My dad, E.O. (Emery Orville) Johnson, was a calculated risk taker as long as I can remember. One of the biggest risks he took was leaving a comfortable job in the Milwaukee area after hearing an office worker rave about her new-fangled machine – a 3M thermal copier!
That same day he called the 3M Company, made the long drive to St Paul the next day, and sealed the deal for a 3M copier dealership in Wausau, Eau Claire and the surrounding area. In order to launch his entrepreneurial dream, he convinced my pregnant mom to leave her home turf, hired his father-in-law as a technician, rented a home and began what is now known as EO Johnson Business Technologies.
Part of the move to start his own business was the desire to escape the many moves experienced in corporate culture, but even more so was the desire to help businesses succeed through the use of new tools, now referred to as technology.
He didn’t stop with the copier as he found other products that could be helpful for business owners. I remember him bringing overhead projectors, dictation machines and electric typewriters home for the family to try and he asked for feedback from us prior to selling them as well. Those times were fun and likely fueled my own interests in innovations for business.
While exciting at times, being an entrepreneur can also be scary. Start-up money is hard to come by and my parents cashed in a few life insurance policies as seed money for the business. The idea of selling copiers was looked on by many as very risky because they were so scarce and so new in 1957.
Many thought them a passing fad, but after years of investing time, money and effort into his business, the company grew to now 7 locations and nearly 280 employees.
Today, I am proud of the business my father built from the ground up and am thankful for the good people he surrounded himself with (which I have been blessed to retain). His ethical leadership encouraged all of us to accomplish much for local companies, communities, and our industry.
Very key to business growth and health are the ability to analyze and take those calculated risks and also having a strong passion for what you do. While starting/owning/growing a business is challenging, passion to help and succeed drove my dad daily.
He loved what he did by providing products and services to business owners just like himself that he believed in wholeheartedly. Helping with business, community, employee and community growth empowered him which is why he remained active in the business into his eighties. As he often said,“find a job you love and you’ll never work a day in your life.”
Smart risk taking is also necessary for growth. Gathering information, studying trends, talking to trusted advisors and business leaders are all helpful when deciding on a business move. With an inquisitive mind open to opportunity you can develop and fine-tune a business strategy, which in turn drives growth.
Today, I am dedicated to continue the legacy started nearly 60 years ago by continuing to add different data and solution offerings such as mapping workflow and expanding our managed IT/security business. I am humbly honored for the opportunity to servant lead at EO Johnson Business Technologies – empowered by the lessons learned from my dad and energized by my teammate’s innovation.