Entrepreneurs are frequently described as individuals with the ability to visualize an opportunity, analyze the risks and forge ahead in an effort to capitalize on the rewards of the endeavor.  Their attitudes only see success at the end of the journey.  The true entrepreneur accepts failure as lessons learned and transitions quickly to the next opportunity.  During the aftermath of a recent fire that impacted hundreds of small business owners, I was fortunate enough to witness firsthand the essence of entrepreneurs.

On September 10, 2008 a fire destroyed the Milton Flea Market in Cabell County, WV.   The majority of the structure was lost and over a hundred business owners devastated.  The governor responded quickly by having the event evaluated and declared a disaster.  The Small Business Administration Disaster Assistance Team set up Wednesday September 24, 2008 to offer low-interest loans to the business owners impacted.  As the Program Coordinator for Opening Soon Inc., a Benedum Foundation funded small business training program provided by West Virginia State University Extension Service and the Women’s Business Center of Southern WV, I thought I could help by giving information to the “Victims” of the fire about training programs, other loan programs, and contact information for small business service providers.  While I was helping the mislabeled “Victims” I learned a lot about the heart, soul and willpower of entrepreneurs.

In the process of providing help to the relabeled “Entrepreneurs” I’m not sure who benefited more from the exchange, the entrepreneurs receiving information or me hearing their stories and plans.  The entrepreneurs had a get up and go attitude, clearly not the victims I perceived.  All the business owners who spoke with me had plans to reopen or continue business in one way or another, with or without a loan.  Their determination, perseverance, dedication to their business and positive attitude seemed overwhelming to me considering the situation they had been through.  I saw person after person exhibiting the same behavior and beliefs that failure (or fire) won’t stop them from being successful.

West Virginia entrepreneurs have qualities that far exceed the simple analogy related to opportunity and risk.  The self-sufficiency mind set, never quit mentality, and the courage to recover from disaster are qualities that set the small business owner in rural communities apart from the rest.