tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16211632723694633972024-02-18T18:15:39.740-08:00Phil Kassel: I'm just saying...You don't write because you want to say something, you write because you have something to say. -- F. Scott FitzgeraldPhil Kasselhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02077427236462103448noreply@blogger.comBlogger44125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1621163272369463397.post-86986666694848866012012-11-04T20:52:00.000-08:002013-03-05T16:24:10.909-08:00Two Letters From George<br />
<div class="WordSection1">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Two Letters from
George, </span></b><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">a short essay</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Philip Kassel</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">For as long as I can remember I have loved film; I have loved good
stories expertly told through the cinematic process.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As a student at the USC School of
Cinema-Television, as it was then called, I was exposed to most of the best
films ever produced.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Viewing old
but significant films was part of the curriculum.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>From the silents to the talkies, the
school provided at least two screenings weekly, and often more, of a large
variety of film of every genre.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The professors at the school all encouraged new thinking and
innovation in the cinematic arts, but they also strongly believed that it was
important for every student to know what had “come before.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They taught that a strong understanding
of the classic, and often iconic films produced in the first fifty years of the
industry would form a solid foundation upon which to form new, creative ideas.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Long before actually attending the film school at USC I was certain I
wanted a career in filmmaking and to that end I came up with a variety of ways
to get myself in to most of the major studios in Los Angeles.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In those days, before this era begun by
the events in September 2001, it really wasn’t all that difficult.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I discovered in most cases, if I looked
like I knew where I was going, if I looked like I belonged there, I could
simply walk past the gate guards.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>For the one or two studios that enforced stricter security I found ways
to sneak in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Once inside I would
explore the back lot, production offices and sound stages looking for names I
recognized, names I had seen on the big screen for years, names that I hoped
might let me work with them in some small capacity.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I would usually just leave my credit list with a secretary or personal
assistant.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now and then while
strolling around a studio property I would encounter a director, producer or
actor I recognized.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On those
occasions I would work up my nerve, introduce myself with as much false
confidence as I could muster, shake their hand and then quickly explain what I
wanted.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No one ever dismissed me;
some of them directed me to their office to leave my credit list and some took it
with them.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Very shortly after graduating from film school, in early March 1975, I
was on one of these forays at Universal Studios.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While working my way through several offices
located in bungalows on the back lot I came across a name on a door that I recognized
immediately, George Seaton.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was
a first class writer-director and I had seen many of his films screened in the
film school at USC.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">For readers who may not be familiar with the name, George Seaton ventured
into the entertainment industry directly upon graduating from college, first
working as a voice actor at a Detroit radio station.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Early in 1933 the station was test
broadcasting a new show called <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Lone
Ranger</i>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>John Barrett voiced the
Ranger during the test phase but when the decision was made to make the show
part of the regular schedule George Seaton took over the title role.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Much later in his career he would
explain to interviewers how he devised the phrase “Hi-yo Silver” because he
couldn’t whistle for his horse as written in the early scripts.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Mr. Seaton entered the film industry as a writer, first penning stories
for films starring Jimmy Durante and Leo Carrillo.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At 20<sup>th</sup> Century Fox he wrote
an uncredited draft of the screenplay for the Marx Brothers’ <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">A Night at the Opera</i>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The whacky brothers liked his work
enough that they encouraged him to write something else for them; Mr. Seaton responded
with the original story and screenplay for <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">A
Day at the Races</i>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After another
uncredited contribution to <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Wizard of
Oz</i>, he went on to write <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Doctor
Takes a Wife</i>, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Charley’s Aunt</i>, and
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Song of Bernadette</i>, just to name
a few of his forty writing credits.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSbYTFy8Zod64BOQQw8d4K3hmpcLfLN1w6CAXWmHEcFDfZtEf_LxH7wFL8-lE3cBaARJF5MAOwb3lSXBvBGdoi7P_vGTaQ3G80Op79zDAAkXow2GAkzPIcGYq0B0a89MnpCs3ehe60wPXh/s1600/seaton-oscar-1955.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSbYTFy8Zod64BOQQw8d4K3hmpcLfLN1w6CAXWmHEcFDfZtEf_LxH7wFL8-lE3cBaARJF5MAOwb3lSXBvBGdoi7P_vGTaQ3G80Op79zDAAkXow2GAkzPIcGYq0B0a89MnpCs3ehe60wPXh/s200/seaton-oscar-1955.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">George Seaton, 1955</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Included among George Seaton’s 23 directing credits (the majority of
which he wrote as well) are <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Junior Miss</i>,
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Shocking Miss Pilgrim</i>, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Counterfeit Traitor</i>, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Pleasure of His Company</i>, and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Country Girl</i>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Country
