plan. The 4th iteration, I thought had great potential until 2020 came alone and poked holes through it, revealing the weaknesses in the plan. Not going to pretend; that shit was heartbreaking! It nearly ended my pursuit. I was disillusioned and it took nearly a year for me to get back in the saddle. 

After a long break, I went back to the drawing board, taking with me the knowledge of my past oversight. I came up with a new plan and strategy. This would require more development to help shore up the mission. Sacrifices of time and money were required. I had to learn skills that I never had interest in learning and much more. There’s a biblical saying that reads, “To whom much is given, much is required.” I’d venture to say, “To whom little is given, even more is required!” If you want to see your dream come into fruition, you simply must find a way. When there seems to be no way, you’ll have to create one! 

During the month of April 2022, I was faced with a major decision. The VENTRE app and other resources we were developing had taken far longer than expected to reach completion. My income from Turo car rentals had gone to zero and the movement of the stock market was no longer favorable to my options trading style. I had to generate income from somewhere else, so I decided to fall back on accounting, which had always worked for me in the past. 

It was a hard decision for me, because years ago, I decided not to spend too much time doing things that weren’t in alignment with my chosen purpose. I convinced myself that it was the right thing to do, since having money would allow me to pursue that purpose. Therefore, I started searching for available work, which had the added bonus of filling out many convoluted job applications. I did my best to convince interviewers that I was the best option for them. This was difficult, as I knew I’d only be there for as long as it would take me to get my ducks in a row.

In a couple weeks time, I secured a job doing accounting again. I told myself all the things I needed to hear to be okay with the decision. “Remember to be present. It’s temporary, so on and so forth.” This carried me through the first six weeks. After that, I found each day returning to the job more difficult.  My mission and purpose started to call out to me louder and louder. By week eight, it became so loud I could hardly focus.

By week nine, the app was completed, but I didn’t have the capital put away that would have made me comfortable. Yet, my quest to build this thing I believed would create a better world for small business owners was burning within me. For this reason, I developed a daily mantra, “Just be present! It’s a good company. Just give it a year.”

The mantra would carry me through days, then eventually only hours. The desire to get back to my mission inevitably outweighed the desire for the illusion of security. Nothing shined the light on my illusion more so than one day while leaving work, I saw a guy being escorted out of the office with his box of belongings in hand. I could spend my time building someone else’s dream or get after my own.

The next day, I was listening to motivational videos to help me stay the course. Interestingly enough, one particular video kept saying things like, “You’re not promised tomorrow. All you have is now. Get up and get after your dream. Go now!” I eventually became so disturbed that my focus was nonexistent. I felt the fire burning within, and the more I tried to doust it, the more raging it became. I eventually had to take a couple days off to try to center myself. 

The writing was on the wall, but I wasn’t comfortable with my decision, so I asked for a sign, something I can’t truly say I believe is a thing. I received no sign, but rather the question, “What do you want for your life?” I clearly knew the answer to that question, yet I continued to struggle with the decision. I talked with my wife, who listened and said she would support my decision. Even then, I was still going back and forth, prolonging my misery. 

I knew well the degradation and humiliation that comes with failing at a task. I didn’t want to let my family down. I didn’t want to let myself down. All of the failed iterations seemed to haunt me day and night. My sleep consisted of roughly 3-5 broken up hours between 9:00 pm and 4:30am. From my psychology studies, I knew this was extremely unhealthy. I needed to make a decision and get off the fence. 

Finally, and with much effort, the lion in me was reawakened. I decided to get back to my work. I knew well the challenges that awaited. After all, this wasn’t my first rodeo, but I was ready for the task. I gave my two weeks notice and began putting the remaining pieces in place to make the transition. It wasn’t smooth sailing. I still had to battle my doubts, but I’d made my decision, and wasn’t going to turn back. My new mantra became, “Just do the work!” 

I’d love to tell you that the Red Sea parted and that I waltzed right into success. I’ve had to fight for every inch, but have made great strides. It took me nearly a year to build a team and just as long to raise any capital. Today, I still work a part-time job. Whilst capital remains a necessity, we’re working with a plan that doesn’t require very much of it. It’s a slower process, but every step in the right direction is a step in the right direction. When capital comes along, our team will implement the plan that works with capital. To accomplish what I envision, I have to be resourceful. Basically, I have to MacGyver it! That’s the term I use to describe making something from almost nothing. If you were born in the 70’s or 80’s, you’ll likely get the reference. If not, no worries!

When we’ve achieved ultimate success, small businesses will have an easier and more cost effective way to obtain new and repeat customers. They’ll have access to capital that doesn’t bury their business in debt servicing. I’m a realist and know that we won’t likely make it to where every small business will succeed. However, if we can reduce 9 out of 10 to 7 out of 10, I’ll consider that a great progress! 

We believe that small businesses supporting each other along with the technology we’ve created can make it easier for us all to achieve success. Our power is in working together. VENTRE’s resources simply make it easier to do so. We’re determined to help small businesses succeed and we’d love for you to join us on this quest.

If you’re a small business owner or know a small business owner, tell them about what we’re doing at VENTRE. If you’re not a business owner, patronize small businesses whenever possible. Our dollar, even if small, matters an awful lot! Also, download and register on the VENTRE app. We offer rewards for doing business with our members.