August 10, 2018
I am a recovering entrepreneur. I couldn’t work for the man, I had to be the man. Every one of my attempts failed. Early in my career, I read an article in an in-flight magazine. I learned that 25% of the population are “risk-takers”. All of the entrepreneurs come out of this group as do all of the criminals. I am not sure where I inherited the trait since neither of my parents were entrepreneurs, but my mother’s brother Eldon was. I was a juvenile delinquent. My first attempt was Draftech, Inc. a contract drafting service run out of my basement in our home in Coon Rapids. It was not long before I went to work selling office furniture for General Office Products. My second attempt was an energy management company “Office Environmental Systems”. My office was in the Allstate building behind the car wash on Division Street in St. Cloud. I was probably the only one in the State of Minnesota out there on straight commission trying to sell computerized energy management systems to owners of large office buildings. I sold three systems in three years and then I went back to selling office furniture.
I have a collection of business cards that fills a ring binder. I started working here in Wimmer Hall in 1999. I just received delivery of another box of calling cards for Minnesota Public Radio. I go through a box of cards every couple of years. I hope to go through a few more before I call it quits.
This week Live From Here is a look back to the beginning of April and a broadcast from the State Theatre in Minneapolis with Shakey Graves, Dessa, and comedian Rachel Feinstein. Plus: Chris Thile and the band play “And Now a Word from Our Sponsor”. The gang will close things out with “1952 Vincent Black Lightning,”. The radio acting company explores a batch of new colloquial sayings and dives into the world of Forensic Foley investigation, and Tom Papa chats with an amiable taxi driver in Phoenix. Tune in on your radio or your smart device.
“Let us be grateful to people who make us happy. They are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom.” Marcel Proust
Category : General 