High risk, high reward
by Chip Conrad
Capitol City Theater
Lead Instigator for Salem Sharks
Guts. This is my one word answer to anyone who wants to know what I think is the key to running your own business.
I remember asking my father, a VP of a fortune 100 company, what trait do all of the best people he’s ever worked with possess. What do all the super stars have in common with each other? What is the key to success?
He said, “Chip, I wish I had a great answer for you. I wish I had an answer that was intricate and dynamic. Some sort of equation that left your head spinning, but I don’t. The answer is very simple. The best, most successful people I’ve ever worked with all have this one thing in common: they get up and they go to work. They get out of bed and get themselves to work day after day after day.”
Success isn’t in being right all the time. It’s not in being perfect and never making mistakes. It’s not even in being a genius. All these things help but it’s not the key. The key is fortitude. It’s having the guts to get up and go to work day after day after day despite the circumstances.
It is my pleasure to be running lead on a gutsy task we are doing with the support of organizations including the Salem Area Chamber of Commerce. Our goal? To create an environment in Salem that promotes and spotlights entrepreneurial risk taking starting with an event we’re calling “Salem Sharks” on Saturday evening, June 1.
The event will showcase up to 10 of the most intriguing entrepreneurial ideas in the region that are worthy of potential investment. Professional service providers including both a law firm and CPA firm are providing $25,000 in professional services pro bono in helping the best entrepreneurial idea get off the ground. In addition, the judges participating on stage on June 1 will also have the ability to invest in any entrepreneurial ideas that interest them as a part of the 90 minute show.
Visit SalemSharksLive.com for more information on this dynamic event coming to our region. If you know of an entrepreneur that has a great idea to pitch, make sure they apply online through the Salem Sharks website. But first, they should make sure to do a “gut check” (as noted below) before they enter the fray. We hope to see you on Saturday June 1 for some “edutainment”.
Small business owners are the backbone of our economy. We are the soldiers on the front line. We are the job creators and dream makers.
Gut Check - do you have guts?
Guts gets right back up when it fails or misses the mark.
Guts always keeps the big picture in mind.
Guts can point, shoot then aim.
Guts has no problem being out on a limb.
Guts puts the kids to bed then answers emails.
Guts goes to work with a 103 degree temperature.
Guts gets to lunch when it can.