Diligence could be a synonym for “successful business owner.” Why? Because every year we witness a plethora of small businesses come and go in our city. We’ve seen property for businesses sit on the “for sale” market for years without any interest being shown in them at all. I think I can honestly say that a big part of that problem lies in diligence or the lack thereof. The other reason for this folding of businesses in our area is the problem of “undercapitalization.” Many people start businesses, happy and proud to be “the boss,” only to find it is harder work than that of just an employee.
I’ve mentioned before the statement one of our parents made, “Congratulations, Johnsons. You’re an overnight success…and it only took twenty years!” Yes, owning a business takes a lot of diligence. People are often amazed to find any one of the owners, Smiths or Johnsons and now the Saintcross family at the school daytime, nighttime, weekends, and even on holidays. But, that’s often what it takes to complete one project and then to start another.
Many people comment when they meet us, “It must be nice to own the school so you can take off whenever you want and let others do the work for you.” No, we are the first to show up in the mornings to get things up and running and check for problems which might have occurred during the night. We work all day, and then we are the last to close up and make sure things are safe and ready for the next day. In our off-duty hours we shop and pick up supplies, etc. In our structure, those off hours also include manual labor in keeping the facilities and grounds and equipment clean and working,
So why would anyone in their right mind want to take on such an ominous task in the first place? Put quite simply, we had a vision and a dream and each of us had a calling to work in the garden God provided for us. With that mission in mind, it is easier to do the really hard things. It is easier to put in the extra time, money, and working hours to see that dream unfold. So, I might say that diligence plus vision equals a successful business.
However, I would not stop here. Each of us has a belief system that the educational paradigm in our country is a broken one in many places. I’ve been applying what we’ve learned from brain research in the classroom and curriculum situation since the late 1970s. I’ve been able to help change take place in my schools. I’ve seen marginal teachers become master teachers. I’ve seen students of all kinds buy into the fact that “man is wonderfully and beautifully created with a mind far greater than any technological invention ever created.” What has been especially exciting to me is to have my children and my grandchildren join us in this adventure. And guess what…they all work diligently to keep the dream a reality! My daughter, Michelle, came along with an even larger dream and vision which we now see unfolding.
No, there has been no magic bullet for any of us, no pot of gold to be discovered at the end of the rainbow. It has taken, and is taking, every one of us giving due diligence to making the ABRAIN education model successful. We do have some tips for skeptics: we put forth a lot of time in prayer, we treat others as we want to be treated, we try to be generous where it is needed, and we give God the praise for keeping His promises recorded in the Bible: Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you. If I ever find a spare moment, I’d love to write a book just listing the many miracles that have happened on this journey which has led us to this day in this place with this “successful school.” It is truly an amazing journey!
- Kay