GEt to work

Actions trump words, even fancy ones, especially in business ventures

Years ago, I knew a guy pretty much like me who called himself an “entrepreneur”.

It wasn’t a hugely common word back then, so identifying someone that way sounded exotic and successful and romantic.

His friends introduced him at dinner parties as an “entrepreneur”, rattling off his various business interests, and at first blush it was an impressive list.

At the time, I worked for a big company in a time-clock kind of job, and being identified as an “entrepreneur” sounded better than my gig. I was spending a good amount of time, both during work hours and afterwards, working to release my inner businessman. In fact, another guy and I investigated buying a gas station, several newspapers, even a Dairy Queen.

But nothing ever worked out, primarily because our cash reserves barely filled the bottom of a cookie jar, and I remained an employee rather than a budding entrepreneur.

Finally, and mostly in frustration, I cornered Mr. Entrepreneur at a party and started asking him about his various businesses, looking for some wisdom I could use to build my own.

He talked and he talked and he talked, and I noticed a pattern: There was a lot of discussion about research into this company and investigation into that business, but when it came right down to it, Mr. Entrepreneur wasn’t one. He was just a guy who liked to talk big about the things he was going to do with his life when the opportunity arose. But as it turned out, when opportunity knocked, as it does eventually for everyone, he didn’t answer.

In fact, his biggest financial accomplishment seems to have been convincing his eventual wife that since sooner or later one of his ideas would surely hit it big, she should contribute to their joint success by funding their family on her own.

Being identified as an “entrepreneur” just sounded good, apparently to both of them, and presumably they were content with their parallel lives of sacrifice and dreams.

No matter that the bottom line showed a wife working a time-clock job a nd a husband talking about business success that didn’t exist. All because he was afraid to pull the trigger on any of his ideas to find out if he had it in him to make at least one idea work.

Our cover story this month on kid entrepreneurs is the antithesis of this story, in that these kids are doing something. They woke up one day with a dream, and with a fair amount of help and guidance from parents and friends, they’re giving something a try. Just from reading the story, you can sense the hap-

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214.292.2053 / etoman@advocatemag.com piness and pride they and their families have in what they’ve done, even if the results haven’t exactly been Facebook-like in terms of riches and fame. And who knows where what they’re doing today might lead them or their watchful friends someday. raCHEL ston E

Talk is cheap when it comes to being an entrepreneur. But talking and dreaming about building a business isn’t all that fulfilling; sooner or later, you have to pull the trigger or live with the consequences.

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New Businesses Spark Neighborhood Activity

We be revived already! For years now those of us in the Eastwood area adjacent to Goodfriend [Advocate Back Talk Blog, “Goodfriend and a potential Casa Linda revival”, June 7] have been enjoying the shade of some of the tallest trees in Dallas, living in architecturally cool homes, and making use of a lovely creek belt that leads directly to the lake. Eastwood has been blessed with Good2Go Tacos, Goodfriend and Peavy restaurants to the south of us. Monopoly Place, the duplex neighborhood next door, is popular enough to have a waiting list. We have excellent White Rock Lake access, the Bath House Cultural is super close, and our schools get consistent high marks. We’ve got pet people, birders and folks who own cool little boats. Hip yoga studios, arts schools, and, oh yeah, White Rock Lake. Oak Cliff, you are not nearly as hip and unique as you think you are. Here’s what we need: a name. From Lakeland to Lochwood, from Garland Road to the lake, is a cohesive cool region. Lakewood has a name. Why not us? My vote is for Eastlake. What’s yours? —AMY

MARTIN

I’m already spending more time and money in the neighborhood. Also, to think that parking at Garland & Peavy is now a concern! —JD

Matt’s a cool guy. I’m really glad he took that spot and can’t wait to give him a lot of my money. This area needs a watering hole. With real estate so cheap right around that area, I hope more old places get bought and fixed up like Good2Go did, preferably right across the street, where the old grocery store used to be.

—MICHAEL MOSTELLER

MATT’S IS MOVING OUT

A friend in Dallas just sent us this news, and it is terrible [Advocate Back Talk Blog, “It’s Official: Matt’s out, Mi Cocina in”, June 9]! When we make our all too infrequent trips home, one of our musts is to have chile rellenos and Bob Armstrong dip at Matt’s. There’s nothing like it in

Alabama or Texas. Mi Cocina may be good, but it ain’t Matt’s. —FAN IN ALABAMA

Tragic! I must get a king margarita (old style with Grand Marnier, of course) tonight and wallow in the news. —JKB

Twenty years in one location is awesome! I love Matt’s, but I’m sure there’s enough vacant space in East Dallas for both to thrive. —DAVID SIMMONS

I’m not a fan of Matt’s. I prefer Zuzu for fresh Tex-Mex. But Matt’s does have a great patio and it’s a Lakewood institution. Mi Cocina is not a Lakewood-type of restaurant. Ugh. —DREW

How about moving into the old Blockbuster spot on Lower Greenville? It was a restaurant at some point in the past. No more hard-to-find parking issues. LAKEWOODRES

WE LOVE YOUR BACK TALK. Visit lakewood.advocatemag.com to read and comment on this month’s stories and daily Back Talk blog updates. Comments may be printed in the magazine.