It's no secret that I'm a serial entrepreneur, so the idea of my starting something new won't come as a surprise to most of you.
But the size and scope of this dream may shock you — it shocks the living hell out of me! But first, the back story ...
My
grandmother-in-law, Pauline, turned 100 on June 12 of this year. Until seven
years ago she was living on her own. Then she fell and broke her hip,
and thus began the process of finding a retirement home in which she
could spend the remaining years of her life.
That's when the trouble started.
You
see, Grandma is the type of person who sides on the
squeaky-wheel-gets-the-grease philosophy, rather than the
catching-flies-with-honey model. And she has what I would describe as
an abrupt personality
— once she voices her opinion on a subject, the conversation is over.
Additionally, Grandma is well-off. So she
can afford to live just about anywhere she wants. Which gives her
options others don't have.
Finally, she definitely sees greener grass on the other sides of all fences — no matter the issue at hand.
Add
this all up, and you have a woman who, once her house sold and she
realized she had no "go back" option, was determined to move as many
times as it took to find her dream retirement home.
Over the past seven
years, Grandma, daughter Sandy and granddaughter Cindy (my wife) have scoped out every retirement
facility in the Greater St. Louis area, and Grandma has resided
in five of them. (Bear in mind, these are very nice facilities with
tons of programs and lots to do.)
Cindy and her mom visit Grandma regularly, and Cindy's dad, brother and wife, and I fill in the gaps. So Grandma has company and tons to do. Yet I
would bet gold bars against dollars that every time anyone
has sat with Grandma in one of those homes and talked for 30
minutes or more, Grandma has uttered the words: "I wish I had something to do."
Yes, despite the fact that activities abound at every place she has stayed, Grandma always feels this way.
Why?
Because Grandma doesn't want something to do ... Grandma wants purpose.
Here's
the problem: Grandma's "job" right now is to let other people care for
her. She feels useless, because in those environments she is expected
to be useless.
I'm turning 50 this November, and I hope to be
going strong well into my 80s or 90s. But I know that eventually,
should I be fortunate enough to live a long life, I'll be in a
retirement home as well.
And in all the searching the family has done throughout St. Louis, I
haven't seen a single place in which I would rather live, than die. Not
that any of the homes lack amenities, but they all lack purpose. If I
can't be useful, why be at all?
So being
the serial entrepreneur that I am, and being faced with this problem, I
decided that instead of finding a home to which I might enjoy
retiring, I'll build one where I know I would.
The Purpose Ranch™ — Everyone Contributes
Rather than ending up in a retirement center where your job is to be cared for,
what if a "retirement ranch" existed where part of your retirement
process included you caring for others?
What if the ranch was built around the concept that every resident had the right and option to contribute?
What
if the ranch also contained a sheltered workshop — a place where
handicapped people could come, work, earn pay and add value to their
society and community? Imagine the fun a retired mechanical engineer
would have inventing ways to make it possible for someone with 10
percent use of her hands to do the job of someone with full use.
What
if the ranch had an elderly daycare center, so families who choose to
keep their parents at home would have a place for them to thrive while
the breadwinners are winning bread? How much nicer would it be
if the elder were happy to be dropped off every day and almost always a bit
sorry to leave?
What if the ranch had a child daycare center as
well? Imagine the interaction between the preschool children and the
resident grandparents, great-grandparents and great-great-grandparents.
What
if the ranch had a no-kill dog and cat shelter? Cats need to be petted
and combed. Even a person confined to a wheelchair can do those things.
Dogs
need to be walked, trained and groomed. How cool would it be to have
your preschooler taught how to care for, train, walk and control dogs?
What kind of a leader of people would your child become after learning
to be a calm, yet authoritative, dog pack leader?
What if the
ranch had a horse rescue facility? There are wonderful therapies being created
— such as for the autistic — around the concept of learning how to control
and care for these massive animals. What if the ranch had buggies and
buggy rides for residents and visitors?
Of course the ranch would
also have a veterinary hospital — it would be a necessary component of
the dog, cat and horse shelters. Why not build a teaching hospital? Why
not let students "work off" some of their tuition by contributing to
the ranch — both during and after their studies?
And we would
need a massive kitchen — with all these mouths to feed. Why not have a
working culinary school? Believe me, retirees will tell you when they like or dislike the food. What a way to learn!
Naturally, we'd have a
facility garden — lovingly tended by all residents who wish to get
their hands dirty. Probably a greenhouse for the winter and open
fields for the remainder of the year. And when we have extra veggies
and spices available, we'll sell them from The Purpose Ranch™ gates!
Why
not add a community garden as well? Why not let the families of
residents cordon off their spaces, tend their gardens, harvest their
food and take it home? "Come on kids, we're going to see Grandpa and
tend our garden today."
What about chickens for eggs? Cows for milk? Goats to "cut the grass"? (Okay the goats may be a stretch. ;-)
What
if the entire ranch were built around the concept that it should be
just as fun to visit as it is to live there? What additional amenities
would it have? A fishing lake? A swimming pool? A workout center? A horse path? A dog park? A walking/running path? Imagine the possibilities ...
What if the ranch had a sustainable economic business model -- one that did not rely on donations? A horse rescue facility could also board horses. Dog and cat rescues could offer daycare or boarding. Our veterinary hospital could be the area's premier vet clinic and 24-hour emergency facility. Why not combine it all to offer "day camp" services to the area's children during off-school months?
If You Build It, They Will Come
Almost
10 years ago, I looked for a sales training course that was founded on
honesty, trust and respect, and that covered all aspects of
prospecting, marketing and selling.
I didn't find one, so I built Honest Selling and they came.
About
five years ago, I looked for a trade association that would allow me to engage in a culture of giving and connecting,
but still do things my own way.
I didn't find one, so I built Yellow-Tie International and they came.
Over
the last seven years, I have kept an eye out for a retirement center in which I'd enjoy living.
I haven't found one, so I'm going to build The Purpose Ranch™.
It will be founded on the core philosophy that every person will be afforded the opportunity to contribute, so they can have purpose and receive the dignity and respect that purpose brings.
It will be a 501c3 nonprofit facility.
I will never draw a single penny of pay from this endeavor.
I am going to build it. I know in my soul they will come.
It begins today ... Wish me well.