Why the CEO of a Patent Law Firm is starting a food truck business?

If you were to think of the stereotypical attorney, you might think of a person wearing a suit and tie working in a high-rise office. You might think of someone with a type A personality. Now, if you were to think of a patent attorney, take all that and add into the mix a bit of nerdy/techie interests, and you have just about nailed the stereotype. What you probably don't think of is a guy working on Friday afternoons/evenings and Saturdays in a food truck selling gourmet hot chocolate.

So, why did I break the stereotypical attorney mold and start a food truck business? Is it because I anticipate that I will make a huge return on my time with a food truck? No, I don't anticipate making too much money on this endeavor. Is it because I am burned out of being an attorney? No, I love being an attorney, working with startups and small businesses, and running Miller IP Law (which I will continue to do). Is it because I love hot chocolate so much that I couldn't resist? No, although I do love hot chocolate on a cold winter day.

I decided to start The Bear Den food truck because of 4 individuals ages 7-12. These four individuals are my kids. As my kids grow up and get older, I want them to learn the lessons of hard work, earning their own money, running a business, paying their way, and so much more. I want them to go into high school and college already knowing how to run a business, knowing how to set up a business, provide excellent service to customers, know what a profit margin is, know the ups and downs of small business ownership, and all the amazing things that are learned from startups and small businesses.

This all started as I talked with my wife about all the great lessons I have learned along the way as I have run my law firm and other startups and small businesses. The conversation quickly turned to how can we teach our kids these lessons. While they are getting a great education in school, schools are focused on teaching the basics and aren't focused on these types of lessons. As we discussed how to teach our kids these lessons, the conversation shifted to Why don't I do a startup with them? What type of startup would 7-12 year-old kids enjoy? Probably not a law firm, a software business, a wearable business, or the other businesses I have started and continue to run or participate in. But what kid doesn't like hot chocolate? This is probably some kid out there, but definitely not mine. They love hot chocolate.

With that goal in mind, we started by having all the kids brainstorm a name for the business. My oldest daughter came up with The Bear Den. We all loved it, fun, creative, flexible for the future, and we were off to the races. From there, I got a vintage 1972 Airstream that we converted into a food truck, set up a commissary kitchen, and figured out the flavors, toppings, and so much more.

It took us longer than anticipated (all good startups do), but we are getting ready to launch within the next few weeks! So if you see your IP attorney on the side of the road in a food truck with four kids selling hot chocolate (or Milk Shakes and Fries in the summer), now you know why, and you don't have to wonder why my attorney is working in a food truck. It is because he loves his kids and wants them to learn all the valuable lessons you can only learn by running a business.