Lessons from Anson Hall, entrepreneur

When Anson Hall sold his successful GM dealership in Massachusetts and tried to retire, it didn’t work. After building his business from the ground up and adding Pontiac and Cadillac to his original Buick line in the process, relaxation just didn’t agree with him. Anson had already stretched the limits with GM by starting a company-within-a-company that offered one of the first extended-care warranty programs anywhere. With that kind of experience under his belt, he decided that it was time to start the kind of business where he could call the shots.

“Rest is rust,” he says. And who would want to rust?

So Anson became an entrepreneur. He invented, and is selling, a new product that he calls a Manners-Mender®. It’s a small vacuum-molded plastic utensil rest that he sells to casual restaurants. When diners unwrap their knife, fork and spoon, they can tee them up neatly in the slots of a Manners-Mender® device instead of placing them on the unhygienic tabletop or attempting to balance them on the edge of their plate.

Anson’s product is derived from the elegant knife rests that were popular in the dining rooms of wealthy people more than a century ago. It is also related to the chopstick rests that are used in Asia. However, his patented design incorporates some pretty modern marketing features. A business card snaps into the underside, allowing a restaurant to display and distribute its own marketing message, or a promotional card from another business. The devices are manufactured in black, silver or clear. The clear model packs a particularly effective marketing punch, since the message on the inserted card can be seen at all times by the diner.

Anson made prototypes, hired an attorney and obtained a series of patents on his device. He built a Website, designed ads, selected a manufacturing company for his product and is recruiting a sales staff. Last year, he bolstered some areas of his knowledge using two Trump University courses: The Entrepreneur’s Success Codes and Branding for Profit.

Anson’s product has attracted positive attention at trade shows. He has also met with venture capitalists in some pretty interesting settings. Last winter, when New Hampshire hosted a one-day skiing event to introduce entrepreneurs to venture capitalists, Anson took part.

Entrepreneurs were paired with investors at the bottom of the hill. They rode to the top of the slope together while the entrepreneur made a pitch to the potential investor. Then they skied to the bottom of the hill and were paired with new lift partners. Since Anson didn’t want to miss out on that opportunity, he had his skis tuned up and hit the slopes.

Now, you might be wondering why the Trump Blog is devoting this much space to the story of just one entrepreneur this morning. After all, Anson Hall has done what many other entrepreneurs have done. He conceived and patented a product, designed ads, built a Website. He met with investors. He rolled up his sleeves and made sales calls to get orders started. And this month, Anson’s device is making its debut in one New England eatery, with others to follow.

What makes Anson Hall a little different from some other entrepreneurs is the fact that in April, he will be 87 years old. He’s hustling. He refuses to stop. And if Anson is doing all that without making any excuses, that leads to the question I really wanted to ask you today.

What the heck is stopping you?

To get started on your own path to entrepreneurial success, enroll in The Entrepreneurship Mastery Program at Trump University. Classes are now forming.