WHO IS THIS FRANK MOTOLA GUY ANYWAYS

I was born an entrepreneur.
I just can't help myself.
Losing hasn't stopped me. Winning hasn't slowed me down.

The evidence was there long ago. In high school, my buddy and I would sell donuts individually that we bought as "day old" at Dunkin' the night before. I quit college (going to art school for advertising design) with one semester left, got a place at Hampton Beach, NH, bought a used bike and went into the mobile sign-painting business! All of the businesses on the boardwalk wanted cheap signs for specials, and I would make as much as my friends did waiting tables in a few hours every morning. Then I would hang out at the beach and our cottage the rest of the day. Talk about livin' the life at 20!

THE ENTREPRENEUR

Since I started working alongside my Dad at age 12 for $2 an hour, I had the spirit to create something that wasn't there before (and get paid for it).

I also witnessed my Dad's long nights in the downstairs street level of our apartment when I was 5, and saw him late at night in the basement of our home that he built by hand with no electricity. Yes, he was a man I respected, learned from, hated, misunderstood, and loved. If not for him, I would not be who I am.

 

We were partners for about 15 years in his sign business in the Hartford, CT, market, and for the most part, we had a blast! It was the Reagan years, and customers would just drop off their new trucks to be marked with their logo without even getting a price. We had such a reputation as the best in the business — that is just the way it was. Early on, I learned the meaning of delivering more than you promised, not less.

My most valuable lesson from Dad, though, was to get paid what you are worth, get a 50% deposit, and the balance on delivery! It works. I realize that the world doesn't run like that, but for us in the '80s, we had a check at every vehicle pickup.