NFIB

The Accidental Role Model
09/ 27/ 2005
by Harvey King

Recently, I was talking with a successful young entrepreneur in town whose business is similar to mine. “What gave you the confidence to dive into this?” I asked. “Well, I figured if you could do it, then I could too,” he replied.

His face turned red, embarrassed by how he had worded his intended compliment. “I know what you mean,” I assured him, recalling the person who unknowingly played a similar role in my start-up decision. “Next time, however, let’s promise ourselves if people inspire us toward life-changing decisions, we’ll at least give them a call to verify our perceptions of their realities.”

This isn’t the first time I’ve been told after the fact (though typically in a less backhanded way) how I’ve helped someone make a business decision—unbeknownst to me. Looking for a reason to justify their leap into the deep end of the small-business pool, others interpreted my treading water as graceful swimming and used my head-above-water as evidence that drowning can be avoided.

Yet still, I’m always amazed when someone who’s making a go of his venture tells me I served as a role model. I’m more inclined to think of the ups and downs of my small-business journey as a cautionary tale, revealing potholes to avoid rather than a story of inspiration and encouragement.

When told how someone’s misconception of my reality provided part of the confidence they needed to leap off a cliff with a homemade hang glider, I first break out in a cold sweat, and then think of the portion of “It’s a Wonderful Life,” in which George Bailey gets to see the outcome of events in his life he previously has perceived as insignificant. “You mean I had something to do with that?” I marvel.

I’ve come to realize that there’s an involuntary role that comes with the territory of small-business ownership. Serving as an unknowing example for those considering starting their own business--as evidence for either a positive or negative decision--comes with the job, like it or not.

After a couple of decades of doing this, I now am ready when someone asks me whether they should pursue their small-business venture. I give them some honest feedback on their specific idea, and then I say, “But the good news is: If I can do it, then you can too.”

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