A Random Run-In with the Founder of Silly String
... and Some Business Lessons!
On our last morning at a business conference in Boca we woke up early with our newborn Evelyn and went to grab Starbucks.
It was beautiful weather so we sat outside next to the boats and marina.
As she does, Brittany Brooks strikes up a conversation with an elderly couple next to us after they notice us hustling around with our newborn.
The couple was well dressed and looked naturally happy.
The old man said he and his wife come to Starbucks once a week to have a coffee and a treat.
He explained, quite seriously, that he wouldn't enjoy the treat as much if he had it every day versus every week.
This was his weekly treat, something to look forward to.
Having something to look forward to, no matter how small, is very important, he nodded and smiled.
As we continued talking, we asked the couple what they were doing at the resort.
The old man politely turns around and points at a large yacht and says: this is where we come to gas up our boat.
See, he now travels the world with his wife on a yacht.
He had become an expert in a very niche field and had business success that allowed him and his wife to go on adventures.
He said they spent the majority of their youth working hard, sacrificing, and building their business -- like they noticed me and Brittany were doing -- bringing our 3 month old baby around to business conferences to learn -- so they can have the amazing life they live today.
What's the business, I asked.
His wife chuckled and said -- do you know of silly string? I said, yeah, of course.
Well my husband is an inventor. He helped invent and patent an aerosol spray technology and we own multiple manufacturing plants abroad.
We were blown away.
We asked them for advice.
What do you recommend to us as business advice as budding entrepreneurs?
The old man said a few things, very seriously.
He said it's simple:
Find a niche,
Innovate,
Stick with it through the ups and downs, and
Have fun with good people.
