“If there is one thing I can impart to you tonight, it’s that you must do what you love,” Norm Brodsky shared with an overflowing crowd gathered last week at the W loft in Williamsburg. “Whether you’re an employee or you have started your own business, if you are not doing what you love, you’ll hate your life” the acclaimed business maven and longtime MC of the prestigious Inc. 5000, shared with the crowd.
“I had attended law school and was a successful lawyer. I woke up one morning, turned to my wife and said, ‘I’m not going to work.’ ‘What do you mean?’ she asked me. ‘You own this business; you have employees; How are we going to live?’
“‘I don’t care, I can’t do this anymore,’ I told her. This was the beginning of my journey,” he said.
The event marked the launch of CHYE’s Young Founders Circle, a new fellowship for the community’s fledgling professionals and budding entrepreneurs. The Young Founders Circle, or its acronym, YFC as its members affectionately call it, provides mentorship and educational programs, as well as networking and social opportunities to aid the young Lubavitchers of Crown Heights.
“Many within our community are inspired by an entrepreneurial spirit and have the talent and discipline to achieve big. However, they require assistance to take their business off the ground and ride the many waves the business world presents,” shared Rabbi Yehoshua Werde, founder and director of CHYE. “Our business events, one-on-one mentors, and financial offerings are here to help that.”
The event featured an open buffet offering a flavorsome dinner, and an open bar, crafting custom beverages to order. After a period of social chatter and networking, Rabbi Werde opened the officialities of the evening with a letter from the Rebbe, where he encouraged an individual not to fear competition in his business. Realizing that our livelihood comes from Hashem, the Rebbe writes, reminds us that both our business triumphs and our setbacks are not in our hands but His.
Rabbi Werde then invited Norm Brodsky to address the crowd. Norm drew upon his life experience, sharing his success, and failures, with his audience. He then opened the floor to questions from the crowd, handing a copy of his 2008 book, the Knack, to the questioners.
The second half of the evening was dedicated to networking, where participants mingled with one another to gain insight and form relationships. Six Crown Heights businessmen, each advanced in their field, were present on site, offering their wisdom and experience to participants, one-on-one.
Yaacov Hecht of the OnTime Watch co. thoroughly enjoyed the event, leading him to sign-up for the Young Founders Circle. “It was my first CHYE event, and I was not disappointed,” Yaacov shared. “It is motivating to feel part of a community of frum career-minded Jews, those just starting out in business along with those carrying many years of experience under their belt, joined together to connect and form relationships.”
“I met with some of the most successful Jews from industries across the spectrum, and I was amazed at their eagerness to help guide young entrepreneurs like myself as we try to break our way into the chaos of Big industry. It was truly remarkable,” Shaya Kohn, founder of Universal Contracting Group LLC, shared with us.
Registration is now open for the Young Founders Circle at https://www.chye.info/yfcircle
wow may this flow the growth through the jewish society and bring mashiach closer
Thank you Rabbi Werde for your awesome work in cultivating essential business skills and enabling so many to be successful in the area of parnasa.