Every Month we will feature a story on a different featured Exceptional Entrepreneur!
It has been a while since I featured an Exceptional Entrepreneur so I figured why not tell you a little bit about ME! Therefore, my next EE is myself, Lee Hartlieb, President of EEOA. I recently answered some questions for an interview which will air sometime in March for Lockport Community TV. Be sure to watch LCTV in March, 2012.
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| Lee Hartlieb - EEOA President |
Q: Please tell us a little bit about your background?
A: I had a TBI (Traumatic Brain Injury) when I was 10 years old – over 30 years ago. Since then, I graduated from Gowanda Central School as well as Edinboro University of Pennsylvania. Now, I am living on my own in an Individualized Residential Apartment (IRA) within a house, with five more IRAs, connected by a central hallway. I started playing with computers a couple of years before my injury – after my injury, my father had the brilliant realization, seeing how hard it was for me to communicate, that I might be able to use computers to communicate. After that, he sat up, all hours of the night, programming a communications program that could help me communicate. I am pretty computer savvy to this day.
Q: How did your business get started?
A: I had been flirting with the idea of becoming self-employed for a long time. Then, I was approached with an idea – why couldn’t I, with my computer skills, help others with developmental disabilities, or other physical challenges (i.e. exceptional entrepreneurs), create their own businesses by mentoring them and network their businesses to one site on the Internet. From there, with some assistance, it took off.
Q: What made you want to start your own business?
A: I had ambitions of finding work after college, which fell flat on their face. After some frustrating years of being unemployed, I began having thoughts of making my own on-line business. When Jim approached me, I jumped at the opportunity.
Q: Can you describe what you do?
A: I mentor other prospective exceptional entrepreneurs. I am mentoring the Rochester group called “The Power That Be” right now, helping others who have disabilities and want to become entrepreneurs fulfill their dreams. My website networks these people with each other and businesses that service people with physical challenges, as well as the public. I also try to feature EEOA members every month to highlight their businesses.
Q: How would a business benefit if they were to get linked up with you?
A: Businesses linked up to eeofa.com will benefit from being member businesses by getting a discount on what other EEOA members offer. In addition, they shall receive a quarterly newsletter on the goings on at EEOA.
Q: What are the positives of being your own boss?
A: The positives of being your own boss are: you don’t have anybody who will fire you, except yourself; you can set your own schedule; there is no pressure from above because you are at the top.
Q: Can you give some examples of entrepreneurs that have used your organization to further their business?
A: Double Diva Designs, CAJC Jewelry Creations, Kissing Clean cleaning agency, and Retro-Man Vintage Electronics Dealer.
Q: Why are connections important to entrepreneurs, especially to persons with Disabilities?
A: Connections are important to entrepreneurs, especially exceptional entrepreneurs, because their businesses are their livelihood as well as their source of funds, as compared to just being a job.
Q: What are some of the struggles that an entrepreneur might face?
A: Convincing the public of the necessity of your product/service. Marketing your business and getting your name out into public circulation. This is something my business is doing for these other exceptional entrepreneurs. By getting their names and products into public circulation, EEOA is leveling the playing field for them.
Q: How can we as a community help people with disabilities start their own business?
A: Big franchises indubitably don’t care about the community or those with bigger challenges. As consumers, when we choose to support small/local businesses, we shall be directly supporting exceptional entrepreneurs too.
Q: How has assistive technology made your job easier?
A: The biggest assistive technology has been the Internet. It helps me reach out to people and places I otherwise wouldn’t, or even imagine I could. The Ma-Bell commercial still applies, “Reach out, reach out and touch someone!”
Q: Has your disability benefited or hindered your Job and in what ways?
A: I like to focus on the benefits. I appreciate both sides of the coin, having experienced both – being fully physically functional and then living with my physical challenges.
Q: What advice would you give a person with a disability when it comes to self-employment?
A: Whether you are disabled or not, one must have a vision, a passion, something you want to pursue. Then one must seek the help to make this “vision” a reality. A lot of patience, hard work, tenacity and advertising, networking and a good sense of humor never hurt as well.
Q: How has your business changed your life?
A: It has made me busier, given me focus, challenges me (other than my disability), it drives me to be and do better. Frankly, it has empowered me, which is why I encourage others to follow my example as well as join EEOA.
Q: What words of wisdom would you have for people afraid to back a business run by a person with a disability?
A: Disabled people are hard workers because hard working has become a life style for them, that is overcoming challenges on a daily basis.
Q: How can we get in touch with you?
A: I can be reached at exceptionalentrepreneurs@gmail.com. My website’s URL is http://www.eeofa.com.