Q& A with Dedham's Peter Reynolds

Peter Reynolds is a finalist for Entrepreneur Magazine’s “Established Entrepreneur of 2009.” The online contest voting just finished, with the winner to be announced around Christmas.

Q: What does being a finalist for 2009’s Established Entrepreneur of the Year mean to you?

A: It’s a great boost for everyone in our company. FableVision has doubled in size in the past 18 months, so something must be going right. We won the Boston Business Journal’s Pacesetter Award this year recognizing us as one of the fastest-growing companies in the region, so I think that caught the attention of Entrepreneur Magazine. When I found out I was in the top 10, I was stunned and when after the next round of voting I had been named to the top five, I was even more stunned and very excited. The recognition has already been a huge plus for our children’s media company and the mission that drives us. I think this is a sign that creativity and innovation are vital in this new century. Schools have to move beyond bubble tests and memorizing state birds. We have to teach kids how to build community, how to be responsible and engaged citizens, how to communicate and make a difference. We are at a crossroads on the planet and the only way to move things forward is to engage every student to give us the best they’ve got to creatively solve some mighty big problems. I’m optimistic. Being named to the top five entrepreneurs of the year reads as a sign that the world thinks so too.

 Q: FableVision has a ton of projects going on now, but I imagine things were more stop-and-start back in 1996. What nuggets of advice would you give someone thinking of launching his own company, especially during a recession?

A: The recession is a great time to start a business – especially at the tail end of one. When times are tough, people get creative and are willing to work extra hard, especially if you find the right team of talent. The business has to be part of your passion. It has to be your mission for it to succeed. If you don’t love what you’re doing, save your energy until you find what really drives you. I wrote a book called “The North Star,” about following your dreams, which coincidentally was written as I started FableVision.

 Q: You say “FableVision is on a 200-year mission to bring the world to a better place through media, storytelling, and technology.” Really? How does such a long-term mission work?

A: Lasting change takes time. The U.S.A. was an “idea” that took a century and a half to nurture and “launch.” It was a hard-fought and is, in many ways, still a work in progress. As founding father John Adams wrote: “Patience and perseverance have a magical effect before which difficulties disappear and obstacles vanish.” FableVision hopes to contribute to revolutionizing how communities are educated and nurtured. We know it will take time, but if we find like-minded people and organizations, it will probably take less time.

 Q: Your projects have included children’s books, videos, and Web sites. Which medium is most satisfying?

A: I love technology and all the opportunities it allows us to create and connect, but I have to say that my favorite “technology” is still the hold-in-your-hand, real book. I guess it wasn’t much of a surprise that after 20 years in educational technology, I opened an old-fashioned bookshop in Dedham Square. Ultimately, though, I think that it is the story, and the wisdom contained within it, that is the most compelling part of what I do.