After college, I came back to my hometown and went into the family business which had a very modest beginning. My hometown is small but is centrally located and within commuting distance of a large metropolitan city. 

Conventional thought sees the small pond (small town) as simple people, small thinking, and even smaller opportunities. The reality is somewhat like the David and Goliath story. While David appeared under-resourced, we all know how that turned out.

It’s like a pond with some pretty good fish in it, but everyone thinks the big lake down the road looks better. In reality it’s lots of fishermen, lots of pressure, and tough to keep a meal on the table in the long run. 

Compare and contrast that to the small pond where integrity, competence, and word-of-mouth referral can help you thrive. I got plenty of whatever I wanted from the city, but got to fish my own way in my small pond. My town has a generous supply of “millionaires next door” but conventional wisdom hasn’t spoiled them. The American dream is still alive. 

As of this current entry, starting at zero, I now find that my net worth has the possibility of eventually being in the top 1% of the country, and growing in small town, rural, middle America – despite semi-retiring at age 52. In a small town, everyone is famous – when you provide value to others in your business, they will beat a path to your door. 

“Life is really simple, but we insist on making it complicated.” – Confucius