entrepreneur

The other day I was driving home from the office when I saw a kid riding his bicycle. He looked like he was about 12 years old and behind his bike he was pulling a cart. On that cart I saw a leaf blower, Weed Wacker, hedge trimmer, and loppers.

While I had no way to be sure, I imagined he was on his way to one of his customers to do some yard work. Instead of going home after school and staring at his cell phone, this guy was willing to put in the effort to make a few extra dollars.

When I was his age, I had a neighborhood friend who did the same thing. He started off borrowing his dad’s lawn mower and cutting a few lawns in his neighborhood. When he saved enough money, he bought his own lawn mower and expanded his business. He did all this while I was watching TV. (I did not have his entrepreneurial spirit)

This neighborhood friend is still cutting grass, though he has graduated from a push mower to a riding mower. I see him in the summertime caring for the lawns of a rather large clientele. I can only imagine the amount of money he has deposited in the bank thanks to his hustle and hard work.

I’m reminded of a passage from the 6th chapter of Proverbs:

Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise!

It has no commander, no overseer or ruler,

Yet it stores its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest.

How long will you lie there, you sluggard? When will you get up from your sleep?

A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest,

And poverty will come on you like a thief and scarcity like and armed man.

I looked at the kid on the bike and thought, “This guy is an ant. He’s most definitely not a sluggard. This kid is going to go far.