A tribute to a true entrepreneur

by Dan Oswald

At the end of the year, BLR’s founder, Bob Brady, will be retiring from the company he started 37 years ago. Last week we celebrated Bob’s achievements with a party attended by friends, business associates, and current and former BLR employees. It was a wonderful tribute to a man who has touched the lives of so many during his successful career.

Bob’s brother, John, who was a partner in the company and worked alongside his older sibling for more than 25 years, paid tribute to his brother, saying Bob has “a lot to be proud of.” John listed some of the traits Bob possesses that have allowed him to grow a successful, thriving business. I’d like to share them with you because I believe each and every one of us should aspire to demonstrate these attributes, which allow one to be successful not only in business but also in life.

Honest. I don’t believe it was a coincidence that the first attribute John named when describing his older brother was honesty. Above everything else, treating others openly and honestly is the foundation of success. Without honesty, there is no trust. And without trust, the kind of long-term success Bob has enjoyed doesn’t occur. Yes, honesty is the most important attribute a successful person can possess.

Entrepreneurial. This may not be a surprising adjective used to describe a man who started his own company, but it goes way beyond the formation of BLR. Bob’s entrepreneurial spirit embodies every decision he makes. He’s a risk-taker who loves to invest in new opportunities and see the business grow. That’s the same today as it was 37 years ago. He continues to think and act like an entrepreneur, never having lost that flame.

Thinks outside the box. Bob has a very active, inquiring mind. In the words of his brother, he is always “thinking about how to make things better.” He is able to see a glimmer of success and wants to chase that opportunity to make it something much bigger, even if it means taking a path no one else has taken. A person doesn’t achieve what Bob has without thinking differently than those around him. Bob’s “out-of-the-box” thinking has served him well.

Cares about people. Bob has a great heart and genuinely cares about people. If you want to succeed in life and business, you must know how to treat others—even be willing to put them before yourself. Bob cares about the people who work at BLR and who they are as individuals. People understand that about him, and it shows in their respect for him.

“Idea machine.” Those are John’s words for his big brother. Bob is always looking for the next big thing—or small thing. He’s constantly looking, probing, and questioning, trying to discern where the next opportunity may come from. And he’s not too proud to “borrow” good ideas from others and try to improve or perfect them. The key is that he’s always coming up with new ideas. Who knows which one will turn into the next great thing?

Bob Brady has spent the last 37 years building a successful company. He has touched countless lives in a positive way. He has employed thousands of people over the years. Their positions at the company he founded have helped them put a roof over their heads, put food on the table, and maybe even pay college tuition for a kid or two. He has served hundreds of thousands of customers, providing them with information and advice that have helped them stay out of legal trouble and make their companies better, safer places to be.

Bob Brady has provided a road map for all of us on how to be successful in business and in life. Start with honesty and caring for others, toss in an entrepreneurial spirit, “out-of-the-box” thinking, and the ability to come up with new ideas, and couple all of it with a lot of hard work, and you have the recipe for success. Bob Brady is living proof of that.