Inspirational Thoughts On How A Contractor Became Paralyzed And Used His Challenges To Create His Own Company (Rybak)
ByIf you’re looking for tips to start a business I suggest you begin with what you know. More specifically what you have found difficult in your own life, your industry, or with your own relationships. James Rybak is a perfect example of how to turn your own challenges into opportunities. James was a successful contractor in Florida and his company had built over 20 Taco Bell franchises in the state.
One day when he was enjoying the fruits of his labor on his boat he decided to go for a swim. He checked the depth finder which was located at the front of the boat and it read over 10 feet. James thought it would be safe to go for a swim. He walked to the back of the boat and dove headfirst into less than 2 feet of water. He was instantly paralyzed after breaking his neck.
James had several obstacles to overcome. After learning what was necessary to try to regain as much of his past independence as possible while still requiring the use of a wheelchair James attempted to to try to salvage as much of his business as possible. This wasn’t going to be easy. There was no simple answer to James’s biggest problem. How could someone with a high level spinal cord injury continue to run a construction company that required on-site supervision to very inaccessible buildings. James thought he had an answer. James thought ” What if I could find the four-wheel-drive pickup truck that I can drive independently from my wheelchair?” This turned out to be a more difficult question than he originally thought. He didn’t have any success finding such a vehicle.
Then James considered something outside the box. He decided to build the vehicle himself. With the help of Ed Pic who was a master fabricator for a large mobility company they started to design and build four-wheel-drive pickup trucks that someone with a high level spinal cord injury was able to drive directly from a wheelchair. James gave up the contractor business and focused completely on building four-wheel-drive trucks. You can find opportunities for your business, your career and in your personal life by understanding the challenges you face, studying them and finding solutions to the challenges.
This is how every successful company, organization or individual creates success. They identified difficulties and then come up with answers that solve the problem. Then other people pay them for the solution.
