IBA SUCCESS MAGAZINE Issue 4 Volume 4 | Page 21

COVER STORY RICK SINGH ORANGE COUNTY PROPERTY APPRAISER A Culture of Change and Innovation E ntrepreneurs of all kinds have a back story, the catalyst for who they are today. In cultures around the world (especially third world countries), children are taught at an early age how to be the breadwinners of the family—securing odd jobs to pay the collective bills and negotiating for groceries down to the penny. Children become budding entrepreneurs out of necessity in impoverished conditions. This classic example of young entrepreneurs is the childhood Rick Singh remembers. As the Orange County Property Appraiser (OCPA), many of the skill sets ingrained within were learned from his mother who set examples of developing interpersonal and financial skills in competitive environments.  From then on, Singh has approached everyday life with an entrepreneurial spirit— "with the mindset to always seek out ways to enhance and improve service. Along the way, the most successful business owners reached their current stature through trial and error. “It's a lot of failure. Success ultimately comes from trying and trying again. Larry Page, founder of Google, pitched his business plan for By Kathryn McHenry funding hundreds of times before securing investors. If he'd have stopped short, we'd have never heard of Google. It's tenaciousness, resiliency and persistence —but most importantly, passion—which you have to put into business practice and bring to the table each and every day.” While in the military stationed at Fort Polk, Louisiana, Singh recognized a need for entry- level soldiers to be fitted with affordable automobiles and finding transportation for families. After being honorably dis- charged, Singh started an automotive business with his brother in Orlando— entering into unforeseen cyclical changes. It thrived when the economy was up, but when business stagnated, they closed the doors and moved on. Ultimately that business failed, however Singh learned a good deal from it and how to make adjustments. From there, Singh served six years as an entry-level field appraiser at OCPA's office, simultaneously attending schooling to become licensed as a private appraiser. While serving in this role, his entrepreneurial hat was always on— constantly searching for ways to save time and money by once again summoning an entrepreneurial spirit in all decision-making.  VOL 4, Issue 4 n IBASuccessMagazine.com 19