A Simple Choice That Changed Everything

When I was five years old, my mother placed three objects in front of me: a quarter, a dollar, and a fountain pen. She told me I could choose one.
Most kids, I imagine, would have grabbed the dollar—after all, it was the most money on the table. But something inside me told me to choose the fountain pen instead.
My mother smiled and said, “Rodney, that means you’re going to be a successful businessman one day.”

Choosing Value Over Immediate Gain

At the time, I didn’t fully understand what she meant. But looking back, that singular moment was quite profound, and it shaped the way I think about money, business, and success.With the benefit of hindsight and maturity, I know the choice I made that day wasn’t about seeking immediate financial gain. Instead, it was about value, growth, and the profitability that comes when you play the long game.
The quarter and dollar could be spent on candy or trading cards and would be gone in seconds. The fountain pen represented something greater—knowledge, opportunity, and the power to create success for myself… and my family.

Lessons from a Childhood of Hard Work

Growing up there was no shortage of love in my house; my mother and grandmother took wonderful care of me and my brothers. But I came to know there was a shortage of money, and from a very young age, seeing how hard my mother worked, I wanted to create success in business so I could take care of her.

The Seed of Entrepreneurial Drive

That simple moment of me choosing the pen planted the seed for my career as an entrepreneur, restaurateur, and CPA and business coach. That simple moment was the start of my obsession with understanding how money works and how maximizing value brings in more revenue. I also learned at age 15, when I started my
first business, how to make smart financial decisions that would build wealth over time.

Building a Foundation for Long-Term Success

It’s been more than 50 years since I chose that pen from my mother, but “choosing the pen” and some of the lessons I’ve just described, are what continues to drive me today to want to help more business owners create more wealth and keep more of what they earn.

Why This Matters for Your Business

Businesses that focus solely on short-term profits often miss out on foundational growth strategies—like training staff, investing in technology, or building sustainable systems—that compound into exponential success over years. By embracing the fountain pen lesson, you prioritize lasting value over quick wins, setting the stage for steady growth and financial freedom.