CHAPTER 2Common Entrepreneurial Landmines to Avoid
Your greatest expansion will come from refinement and elimination.
“I’m sorry, honey, I can’t make it.”
Tears streamed down little Kailey’s cheeks as she heard those words on the other end of the phone. “But Daddy, you missed the last one, too.”
His heart sank and his eyes became instantly wet as he slowly swallowed the guilt down the back of his throat. “I know, honey, but Daddy can’t leave work right now. I’ll be at the next one, I promise.” They both let out a sigh as if they quietly acknowledged an empty promise that wouldn’t be fulfilled.
“Okay, Daddy,” she said as her voice cracked. They ended the call and John went back to the papers on his desk. As he reflected on that call and their exchange with yet another broken promise, he thought back to why he started this business in the first place.
It was winter, three years ago. Kailey was just in preschool. John stood gazing out of his office window. The cold pane of glass separated him from the outside, but it couldn’t separate him from the disappointment he felt. “Denied” the request form was marked, this time for vacation between Christmas and New Year’s. “Someone more senior already requested these dates. Sorry, John, maybe next year,” the rep from HR said.
The pit in his stomach grew larger, and anger started to creep in. For years, John had poured his heart and soul into his job, hoping for that promotion, only to be overlooked time and again. But today, the rejection ...
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