Entrepreneurship is something that I’ve always felt compelled to do – maybe open up a nice restaurant franchise, eh? Yet, like or unlike many others, I haven’t been able to find that “Aha!” inspirational moment that always coincides with a success story. In reading Comm101 Section 105 student Khaled Shawwash’s post on a 7-year old entrepreneur who wants to open a restaurant himself, I learnt that there are some exemplary entrepreneurs out there. This boy makes $100 per day selling baked goods, and in total agreement with Khaled’s statement, “relative to how much I made when I was 7, he’s pretty damn successful”. Whether he ultimately succeeds in opening his dream restaurant or not, I admire his ambition.

Feeling down about my entrepreneurial future, I found solace in an article about Ottawa’s Bridgehead coffee chain. It was started by an entrepreneur, Tracey Clark, who purchased Bridgehead trading Co. back in 2000 and differentiated from all the other coffee houses by being the first in Canada to serve fair-trade coffee. 

She came across the idea of serving fair-trade coffee back in its infancy while on a Nicaraguan backpacking trip in 1987. Now, Tracey was nowhere near 7 when she came across her “Aha!” moment and she has found mountains of success in branching Bridgehead to over 13 locations across Ottawa.

After Tracey’s story, I feel much less discouraged about entrepreneurship. Maybe my “Aha!” moment will come soon. After all, Comm101 has taught me that entrepreneurs come in all ages, some even start their businesses without the desire to be an entrepreneur or even feel like they are one after becoming one. So for now, I’ll just be keeping an eye out for things to make a buck on.

Image: http://beta.images.theglobeandmail.com/115/report-on-business/small-business/article15393419.ece/ALTERNATES/w620/bridgehead-filter.jpg