Early Beginnings as a Chimney Sweep and Entrepreneurial Drive

In a recent podcast interview, Interior Secretary Doug Burgum shared insights into his unlikely start in business as a chimney sweep, an experience that helped shape his future leadership and academic pursuits.

Burgum revealed that he began his chimney sweeping business as a senior at North Dakota State University in the 1970s, motivated in part by the energy crisis caused by the OPEC oil embargo. With the rise in wood heating as an alternative, he saw a market opportunity since oil prices had doubled, making home heating more expensive.

“People were starting to burn wood again,” he recalled. “The price of oil doubled, and many couldn’t afford to heat their homes. So, I saw a chance to capitalize.”

Burgum recounted that the Associated Press once published a notable profile of him during those days, featuring a black-and-white photo of him on top of a chimney in freezing temperatures, with steam and ice all around. He even photocopied that image to include in his college applications, describing it as part of his personal story.

He shared that during his work, he often wore a “top hat and tails,” a required uniform that added a touch of flair and expectation, referencing the iconic character of Dick Van Dyke in “Mary Poppins.” Burgum mentioned that he was sometimes asked to sing the famous “Chim Chim Cher-ee” song, but he preferred to charge extra for performances, so he never had to sing during his job.

He admitted he was inexperienced with the application process for business school but humorously noted he might have been zero for seven without his unique background. Reflecting on his early adventures, Burgum highlighted how those experiences instilled a strong entrepreneurial spirit that would eventually lead him into politics and public service.