The little black box: a stash of fresh ideas always comes in handy for a resourceful entrepreneur

Entrepreneur, May, 2005 by Mark Henricks

WHEN DWAYNE CLARK was a corporate executive, he stuffed a "Black Box" file with ideas that got nixed by higher ups. In 1996, Clark took the ideas with him when he co-founded Aegis Living, a Redmond, Washington, company with over 35 senior residential communities, $96 million in sales and a reputation for innovation in a warm, fun atmosphere.

Senior residences built by the 46-year-old CEO and his co-founder, Bill Gallaher, 54, sport innovations ranging from lobbies decorated with antique cars and video games for younger visitors to Aegis Gardens in Fremont, California, a community with Asian-themed decor, landscaping and cuisine.

Clark is also an insightful manager. Despite paying caregivers only $10 per hour, turnover is cellar-level thanks to employee discounts and freebies wrangled from Aegis' suppliers. Happier caregivers means better care, says Clark, who now devours business books for ideas to refill the depleted Black Box.