An Inside Story of One Entrepreneur's JourneyStarting a company is one of the most rewarding experiences there is. Through sheer force of personality and toil, taking an idea and making it into something that spins out value is one of the most satisfying paths that one can take. But, the path is not always easy; risk, bad fortune, and heart-stopping existential crises like COVID-19 come out of nowhere and threaten the upending of a lifetime of work. For some, it must seem like a fool’s errand: a lifetime of risk and uncertainty in a constantly changing world. But for those who don’t mind the turbulence, it’s a chance to wield power, to have an impact, and, with a little luck, make a fortune.David Swanson is the founder and CEO of Daavlin, a medical technology company located in Bryan, Ohio. A graduate of the Thunderbird Graduate School of International Management, Swanson built the business from nothing into a well-known, international company in the field of dermatology. When not traveling the world, he splits his time between Ohio and his home on Portage Lake in northern Michigan.