Girl</i> not only garnered Mr. Seaton an Academy Award in the Best Writing,
Adapted Screenplay category, but also won Grace Kelly the Oscar for Best
Actress.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">My favorite George Seaton film is a charming, timeless Christmas fable
titled <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Miracle on 34<sup>th</sup> Street</i>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mr. Seaton wrote and directed this 1947
release, adapting the screenplay from a short story by Valentine Davies.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This marvelous film won Academy Awards
for Best Actor in a Supporting Role (Edmund Gwenn), Best Writing, Original
Story (Valentine Davies), and Best Writing, Screenplay going to George Seaton.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Miracle on 34<sup>th</sup>
Street</span></i><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> captures the joyful innocence of childhood along with the warmth and
traditions of the holiday season.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It portrays American life encompassing strong values and a large degree of
wholesomeness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Of course, it
is “just a movie” but it is a movie that reflected a way of life and a set of
values that has been almost completely lost in the United States.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I believe <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Miracle on 34<sup>th</sup> Street</i> still charms and resonates
strongly with audiences today, over 65 years after it was produced, because
they hunger for that way of life and those values, often whether they realize
it or not.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Before these last few paragraphs of background material on George
Seaton I was standing at his office door on the Universal Studios back
lot.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I went inside, and after
explaining my mission to the secretary at the front desk, asked if I might
leave my credit list with her for Mr. Seaton.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She told me I could certainly leave my
credit list but then suggested that I also write Mr. Seaton a personal
letter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Handing me a business card
she explained that Mr. Seaton enjoyed getting letters from aspiring young
people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">very</i> young at the time.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">So, home I went and that very afternoon composed a letter to George
Seaton.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My letter was very basic
but articulate.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I introduced
myself, explained my career goals and then assured him I would gain a great
deal by working with him in any capacity (I didn’t know very much about job
hunting back in those days).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My letter
concluded requesting a meeting with him to discuss my career possibilities.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I mailed my letter (this was long before
email, folks) and then waited in anticipation for a reply.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I never got to meet with George Seaton, but ten days after mailing my
letter I received a reply.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Here is
the letter in its entirety.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">March 20, 1975</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Dear Mr. Kassel,</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I only wish that I could answer your excellent letter by giving you
some hope.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m forever saddened by
the lack of opportunities open to someone of your experience and ambition.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">If I were actively engaged in a production I would be more than happy
to talk with you and try to arrange some working arrangement.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Unfortunately I am now in the throes of
writing an original which if it eventually goes into production will not be
before the summer of ’76.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Since you are a writer as well as a director, cameraman and editor my
only suggestion would be for you to attempt a feature length script.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>From my experience, with dozens of young
filmmakers, this seems to be the only open door.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s worked with others and might do the
same for you.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Studios are not so willing to evaluate someone’s talent by viewing
short subjects but they are more than anxious to latch onto a script with
possibilities.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If, and when, they
find something with a potential they might (and, indeed, have) allowed the
writer to direct his own script.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The only other avenue of entry into a studio is by starting in the
mail room – not a job of prestige for someone of your background but at
least it provides an opportunity to climb the ladder.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is especially true at Universal
where they make an effort to advance those who are truly interested in making
films.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Since I notice that you are a graduate of U.S.C. it might be helpful
if Dr. Kantor would write a letter to Universal pleading your case.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He knows to whom to write.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Good luck.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Sincerely,</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">[signed] George Seaton</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 0in;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQc2I1CfwjdBkyLnIPgwXaHCYxzkWHhzzs8p4ps6OzKF0mW9Mgi6qXS1JWr1LY3Vvnxml2MPE9Brm6_ntMnweO2L2JwXcvQJF2dYqTB8TlgSoJuEvv5dKwTrS1xoA7SVIThtkS-q363d8j/s1600/Seaton+Letter_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQc2I1CfwjdBkyLnIPgwXaHCYxzkWHhzzs8p4ps6OzKF0mW9Mgi6qXS1JWr1LY3Vvnxml2MPE9Brm6_ntMnweO2L2JwXcvQJF2dYqTB8TlgSoJuEvv5dKwTrS1xoA7SVIThtkS-q363d8j/s400/Seaton+Letter_1.jpg" width="280" /></a><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Of course I was disappointed that there
would be no immediate employment with a notable writer-director at a major
Hollywood studio.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But I was still
encouraged by Mr. Seaton’s letter and appreciated that he had taken the time
not only to write, but to make suggestions as to how I might accomplish my
goals.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">As for his suggestions, I was relatively
