MB: So tell us a little bit about your business background.
SB: Most of my professional career was with Auntie Anne’s. And I pretty much grew up in the organization, starting there in my early 20s and then for 21 years after that.
MB: What’s something people would be surprised to know about you?
SB: So perhaps people would be surprised to know that I was born Amish and the first couple years of my life was Amish. But I really did grow up very conservative until I was about 16 years old, I think. We didn’t have a TV in our home, there was no radio. It was a pretty conservative upbringing, but strong in family. So at that point, I certainly didn’t think I was missing out on anything. It was a good life.
MB: So piggybacking off of that, how would your family describe you?
SB: I think my family would describe me as an independent thinker. Stubborn. Stubborn, by that I mean I don’t quit very easily. If there’s something I set my mind to, I’ll keep pursuing it until I’m satisfied with the outcome. I think that’s probably a pretty good descriptor.
MB: Did you always want to own your own business? What did you want to be as a kid growing up? Walk me through what your career goals were from little kid to CEO.
SB: Ya know, I tell you, for most of my life I don’t remember having goals or what I wanted to be when I grew up. I just wanted to play, I think. I don’t remember any big goals like that. In high school, the social aspect of high school was #1, #2, and #3. Occasionally I would do homework and I was a fantastic C student, I think. So, you know even through high school I didn’t have lofty goals, but it was shortly after high school that I started looking at my own business. Or recognizing the value to me of finding work, completing work, and getting paid for it. And really doing most of that on my own terms to some degree. Perhaps in the early stages of entrepreneurship it was probably as much about being able to choose a lifestyle and determine what I do and when I do it. But the reality is that most entrepreneurs, and this wasn’t my quote, I can’t remember who said it first, but they’re willing to work 80 hours a week for themselves so they don’t have to work 40 hours a week for someone else. And that’s probably about where I landed.
MB: What do you want your personal legacy to be? How do you want people to remember you?
SB: I think, ya know, if people remember me as someone who was kind – perhaps when they were in a difficult time. Someone who created opportunity for others, especially through business. You know, business is my mission. It’s what I do. So in as much as I can effect positive change in a person’s life through employment or through the atmosphere of employment through their place of work, then I think I would have considered that somewhat successful.