from HBCUNews.com
The subject of today’s HBCU success story is a Jackson Mississippi business man by the name of Foster Ellis Jr. who is a graduate of Jackson State University.
In researching the mysteries of what it takes to run a successful business, several key questions come to mind. As I prepared to answer some of those questions, I formed an image in my mind of the qualities that this person would have. Small business owners must be willing to gamble on themselves financially because there is no one else for them to fall back on. Studies show that most small businesses will fail in the first few years and to know that Mr. Ellis has been at this in the neighborhood of 25 years is impressive in itself. So what is it about Ellis that has allowed him to succeed where so many others have failed?
As we step in to the main conference room in Ellis’ office, he smiles warmly and cordially invites us to be seated to discuss the lifestyle of a serial entrepreneurial. Immediately he puts as at ease and we know right away that although successful, he is approachable and grounded. Later we understand why.
As we begin our interview, he starts off by giving credit to those who have helped him to develop into the man, husband, father and serial entrepreneur that he is today. He credits God first and then his parents.
Foster Ellis the early years
Ellis was born in Natchez Mississippi and reared in Vicksburg Mississippi. He has a strong work ethic, which he attributes to his father and his childhood working on a farm. Neither of his parents, had the opportunity to attend college, but they were able to instill in him the importance of an education and where it could take him in life. He is also the only 1 of 5 siblings to obtain a degree from a 4 year college.
Although he was employed before ever going to college and already making more money than his high school principal working as a laborer, Ellis did not go for the immediate glamour and had the foresight even as a teen to know that he could do better. After having a conversation with his father in which the final decision was totally his, he decided to attend Jackson State University to further his education. One of his reasons for picking a HBCU was so that he could have the chance to see and interact with role models who could relate closely to the struggles that had been already experienced and would experience in the future.
Ellis majored in Business/Marketing Management while at Jackson State and this is where he began to build his foundation for business management. You can also say that this is where he first became a serial entrepreneur. While attending college, pledging Alpha Phi Alpha and still maintaining good grades, he also held down 3 jobs and ran another business out of his dorm room.
He is obviously an out of the box thinker and was able to recognize a void on campus and find a way to fill that void, which resulted in a financial gain. The 3 jobs and a small business of his own allowed him to avoid a struggle that many people are strapped with for years after college. He was able to graduate with no debt from his education. He was determined to be a success and not just another statistic. His drive and his experiences while at home and at Jackson State had prepared him well for the next stage in his life……… read more here .