Joe Accardi
AGE: 31 COMPANY: Forge and Foster WHAT THEY DO: An investment management company that works with businesses and properties BEEN AROUND SINCE: 2015 NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES: 16
HOW IT STARTED
The desire part of it came from wanting to do something better in the world and then seeing that nobody else is kind of doing what you see.
WHY DID YOU DECIDE TO START YOUR OWN BUSINESS?
About 10 years ago, it came down to the desire of wanting to create, and it’s hard to create when you have too many people directing your day.
WHAT ARE YOUR COMPANY VALUES?
I think the most important thing, to be able to do different projects, is to understand that you can’t do it alone.
WHEN WAS THE MOMENT YOU REALIZED YOU HAD MADE IT?
It’s a roller-coaster. You don’t feel like you’ve made it. There’s a lot of work to do, and there’s a lot of days that are not as good as other days, and things don’t go as planned.
WHAT HAS SURPRISED YOU MOST?
I was so surprised at how easy and supportive everybody in the Hamilton community is for a dream or an idea. Right now the share economy is a big theme for me and a whole bunch of my partners.
WHAT CHALLENGES HAVE YOU OVERCOME?
The biggest challenge, I think, is having a big goal — a big dream — but cleaning up that goal and dream every once in a while so that you’re making sure everything is pointed at that dream as it kind of changes or evolves.
WHAT ARE SOME OF THE MOST IMPORTANT LESSONS YOU LEARNED?
You gotta think big, because if you don’t think big, you’re not going to inspire the group of people that you want to be driven. But at the same time you have to figure out the projects to get to that vision, and making sure your road map is successful.
WHAT ADVICE DO YOU HAVE FOR OTHER BUSINESS OWNERS?
Spend some time to take a day to find out who works well with you. Don’t do it alone. Things get done through a network of people, and each project has a little group that is able to get things done.
WHAT NEEDS TO BE CHANGED TO HELP LOCAL BUSINESS OWNERS?
There’s a market demand for something, and it’s amazing how fast that can disappear. Everyone has to be liquid, everyone has to be malleable to take advantage of the next opportunity and have a growth mentality that you’re not good enough, no matter what, because this world is changing every day.
WHAT WOULD YOU CHANGE IF YOU WERE TO DO IT ALL OVER AGAIN?
I would reorganize my projects more often and spend the additional time going for walks in all the beautiful parks in Hamilton.