CHOCTAW, Miss. – Whenever Cyrus Ben needs some motivation, he simply looks at his desk.

On top is a pint-sized construction pylon with the following inscription: The Road To Success Is Always Under Construction.

Ben has adopted this philosophy in his everyday work, constantly working hard to better his fortune and that of those around him.

Ben is a 31-year-old council member with the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians. This is his first term as a council member; he’s in his second year of a four-year term.

For the past four years he’s also been the president of Choctaw Office Supply.

The company, founded in the late 1980s, was a small struggling tribal enterprise when Ben purchased it. With some strategic management, Ben managed to make Choctaw Office Supply more profitable.

And it was for this reason that Ben was recently recognized by the National Center for American Indian Enterprise Development, which selected him as one of the 40 American Indian professionals under the age of 40.

All winners were honored at a reception Sept. 18 in Tulsa, at the Indian Progress in Business Event (INPRO). They were selected based on their leadership, initiative and dedication in propelling Native businesses and communities forward.

“It was quite an honor, not only for myself but to see my fellow Natives,” Ben said. “There were people there (getting honored) who were doctors, attorneys and successful businessmen. I was really delighted to see the strides Natives have made.”

Ben also believes all the award winners had to have worked tirelessly to achieve their current status. “We have continued (to overcome) the obstacles of our ancestry to become great people,” he said. “It was great to see that.”

Ben was joined at the reception by his wife TaRita, mother Karen and sister Cheriena.

In honor of their achievements, all award recipients received an acrylic plaque.

This marked the first time NCAIED, which is celebrating its 40th anniversary, compiled a 40 Under 40 list. Native Americans aged 18 – 39 were eligible for the awards. People from across the country were asked to submit nominations and NCAIED representatives sorted through them.

“It’s a lot of hard work finally paying off, but with much more to do,” Ben said about the award.

Besides his council duties and running Choctaw Office Supply, Ben is also the president of Choctaw Contracting Solutions, an electrical designing company.

Under his leadership, Choctaw Office Supply significantly improved its fortunes. Ben said it managed to do so in large part because overhead expenses were brought under control.

But he also admits his business did have it tough this past year. It wasn’t as if he was alone.

“All over the world everybody is facing barriers in such economic times,” said Ben, who attended high school in his hometown before graduating from Mississippi College in 2001 with a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration and marketing management. “We have to work harder than what we are accustomed to.”

And that’s fine by him. He’s more than willing to work hard.

“The new generation has had it easy,” Ben said. “I think it’s time we take the steps of our ancestry and work hard.”

And that’s exactly what Ben plans to continue doing. He’s hoping his political career is a lengthy one. And he is keen to see both his companies grow even more. “We are in rural Mississippi. I’m hoping to grow and provide employment, especially for people from my tribe.”

Choctaw Office Supply currently has six employees, including five Native Americans. And Choctaw Contracting Solutions employs 40 people, including two Native Americans.

Ben said there are only a few Native Americans in this company partly because they have had difficulties becoming licensed electricians, something he is hoping to see changed in the coming years.

And Ben doesn’t mind doing his part towards working hard to attain this change.

After all, the road to success is always under construction.