Believe: There Is No Bigger Word

Fishbowl CEO David K. Williams is a regular Forbes contributor. And he’s really starting to turn heads. His article, “Meet The Zentrepreneur: A New And Emerging Breed Of Entrepreneur,” inspired one reader to write his own article about it, entitled “What would you ask?” The author of that article talked about a hypothetical conversation with Abraham Lincoln in which he could ask the dead statesman any question. He elects to ask how to build his character in a way that reflects Lincoln’s superior moral character. He parlays this topic of guardian angels into a discussion of angel investors and what it takes for entrepreneurs and their businesses to survive in this rough and tumble world of ours.

Believing in Something

The article makes particular mention of a certain quote about belief in David’s article. Ron Rubin, owner of The Republic of Tea, is quoted as saying, “Believe. There is no bigger word.” Believe. That’s what David did when he first came to Fishbowl in 2004. He had been tasked by its owner with figuring out the best way to close down the company after it had been struggling to keep its head above the water for three years. Instead of finding a hopeless case, he found a small group of fiercely loyal workers who were willing to put in the time and work to get the company off the ground if only they had the right plan and leadership to direct their efforts. David believed in those people. He believed in Fishbowl.

Belief Leads to Big Results

Even though he wasn’t yet an expert on inventory management software, he saw the seeds of a great company. He went back to the owner and asked him to give him a little time to turn things around. The owner agreed, and David went to work, helping the company turn a profit for the first time by the end of the year and then becoming self-sufficient after that. In the years to come, the company grew in terms of its number of employees and its annual revenue. It continues to grow amazingly well to this day. And none of it would have happened if David hadn’t believed. Belief truly is the biggest word because nothing else is possible until you believe it can happen. Once your mind is set on a course of action, then you can proceed to turn small ideas into giant corporations.

Living Legend

I prefer not to focus on the theoretical, but the practical. So to someone who wants to ask Abraham Lincoln in their mind how to be a better person, I say: Why not ask that question to a great leader who is living right now? Go to David’s Forbes articles and leave a comment. He’s really good at responding to everyone who writes to him. You don’t have to wonder how a great man would respond to your inquiries. You can get his responses today!