Earl Dryden, DVM
Liberal Arts Statement
My sophomore year of college, I decided to make my
entrepreneurial mark in the world and invest in rental properties.
This was triggered by an "A" I received in The Principles of
Economics. If I could make an "A" in that class, I knew I could
carry over those skill into the real world.
Weekly rent collections, maintenance issues, domestic
skirmishes, and several evictions later, I realized this business
venture was anything but by the book. My formulated equations for
success were anything but profitable. Surely I did not make a
mistake. As I pondered my predicament and lamented certain failure,
I searched for any saving grace. It was at this time of deep
thought I ran into my Economics professor, Dr. Nichols. I shared my
situation with him. Like a parent he said, "We should learn from
our mistakes." I replied, "What mistakes? This was by the book." He
then provided only a hint of an answer to my problem; something not
in any textbook. It was enough to turn on the light in my head and
make me feel as though I had solved my own problem.
The next day I procured 3 football players and, in exchange for
2 hours of their time each week for 3 months, I bought dinner.
Nothing like an all-you-can-eat buffet for $10. My new and very big
entourage made weekly appearances for rent collections, domestic
issues, and evictions. Needless to say, collections went up,
evictions down, and everyone knew there was a new sheriff in
town.
I subsequently sold this profitable venture and eventually
obtained a doctorate in veterinary medicine. I still dabble in real
estate. Football players have been replaced with attorneys.
Residential rentals are now commercial leasing properties. The
principles remain the same but education coupled with guidance has
allowed me to think outside the box and use football players to win
the game.