Hope, vision and action from Second Cup founder Frank O'Dea talks about successes, overcoming alcoholism JAMES MCLEOD The Telegram

Frank O'Dea,, entrepreneur, author and speaker, addresses members of the St. John's Board of Trade Wednesday. -Photo by James McLeod/The Telegram

Frank O'Dea undeniably has an inspiring story - he went from an alcoholic panhandler in his early 20s to being given the Order of Canada.

Along the way, O'Dea conquered his alcoholism, co-founded Second Cup and helped educate street children in Africa.

Speaking to the St. John's Board of Trade, O'Dea talked about his time on the street, his rise to international business, his philanthropic work and the three words that got him there - "hope, vision, action."

After being kicked out of his parents' house because of a destructive alcohol habit, O'Dea found himself on the streets of Toronto, panhandling for enough money to buy booze and pay for the flophouse he was living in.

"It was a very dirty, lonely and sometimes violent existence," O'Dea said.

Eventually, he managed to get into a rehabilitation program and he became involved in business.

In the mid-1970s he co-founded Second Cup, which went on to become one of the largest coffee chains in Canada.

In 1975, O'Dea said, coffee was basically a dry goods business selling beans people would brew at home, and coffee consumption was declining at a rate of 14 per cent every year.

"It was a disaster, a complete disaster," he said. "But we didn't have a bookkeeper, so we opened two more locations."

Then, he and co-founder Tom Culligan had three revolutionary ideas.

First, they would brew sample coffee in their shop to encourage sales. Second, they would charge people for the samples.

Finally, they would charge more than anyone else for their coffee, so people would know that it was the best.

He eventually sold his half of Second Cup, and moved on to other ventures.

He talked to board of trade members about his work making educational films for street kids in developing countries and fundraising efforts for anti-landmine projects.

O'Dea said spirituality was a major thread through his life, and that his motivation has always been hope, vision and action

"Without hope, we can have no vision," he said.

"But vision is only a dream if we don't take action."

jmcleod@thetelegram.com