๐๐ง๐ค๐ข ๐ ๐๐ค๐ก๐ก๐๐๐ ๐จ๐๐๐ ๐๐ช๐จ๐ฉ๐ก๐ ๐ฉ๐ค ๐ ๐๐ค๐ข๐ข๐ช๐ฃ๐๐ฉ๐ฎ ๐จ๐ฉ๐๐ฅ๐ก๐โ๐ฉ๐๐๐จ ๐๐จ ๐ฌ๐๐๐ฉ ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐๐ฃ๐ฉ๐ง๐๐ฅ๐ง๐๐ฃ๐๐ช๐ง๐๐๐ก ๐จ๐ฅ๐๐ง๐๐ฉ ๐ก๐ค๐ค๐ ๐จ ๐ก๐๐ ๐! ๐ดโโ๏ธ
Edwardsville CEO had an incredible morning visiting The Cyclery, where father-son duo Steve and David Parks gave our students a firsthand look at what it takes to build, grow, and sustain a successful family business!
Steve's entrepreneurial journey began almost 47 years ago when a running injury sparked his love of cycling. What started as a passion and a side hustle eventually grew into a full-time business that has become a staple of our community.
And what a story it is! ๐
Steve and David shared the REAL side of entrepreneurshipโthe grit, hard work, challenges, and constant evolution that come with owning a small business.
A few lessons that stuck with us:
๐ด ๐ป๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐. Sometimes an unexpected setback can lead you down a path you never imagined!
๐ช ๐ฉ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐จ๐ณ๐ณ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐. When you're building a business from the ground up, you have to be willing to do whatever it takes.
๐ Learn to pivot and adapt. Times change. Customers change. Industries change. ๐บ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐
๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐
๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐
๐ ๐๐๐๐.
๐ค Build relationships and invest in your community. ๐จ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐
๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐. ๐ฐ๐'๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐
๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐
๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐.
Our students also got the FULL behind-the-scenes experience, exploring both the front and back of the house, learning about the many moving parts of running The Cyclery, and even getting to test out a few bikes and scooters! ๐ด๐
But perhaps one of the most meaningful parts of today's visit was seeing what nearly five decades of entrepreneurship can create...not just a successful business, but a family legacy and a lasting connection to the community.
Steve and David, THANK YOU for opening your doors, sharing your entrepreneurial journey so openly, and continuing to invest in the community that has supported your business for nearly 47 years. We are so grateful for your time, hospitality, and willingness to help inspire the next generation of business owners and community leaders! ๐งก David S. Parks
