For the latest entry in my Neurodiversity Business Spotlight series, I discuss a business that was founded by a young man right after he got out of high school. He goes on to represent that you don’t always need to go out and look for a job or go to college to get anywhere in life.
That young man is Matt Resnik, who created SMILE otherwise known as Supporting My Independent Living Enterprise to get support from the community around him to achieve his dreams.
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SMILE Biscotti founder Matt Resnik
Matt serves as an example for the neurodiversity/disability communities that you can make your mark in a pastry in more ways than one. In my previous entry, I discuss that coffee, tea and hot chocolate brings people together along with the accompanying baked goods. Here, it’s strictly baked goods.
In fact, Matt has also gone beyond just being an independent entrepreneur in the state of Arizona. He has since expanded his business to Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas and even sells his products in locations in New Jersey and North Carolina, including at Peet’s Tea and Coffee located in Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport.
In addition, Matt has been awarded the 2016 Daniel Jordan Fiddle Foundation Leader in Adult Autism award as well as the 2014 Arizona Republic’s 35 Entrepeneur’s 35 & Younger award for his amazing efforts.
All these are astounding accomplishments for someone who had just gotten out of high school and founded a business. But it just goes to show you what perseverance and persistence will do to help you achieve your goals.
Finally, Matt made a massive contribution to help make Phoenix, Arizona one of the globe’s most friendly cities for neurodiverse individuals and his efforts were even featured on PBS Newshour:
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However, if we have to give credit to someone for helping us getting to our goal, it would have to be a very good support system. In Matt’s case, the credit goes to Southwest Autism Research & Resource Center or SARRC who had given him a grant to start SMILE Biscotti.
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As an independent business owner, myself, if there is one thing that I have taught myself is to never take things for granted, especially those of the generosity of others around me.
The only grants I currently receive is the paychecks I get from my day job as a porter for Stop and Shop as well as SSI benefits that also goes towards the rent for my apartment in addition to the business.
I know that I am much better than just doing speaking gigs on a pro bono basis and who knows? Maybe that is what will happen somewhere down the road. I’ve already done a few paid speaking gigs and I look to do more in the future. But it takes time and effort, just like Matt did with his business.
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Catch you all later!!
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