Personal Essay Revised

“Being good in business is the most fascinating kind of art.”

-Andy Warhol

I have always had a passion for thinking of creative businesses.

For as long as I can remember my conscious thought, I have spent a sizable portion of my time thinking creatively about ideas for changing the way business is done and the products businesses produce. As I have learned more about the way business works, I have increasingly realized the economic and social benefits of these ideas.

Even at a young age my business ideas were quiet good and usually feasible. A few ideas that I have had were my own internet company, a gum company and a design for a faster computer system. These ideas represent a small sample of the many that I have had and are ones that are no longer feasible. They do highlight my ability as a creatively minded businessman. Most importantly, thinking back on these ideas gives me encouragement to continue to strive for my goal of having my own independent company that is capable of innovative change.

The first idea came after my mother signed my brother and me up for America Online. She also took me to a community college class on the internet so that I could better understand the intricate workings of the newly created and relatively unknown technology. I had been familiarized with the workings of the internet and I had a drive to utilize it to the fullest extent. I also had an increasing desire to get a high speed internet connection which drove the thought process of one of my ideas.

I worked out a scheme to get a faster internet that involved selling internet to local subscribes while purchasing high speed internet for myself. I was too young at the time to actually implement my plan despite its high probability of success. Approximately a decade after my idea there were nearly 5000 companies in the United States that had done nearly my exact plan for providing internet service to consumers.

Another idea that I had had in conjunction with the internet idea was one for providing people with a game database that would have hundreds of game titles available. Eventually there were companies that also filled this niche in the market, dashing my plans of creation. My idea for such a company came thirteen years before anyone actually implemented such a company.

Another idea that I was excited about was a gum company. The unique aspect of my gum would be additives such as caffeine. This idea was, unfortunately, patented by Wrigley’s gum company in 2001. Wrigley’s Gum Company had patented this type of gum before I had the innovative idea but it was still promising to me that I thought of it independently.

When IBM unveiled a microprocessor which used light rather than electric binary code, thereby, using another one my ideas that I had saved for the future I was disappointed but encouraged. To create a business that produced such a technologically advanced system would have been infinitely more difficult than creating gum with a little caffeine mixed in or an internet company. Nevertheless, it is representative of my creative ideas aimed at innovation that I had independently from outside influence.

I am continually having ideas like this as it is what I enjoy to think about. I like thinking about how I could improve something so that I would be happier after modifications to the system, organization, or design. During college I have learned that these innovative businesses also greatly benefit consumers and the best means for providing consumers with the innovations.

With many hundreds of ideas saved up, I hope to one day be able to create my own company. One in which I can innovate products but this is an extremely risky endeavor. Many businesses fail soon after being started, such a risk is one that my parents encouraged me not to take. It is, however, my passion.

When I entered business as my chosen major, which is in a way saying that I will be in business in 15 years, I was very hesitant. I knew that there was a significant possibility of ending up at a cubical job with an ass hole idiotic boss and very little financial breathing room. What kind of life would that be? Maybe my dad was right, maybe becoming a doctor is the way to go. It is not so bad being worked to death in the educational system until you are 32 to get a doctorate in nuclear medicine. It would not be so bad being on call for 36 hour shifts occasionally. At least I would be able to be independent and not really have a boss.

I just have to trust that my intellect, creativity and knowledge are enough to set me apart in the business world.