Welcome/Editorial: The ENTREPRENEURIAL SPIRIT
by Clair Urbain, Editor/Publisher
Interviewing Sean Williams at First Place Rental brought back some good – and challenging – memories as he recounted how he and his business partner, Brian Soares, went about their decision to purchase the business.
Although they had been planning for it, they were forced into action when the past owner, Scott Munsterman, had a massive heart attack and eventually passed away. Their plans were put into overdrive; that was at the beginning of the pandemic, which added another layer of uncertainty.
With cooperation of the deceased owner’s widow, they devised a plan to take ownership of the business, which officially happened at in January 2021.
It beckons me back three years ago, when my wife and I had just downsized with an eye on semi-retirement. We hadn’t been in our new digs a month when I was called into the conference room of the former owners who asked me to purchase the magazine.
That was not part of my long-term plan, but frankly, I was ecstatic about the prospect. I had already been an independent businessman for years before, but the many hats a small business owner must wear was getting tiring. I thought working for someone else would be a comfortable way to ease into exiting the workforce.
However, I missed the responsibility and thrill of being an independent businessperson. With this opportunity, I quickly, yet deliberately, selected a team of salespeople, support contractors and freelance designers and went to work. I had a plan, and although it looked like a pile of work, returned me back into the world of entrepreneurship. And I haven’t looked back!
That’s probably why I like visiting with rental center managers and owners. We share a kindred spirit that combines independence, ambition, guts brains, experience and perseverance that makes the risk and extra effort worth it.
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This article originally appeared in the November-December 2021 issue of Pro Contractor Rentals magazine. ©2021 Urbain Communications LLC. All rights reserved.
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