What Is Free Enterprise?

I grew up 1 hour from the famous Hershey chocolate factory in Hershey Pennsylvania. Our trips to the sweet smelling complex were filled with kisses.

As my family became serial entrepreneurs I gained a greater appreciation for what Mr. Hershey had accomplished. He spread free enterprise and the American dream across the world and shared his delightful chocolate with us.

The more I heard the term free enterprise the more I saught a definition for it. It came as an intriguing surprise, when I heard a succinct definition that related to what Mr. Hershey attributed for the unique taste of his chocolate. Hershey chocolate was purported to be different because of the milk quality in the Central Pennsylvania region of the U.S. This quality is what naturally occurs when people are free to practice free enterprise.

So what is free enterprise? Free enterprise is when you buy the cow, you are able to milk the cow, and you sell the milk. Socialism is where they let you keep the cow, they take the milk, and they give back what they want you to have. Communism is when they own the cow, they take the milk, and they sell you the milk back.

That definition allowed me to simply describe what business is all about to my friends. It is the ability to earn by the sweat of our brow. It is the satisfaction of creating and sharing something with people, that no one else could bring to fruition.

May your gifts be used to please others. May you live your life seeking to serve, and bring a little more happiness to people.