My little story of business resiliency - Final Part

The entrepreneur is back... 25 years later.

I'm confused.

I am familiar with the leather smell and the luxurious space I find myself in.  Yet, as I barely come out of a deep sleep, the surrounding darkness disorients me.

Where am I?

I hear knocking at my window.  As the diffused noise gets more precise, the knocking becomes almost high-pitched.

"Daddy, Daddy!"

Someone is calling me.

I turn my head to the left.  Suddenly, I see Nicolas and Laura's faces; my two children look worried.  I don't understand what they are saying.  I must be dreaming.

Then, it all clicks.

I'm in my car.  I am cold and freezing, but I am smiling.

I've dozed off, parked in my driveway. I was waiting for their school bus to arrive.

More than two decades have passed by since my adventure as a Student Painter franchise owner.

After working and studying in university, I worked in marketing at one of the largest marketing research firms in the country.  Then, I worked in management for a major Telecom company.  Bad news brings good news: the company I work for is swallowed in an M&A deal, which pushes me to discover a business opportunity in the unknown world of meal packaging.  My stay in a corporate environment is over; it is time to return to my entrepreneurial passion.  Solpak is launched.

In 10 years, with limitless resilience, I have built a dedicated and talented team, taking our business from nothing to sustained growth exceeding $4 million in annual sales.  Recognized for its excellence, this company is a testament to my journey and my first entrepreneurial experience.

Does my mother feel any pride toward my success today?  I don't know.  She has never answered my many communications over the last 20 years.

One thing is sure: even as I feel grateful that my new car has a four-ring logo on the steering wheel, my Pony, my refuge, will always hold a special place in my heart.