"Those small practices that Edson participated in helped him realize that his dream of becoming a veterinarian and a businessman were achievable." - Staff Writer / Dylan Francis
What’s better than talking business over a Cup of Jo? Students of all different majors gathered in the Business Hall at Rowan to gain knowledge about what it is like to own and maintain a business and all the ups and downs that come with it.
This event was hosted by guest speaker, Dr. Matthew Edson, who was in the business field for a long time.
Edson has been a businessman ever since he was a child. At eight years old, Edson’s first “business” was buying toilet paper from Costco and selling it to his parents for an increased price. He was also a part of his family farm. His first true business venture was at the age of 12 when he was doing computer consulting. From those beginnings, Edson was interested in building some sort of business enterprise.
“I think even as a very young child, I had a lot of interesting pets I grew up with. I grew up on a farm and all these interesting animals and I just really connected with them and wanted to take care for those species,” said Edson, founding dean for the Schreiber School of Veterinary Medicine.
Those small practices that Edson participated in helped him realize that his dream of becoming a veterinarian and a businessman was achievable.
His journey and discussion go to show the people in attendance that no matter what business you want to create and operate, there will always be a way to achieve those goals and align them with your hobbies and interests.
“What I was trying to drive home with this talk is that business is business, whether it’s a veterinary clinic or a detailing business or a restaurant, it’s all about how you run the business, treat the clients, and maintain your reputation,” Edson said.
Among the people who were at this entrepreneurship event was Leo West, a 20-year-old junior sports communication and media major who took something important from Edson’s talk.
“It was a really interesting presentation about how Matt started from nothing and then built himself into something and then now is a teacher here at Rowan,” West said. “It was a full-circle moment. I thought it was a testament to his dedication and I appreciated his insight.”
Edson’s goal was to show students in attendance that there are many ways they can get their own businesses started.
“I think it’s important not to be afraid to try. If you have a dream and you want to pursue it, do it. You’re never going to know how it succeeds or doesn’t until you try,” Edson said. “Start small, give it a shot. You try it today or try it tomorrow or you could regret it in six months that you never gave it a try.”
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