Dr. Ben Carson Talks Entrepreneurship
I looked across the room and saw a poised, confident, and yet humble-looking man that fit the description of the person I was scheduled to meet. He had a gentle expression on his face and, as I approached him, his smile seemed to widen in recognition.
After introducing myself, we chatted for a few minutes and then made our way to a comfortable lounge area in the Orlando Rosen Hotel to begin the interview. I was excited to discuss some of the important topics in his newest book, One Nation (2014). It was a story of hope and inspiration—two things that are very important for an entrepreneur’s success.
Dr. Ben Carson came from humble beginnings. Carson’s mother raised him and his brother, after she divorced their Dad when they were still very young. Although she did not have much of an education herself, she made it a priority for her sons, encouraging them to read vigorously and teaching them to appreciate the value of a good education. As a result, Dr. Carson studied at Yale Medical School and became a pediatric neurosurgeon, one of the most intense specialties in medicine.
At age 33, Dr. Carson went on to become the Director of Pediatric Neurosurgery at John Hopkins Medical Center, which is regarded as one of the leading medical institutions in the country. He rose to fame for being the first surgeon to successfully separate conjoined twins joined at the back of the head. His personal story as a doctor was turned both into a book and feature film called Gifted Hands (2009).
Dr. Carson’s passion for education led him to create The Carson Foundation, which celebrates academically accomplished youths. Over 5000 recipients have been awarded to date. His entrepreneurial spirit extended beyond his not-for-profit and poured into a desire to share his story and viewpoints from a different perspective in both America the Beautiful (2011) and his newest work.
Dr. Ben Carson—the academic luminary, accomplished neurosurgeon, and political activist—spoke to Raine Magazine to discuss how his newest literary creation relates to entrepreneurism.
RAINE: How would you equate your journey to someone who is looking to start his or her own business?
CARSON: When I started as a pediatric neurosurgeon, there were a lot of challenges —there were a lot of things that people said shouldn’t be done or couldn’t be done. People who are trying to start their own businesses encounter these things too. Similarly to business, medicine requires conviction and courage to do things that are new and different.
RAINE: How would you inspire entrepreneurs to move forward with their goals and increase the number of small businesses growing in America?
CARSON: What we would have to do starts with the government. Right now, there are dozens of new regulations that come out every week, encircling business, industry, and academia. That’s not helpful. We have much better ways of controlling things. We should be looking at all of the energy resources we have and finding the safest and the most environmentally friendly ways of producing things. That is what will increase entrepreneurship and, at the same time, encourage new sources of renewable energy. There are a whole series of ramifications that come with doing things in a wise manner.