February is the right time to tell you my story, a love story about food. It taught me about “The Romance vs The Reality of Entrepreneurship”. Why now? You Jia Lee hashtag#CuriousToCreation, “Jean, February is perfect!” She’s right.
Has there been a a time in your life when a loss left an indelible impression, scars even, on your soul? You know what I’m talking about. Love lost. Yes, THE one. That one!
In the past, I’ve alluded to family, friends, students, and strangers about my loss. I’m quick to crack a few jokes about it, thinking this will help heal my scars faster. But I’m at a loss for the right words and the right reason for the right audience….. so the scars remain.
It’s 2026 and it’ll be almost 20 years to the day. Now is the “right” time. You are my “right” audience. Yes, you, emerging and new entrepreneurs, eyes and hearts wide open, ready and poised to hit “launch”. And yes, you, too, the curious, wondering what is she talking about. Can it be THAT bad? And I shall have the “right” words.
But I’ll admit this won’t be easy. I can’t boast I’m now a billionaire but an every day entrepreneur. I might wince and waver and there’s a chance I’ll get emotional. I might be judged so please be kind, be compassionate.
I’m willing to take the risk because maybe you’ll:
– sit a little taller,
– listen a little longer,
– connect a little easier.
– take away a few lessons from how a little love grew to a lot of love and why they will last a lifetime. hashtag#imstillstanding
“Love is an action” ~ bell hooks so register below:
http://bit.ly/4t0wpIk
Who: Open to everyone, including UofT community and beyond! In-person!
When: Friday Feb 5th from 5pm to 7pm EST
Where: Schwartz Reisman Innovation Campus., 105 College, Toronto, near Queens Park station
University of Toronto
University of Toronto Faculty of Arts & Science
Centre for Entrepreneurship at U of T
VMS Centre for Entrepreneurship
University of Toronto Entrepreneurship
Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto
UofT Department of Laboratory Medicine & Pathobiology
Translational Research Program (TRP)
University of Toronto School of Continuing Studies
Department of Economics, University of Toronto
School of Engineering, College of Engineering & Physical Sciences, University of Guelph
Toronto Public Library
Futurpreneur
Venture for Canada
hashtag#lifelonglearning hashtag#smallbusiness hashtag#entrepreneurship hashtag#entrepreneurs hashtag#innovation hashtag#ideation hashtag#imagination
Category: Romance vs Reality of Entrepreneurship
Only the Hungry
Once you’ve tasted hunger, you have been given a “gift”.
“How Hungry Are You? “~ Toronto Raptor Serge Ibaka’s Cooking Show on YouTube
Ask Rondae Hollis-Jefferson who, while being a member of the Toronto Raptors’ bench, played his heart out last week during their recent road trip out West. With four out of the eight-man rotation on the injury list, Coach Nick Nurse tapped “RHJ” and he made damn sure he optimized his opportunity to show his true mettle as a primary defender. He knew that this opportunity may never pass his way again and he was hungry, very hungry, and impressed the heck out of #wethenorth.
Hunger Hurts, Helps, and Heals
Last week I received a note from a young entrepreneur and mentee in Paris. We first met in 2016 at a Toronto networking event hosted by a not-for-profit helping young entrepreneurs on exchange from France. At that time, he was about to launch an app for children’s entertainment, think “Dora the Explorer”. His eyes shone with steely determination and his words showed a humility rarely found in others. Since my niece and I would be in Paris the following Spring, we made plans to meet. But we didn’t connect. Surprisingly he cancelled very last minute which made me concerned enough to alert the not-for-profit’s liaison who thankfully followed up with him. I learned later of his modest background and his continuing struggle to meet his basic needs.
He reconnected about six months later and against many odds he managed to rise above it all and found contract work as a production assistant with a Paris-based luxury brand, a testament to his talent, courage, and resilience. Today he is working on his portfolio to work in TV animation. He channels his hunger to fuel a motivation in the same way our Toronto Raptor, Rondae Hollis-Jefferson.
Stay Hungry?
Then there are those who are in creative and precarious occupations usually with a strong entrepreneurial mindset. It’s not always Eggs Benedict on the menu. Peanut butter combo sandwiches – with strawberry jam, bananas, and/or Nutella – were a favourite of a now well-respected entrepreneur in the health and beauty sector. The irony is not lost. Popcorn, three-minute noodles, and “orange cheese” were also memorable among other entrepreneurs I’ve interviewed. Whether you’re in the NBA, in Paris, or in the kitchen making PB sandwiches, staying hungry is not an option.
So when the inimitable Steve Jobs once told us to “Stay hungry!”, he meant to never be satisfied and always push yourself. But I wonder if he knew the other side of hunger. Just some food for thought. #MotivationMonday
The Power of Belief
I forgot my parachute when I finally made the leap into entrepreneurship All I heard were Dr. Martin Luther King’s famous words “I believe … I believe… Now is the time …”
Entrepreneurs believe. We believe as we power through the doubt and the many naysayers so we can follow our passion in our hearts and heads. “I believe … this is the best idea. ever. I believe I can build a company. I can sell. I can create jobs. I can because I believe and I will.” Sound familiar?
I believed as I dove head first into the food industry where I had no business being in. Armed with little knowledge and no experience, somehow not knowing what I didn’t know became the catalyst for courage in my beliefs. I knew no fear.
Year 1 quickly became 2, then 3. We grew and grew until we were looking at Year 12 and when the unthinkable happened. Our bread-and-butter client of ten years wiped us out with no notice. We were one of many small business vendors de-listed by the big grocery giant when they decided to streamline their distribution and forgot to tell us they didn’t need us any longer.
The cash suddenly stopped flowing.
Without a parachute, we landed hard. SO hard. I wrestled with the “why’s, how’s, and what next’s”. Exhausted, I turned to a good friend who said, “ There is a way out albeit a painful way out. Everybody deserves a second chance.” He was right. Now ten long years later, I have the clarity and trust to believe once again.