Pittsburgh has a long history of founders who started and scaled businesses. Think of Willard Rockwell, Henry Clay Frick, Fred Rogers, Andrew Carnegie, George Ferris, Charles Schwab, Richard Mellon, Jonas Salk, Henry Heinz, and Edgar Kaufman to name a few. In today’s world, they would be called “entrepreneurs,” and even though the word has been used for centuries, I do not know if this word was used when they started their businesses.
Why did these historical figures start their business? Was it to feed their families? Were they fired from a job, and decided they wanted to be their own boss? Were they so smart they could foresee the future? Why did Fred Rogers create his Neighborhood? Why did Henry Heinz sell pickles? Was it strictly a business decision, or was it more personal?