ep004 - Dick Kelsey Serial Entrepreneur Extraordinaire

Dick Kelsey started as an entrepreneur at eight years old. A South Jersey boy at birth, a Beaver Lake, Arkansas property owner and rental manager now, with terms in the Kansas House of Representatives and as a Senator in between. Dick is one super inspirational guy—plus he’s got a great sense of humor.

You get a feel for Dick’s outlook when you hear him say, “I’m now in what many would call the sunset years, but I call them the sunrise years. Because today is the best day of my life, and it’s going to be. I look forward and not back.”

He grew up in a very poor family, Dick’s father died when he was four, and he was the youngest of eight children. But instead of allowing that life-altering tragedy to stunt his growth, he used it as a catalyst to drive him toward his purpose.

No one ever told Dick he was poor. In fact, family members motivated him beyond his circumstances with this encouragement, “If you want something, you just have to work for it.”

So at eight years old, he began collecting old newspapers and pop bottles, took them to the recycling place, and got money for what he turned in. He also made his own snow cone wagon. Paying forty or fifty cents for a big block, he shaved the ice and added flavoring, then hawked the sweet treats around his small community. Pretty innovative thinking for a little guy.

At eight, nine, and ten years old, Dick was bringing in extremely good money for his age. He could buy essentials and splurges for himself that kids whose parents had money provided for them. His hard work was definitely paying off . . . but he also attributes his early and life-long success to a spiritual secret.

When he was young, he believed he was supposed to go into full-time ministry. But he had a gift at growing money, often making more in a summer than many made in a whole year. He’s sold Fuller Brushes, funnel cakes, pictures, Bibles, and even bought school desks at auctions, painted and fixed them up, and resold them for a healthy profit.

Dick has never drawn unemployment, because he always looked for opportunities to earn his way through life. And Dick adds that there’s another perk to his philosophy and work ethics. “You never get fired when you create your own jobs.”

No job was too big or too small for Dick to do. He never felt above or below an honest day’s wage, no matter what kind of work was required to receive the pay. “If you see a need, fill it,” he encourages.

Filling Needs:

What do you hear people, or yourself, complaining about? Is there something you can do to help solve the problem? Don’t assume you need to focus on complicated issues. What are the simplest fixes that could provide the most powerful impacts? How could you add joy or betterment to someone else’s life?

Don’t let an “I can’t” mentality stop you from tending your dreams.

This episode’s Dream Planting Tips:

Expose yourself to as many motivational messages as you can get access to. Exercise faith before you can see results. Take your belief and put action behind it. Ask the “who, what, where, when, and how” questions to help you succeed faster and at a greater capacity. If we let negativity control us, we won’t amount to much, nor will our dreams. Resolve not to allow negativity to control you—it may gain a foothold temporarily (it’s part of the human condition), but it doesn’t mean you have to wallow in it. Follow the Matthew 6:33 success formula. If you put God first, He will open up opportunities and bless you, sometimes in shocking ways. Don’t pursue your dreams purely from self-focus. Approach your dreams from an others-based motive. Give even when you don’t feel like you have it to give, and it will return to you. Sacrificial giving triggers blessings. Learn to work without thought of return, and you will get a one thousand-fold return. Take risks and be willing to lose a little along the way to great gains. Share your rewards. Like Sam Walton of Walmart, J.B. Hunt of J.B. Hunt Trucking, and Don Tyson of Tyson Foods, who were great friends, start a culture of giving back to your community. Seek wise advice—and heed it. Ask yourself often, “What’s the best case scenario and the worst case scenario?” Consider what success and failure might look like, and ask yourself if you can afford the risk—or afford not to take it. Be willing to suffer and/or go through trials, because some of your best growth comes from those seasons. Our suffering can be the source of our greatest purpose. If you get depressed, find someone else to bless! Grab the Tending Your Dreams’ free giveaways and discounts from every episode. Go to tendyourdreams.com/freebie4 for your gift, just for tuning in. This month’s product discount is 20% off on all autographed books. Enter the coupon code TYD20 to snatch your deal.

Find information for Dick Kelsey and his current entrepreneurial endeavors at kelseysbeaverlakehomes.com, and discover additional dream tending tips at tendyourdreams.com.