Entreprenuerial Ministry

Scott McOwen with his granchildren,
Malia and Scotty, the entreprenuers of the future

Entrepreneurial Ministry

Scott McOwen and his wife Carolyn have lived in San Clemente
for 34 years. Scott started several very successful businesses.
One of them is the SOCO Group. He set them up so he could
retire. Well, sort of. Now he has found a calling that won’t let
him go. I wanted to tell you two things about Scott; his
entrepreneurial expertise, because it might help you either
now or down the road, and how he found a more rewarding
job…the ministry.

“Thirty years ago I was in the seminary, working an internship
at Loma Linda Hospital as a chaplain. Years later, I thought,
“What had I done that was significant in my life? This jumped
out at me. I went back for more training and became a hospital
chaplain.” Scott found out he had 2 competencies, business
building and ministry. He had to figure out how to use them.
“There was really no place for me to fit.” So he did what
a hero would do. He invented a new position for himself.
An “entrepreneurial” chaplain.

Scott doesn’t want to be called a hero. But he wants to help other
people become one. That’s why - to me - he is a hero. He just
wants to make a difference. Scott doesn’t have to work anymore.
He could golf all day, but he chooses to help others through the
bumps of life, whether financial or spiritual. He cares. He listens.

Scott contributes not just through jobs he provides to our
community, but through donations locally and worldwide.
Because he knows we affect the whole world. We are the ones
to change that world as we send out the best of ourselves like
Scott does from this blessed community of San Clemente.

35 years ago, Scott’s first weekend on call, 3 girls, all under
the age of 11, died in separate instances. He had to deal with
their families, “That was the hardest thing, I’d ever done.”

He found a strange thing happening in his hospital work.
“Many people, particularly men lying in the hospital, were
mourning their retirement. They had no one to be with them.
That’s what got me.” Scott went to an older chaplain, and
pointed out the need to help these people. The chaplain said,
“Why don’t you figure out how you can reach those folks?”
“That’s what I’ve been doing,” said Scott. “I take my experience
of understanding business and help people who are going
through life problems, loss of a loved one, or financial downturns.

Scott knows. He struggled with “a real bad financial downturn
in the mid 80s.” His company was losing money, month after
month. But a consultant gave him the help he needed. Scott
wants to pass that help along. “I really just do three things.
I listen. I understand what they’re going through. Then we
brainstorm. We pray about some situations, but lots of it’s
brainstorming. I just had a fellow call me the other night.
He is a single fellow who grew up all over the world. He lost
his job and is moving to Spain, I was just one connection
he has in the world.”

“It’s very rewarding, to the point of tears to go into a hospital
room knowing someone has a few days to live. All this garbage
that you put up with in society, it’s out the window. When
someone’s dying, it’s eye contact and touch. That’s all you’re
asked to do. One fellow was probably in his 80s. We just held
hands. He wouldn’t let go. I cannot believe how strong his
grip was. I may’ve been the first male he’s ever held
hands with. He passed away the next day.”

Scott helped a woman whose business was badly hit by Katrina.
She had 30 employees and thought she’d lost everything.
“After 2 weeks, she found computers and housing for everyone,
so they could start back to work. Then she had to lay half of
them off. Last November she hired everyone back. It was her
best month ever. Laying off half the people was the hardest
thing she’d ever done, but the only thing she could do.
Now they’re thriving.” Scott was there, supporting her decisions.

One of Scott’s biggest success stories is when he helped a man
who needed a new job. Scott asked him, “If you could do
anything what would you do?” The answer was, “Be the
engineer at the train at Disneyland.” “I said ‘Go apply for it,’
He replied, ‘Oh, I couldn’t do that.’ I said, ‘Yes you can.’
The man went to Disneyland. They told him, ‘Our engineers
have been here since 1955! When they want to retire, there
will be a job opening. But we see that you’re a fire marshal.
Would you like to be a fire marshal?’ He’s been doing that
ever since. He LOVES it.
He’s probably one of their most loyal employees.”

Scott plays basketball with the Boys and Girls Club in town.
In order to play you have to participate as a coach, ref, or
support the club in some significant way. Scott feels the Club
does a great job. He and Carolyn support them when possible.
Even on court, Scott has the same mentoring personality.
“I’d much rather see somebody make a great basket by me
making a pass, than make the basket myself. That’s more
rewarding to me.” He practices servant leadership. “I’m
an entrepreneur. I start companies and turn them over.
People look at entrepreneurs and say, ‘That’s greed.’
I don’t see it that way. God loves the world of work.
Entrepreneurship is a gift for people. Don’t become a
victim, become an entrepreneur.”

“I’ve come up with 10 steps for entrepreneurship. One is
in the Hero’s Tips area. “A gentleman told me twenty-five
years ago, ‘If money can solve your problems, you don’t
have a problem.’ If people have money problems, I put it in
perspective. You think that’s a big deal. It’s not. It’s your
health and your relationships. Those are the big things.
You can dig out of money problems.”

“You learn entrepreneurship to make money.
The next part is to give it away. Because it’s not really
yours anyway. Everything is borrowed.
Even the kids are borrowed.”

“What I’m most proud of accomplishing is raising two
daughters and having them, and our sons-in law,
contribute more to society than I do, or ever will.

As Scott continues to find people that need his help,
he is sending a huge ripple out from San Clemente.
You might just feel it.

Live like a hero,

Terri Marie
Award-Winning author of “Be The Hero of Your Own Game”
For more hero stories visit www.heroesamongus.blogspot.com

Scott’s Tips

• Always keep learning
When there is no place for you to fit, make your own place.
Be ready for change.

• Understand basic human needs to get through trauma
Scott says, “The human condition isn’t that complex. We want to be
understood. People usually have the solutions. If you’re understood,
you can move on, out of the chaos. We just want one or two people
to be concerned. Then we can get through it.”

• The most important step to building a business.
“Listen to people. Listen to your employees, your customers.
That’s probably number one.”

• Hire up
Scott hired two specialists who run his main company. “I understand
what each of them does, but I’m nowhere as good as they are.
Always hire people smarter and more competent than you are.
Then get out of their way.”

• Start at the end
Work backwards. Anytime you want to build an organization, visualize
where you want it. Then come right back to today.”

• Timing is important in dealing with grief
“The hardest thing I deal with is timing, when people need someone
and when they need to be alone.” Scott found a way.
“Let God work through me” he says.