Previously Published in Stamford Advocate

By Ed McLaughlin 

Bill Gates, born in Seattle, the founder of Microsoft, is an American entrepreneur.

Sergey Brin, co-founder of Google, born in Moscow under Communist rule, is an American entrepreneur.

Elon Musk, born in South Africa, the founder of Tesla Motors and SpaceX, is an American entrepreneur.

After the most divisive election season in our lifetimes, it’s worth taking a fresh look at what we have in common. One thing that stands out is America’s welcoming atmosphere for entrepreneurs, a hallmark of this great land of opportunity that goes back to the historic beginnings of our nation.

President Barack Obama on Oct. 31 proclaimed November to be National Entrepreneurship Month — though the news was obscured by the pre-election glare. To me, having launched four companies, this celebration of America’s entrepreneurial spirit is a powerful unifying factor as we move forward trying to speed up the economy, boost middle-class wages and ensure that the dream is still alive.

Ed “Skip” McLaughlin is the author of The Purpose Is Profit: The Truth about Starting and Building Your Own Business, along with co-authors Wyn Lydecker and Paul McLaughlin. The Purpose Is Profit (Greenleaf Book Group) is available in bookstores now.

Ed McLaughlin is the founder of four businesses and is currently running Blue Sunsets LLC, a real estate and angel investment firm based in Darien, CT. Follow him at @purposeisprofit. Wyn Lydecker is the founder of Upstart Business Planning, where she works with entrepreneurs to develop plans that answer the questions investors ask most often. Follow her at @upstartwyn.