"The Entrepreneur's Pledge"

The Kauffman Foundation for Entrepreneurship, based in Kansas City, has been helping entrepreneurs leverage their ideas for many years. Their "Entrepreneur's Pledge" certainly resonates with us. It captures the essence of the people we had in mind when we began building The Retail Owners Institute®.

The Entrepreneur's Pledge, from the Kauffman Foundation of Entrepreneurship

I AM

• an entrepreneur
• following a dream, pursuing an opportunity, taking charge of my own destiny.
• bringing something of value to society, making a job for myself and for others, and creating wealth that benefits my family, my community, my country, my world.
• one of a movement of millions of entrepreneurs and innovators who made America great, and who will keep our country going...and growing.
• what I am, because many people have helped me along on this journey.

THEREFORE, I WILL

• tell my story, sharing my successes and failures, so that others taking the entrepreneurial path can learn.
• strive to mentor an aspiring entrepreneur.
• make my voice heard by those who make policy decisions that affect me and my business.
• appreciate and celebrate my accomplishments, and the accomplishments of my fellow entrepreneurs.
• give back to the society that helped me to be successful.
• build a stronger America.