David Daugherty ’19 LABB Intern – First off, I would like to thank the Lilly Endowment for this incredible opportunity to participate in this program – the skills and lessons I am learning during this program fill the gaps of a liberal arts education as it relates to business. This past week we visited Triton Brewery in Indianapolis. In class a couple weeks ago, we learned about the importance of stressing one’s competitive advantage(s). This is the same thing that Dave Waldman, co-founder of Triton Brewery, stressed the value of from that outset. From my years of experience waiting tables and serving beer, I never would have though that having the best water would be a competitive advantage as it relates to alcohol, but I am entirely on board now. Triton doesn’t merely preach that they have the best water, they even have it in the name. If you dig into the Greek mythology of it, Triton is the “bringer of good water.” This business lives and breathes through the water, and it was incredible to see how Triton Brewery demonstrated their competitive advantage.
When Mr. Waldman was talking, he said something that I found to
be incredibly enlightening. As he was explaining how brewing beer is his passion, he talked about the importance of loving what you do before you start a business. He told us that the desire and strive will only take you so far if that desire is for money. He said that he often works 80 hour weeks in order to get everything done, and then he goes home and replies to all of his work emails. He continued to tell us that, if he didn’t truly love what he was doing, he would be long burned out. Although the glamour and the money might be in something like investment banking where individuals also work at least 80 hour weeks, he knew his heart wouldn’t be in it – regardless of his ability. For myself, when I first came to Wabash, I thought I wanted to be the next hotshot investment banker. As I have developed, however, I have learned that I am not quite sure that is where my passion lies. From this program I have been exposed to people like David Waldman, Tony Unfried, Jim Abercrombie, Bill Kirst, and many others who have shown me that success is incredibly different for every person. Although through this experience I might not have found my passion, I have certainly learned the value of finding your passion, and I have the Lilly Endowment to thank for it.