Those of you that have been to my home know that I have a wall of photographs dedicated to my ancestors on both sides of our family, mine and Steve’s. Photos of our grandparents and great-grandparents from Vietnam, Spain, and the Philippines, as well as places like Norway.

My grandfather, Orris Bergerud, who I was very close to, was an astute businessman. He lost his father at a young age and had to assume the head of the household to take care of his mother and siblings. They were not wealthy, but by the time he passed at 105 years old, he had amassed a fortune that would be considered respectable even today. He was truly a self-made man.

Like most grandchildren, I didn’t appreciate the pearls of wisdom that he would impart or comprehend at the time how fortunate I was to have him to talk with. One of the things that he would tell me that I didn’t really understand at the time was to “always leave yourself a way out”.

It didn’t make a lot of sense to me at the time, but now, looking back, I realized that I have used this lesson in so many aspects of my life. I’ve learned that what he meant was simple:

Never let anyone put you in a situation you can’t get out of

Do not become beholden to others

Never be dependent on others for your own success, and

Always have a Plan B

I think this is an important life lesson, especially in business. You always have to have a way out. There are times where I did not heed this advice and nothing good ever came out of it.

If grandpa were alive, he would have celebrated his 117th birthday this month.

Happy birthday, Grandpa

www.legacy.com/obituaries/name/orris-bergerud-obituary?pid=178786958