certain I did not want to work in the Universal Studios mail room.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was relatively certain that I didn’t
want to work in <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">any</i> mail room.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As for Dr. Bernard Kantor, then dean of
the USC School of Cinema-Television, he knew me only as an undergraduate who
had pestered him incessantly to sign a registration card granting me entrance
to the school one semester earlier than the rules allowed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Dr. Kantor did eventually sign that card
but beyond that he was completely unaware of me or my work at the school.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A recommendation letter from him seemed
unlikely.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">That left Mr. Seaton’s first suggestion
of attempting to write a feature-length screenplay.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At that point in my life I had never
written anything but short films, but I had been required to write a screen
treatment for a feature-length film in an undergraduate writing class.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I dusted off that treatment and began
transforming it into a screenplay.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I had to work on it in my spare time and it was my first feature-length
screenplay, so it took a while.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">1975 came to an end and I was still
working on my screenplay.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was
also still trying to get my first “real” job in the film industry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I remembered from his letter that George
Seaton had been working on a new script he predicted might go into production
the summer of 1976.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hey, it was
1976.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was only February but I
thought it best to get a jump on all the other aspiring filmmakers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I wrote another letter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A few weeks later I received the reply
that follows.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">February 26, 1976</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Dear Mr. Kassel,</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I’m afraid that this letter is not going to be any more encouraging
than my other one.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Unfortunately the project on which I was working (and referred to in
my note to you) was considered not commercial enough by the studio.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Since the dialogue was based on words in
the English language and not copied from the walls of men’s toilets, and since
it did not include a giant shark devouring a 747 that crashes in the Bermuda
Triangle with 110 passengers aboard, it was judged too tame for today’s market.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I am now writing another original which, I’m afraid, will be rejected
for the same reasons.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However I
keep trying in the hope that one day audiences will grow tired of sadistic
brutality, tidal waves, earthquakes, holocausts and man-eating spiders.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m beginning to believe that Oscar
Wilde was right when he said:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“Nothing succeeds like excess.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">So until Oscar turns out to be wrong I’m afraid that I won’t be active
and consequently not in a position to consider a production, let alone a
production assistant.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Sincerely,</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">[signed] George Seaton</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjif9BAbFihhwoMHssUjHtggawQaEUlWvmwEvd3rdMfglzjohehWnJdzydQAVYqJJjhWwdcm1Z52SL1gMdRWKKEeKJQW2j-l8XaWLrIh-FGVZJU-IYrrbfdsi6_sgK78IU-bc9FOWi23_d/s1600/Seaton+Letter_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjif9BAbFihhwoMHssUjHtggawQaEUlWvmwEvd3rdMfglzjohehWnJdzydQAVYqJJjhWwdcm1Z52SL1gMdRWKKEeKJQW2j-l8XaWLrIh-FGVZJU-IYrrbfdsi6_sgK78IU-bc9FOWi23_d/s400/Seaton+Letter_2.jpg" width="280" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> At the time I was just disappointed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I wanted a job but there was no job to
be had.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That was pretty much all
there was to it for me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Furthermore,
I didn’t think the language I heard in feature films was all that bad, I
enjoyed disaster films with awesome special effects and I was often fascinated
with how filmmakers could make shootings, beatings, and stabbings look so
convincing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After all, it was only
entertainment, it was just the movies.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The issues addressed by Mr. Seaton had been completely lost on me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By the way, George Seaton is credited
with having originated the disaster film genre when he wrote and directed
Universal’s 1970 release, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Airport</i>.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Mr. Seaton had no way of knowing it but by the time he first
corresponded with me he had already directed his last motion picture; the film
was titled <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Showdown</i> and it was
released in 1973.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Three years after
writing his second letter to me in 1976, he would be dead from cancer at the
young age of 68.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Under the circumstances one might be tempted to say that George Seaton
had just hung on too long.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was
left over from an era in Hollywood that produced motion pictures much more
wholesome in content than those being produced in 1976.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And when that <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">old</i> Hollywood was inclined to produce a picture dealing with
unwholesome subject matter they did so tastefully.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maybe George Seaton just didn’t
understand that times were changing, that he was living in a progressive, more
accepting society.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">By the time I rediscovered Mr. Seaton’s letters in my files, sometime
in the 1990s, I had a different perspective.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was considerably more mature and
experienced in life; I had been working in the motion picture industry in a
variety of capacities for over 20 years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I had experienced a few successes and a whole lot more
disappointments.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had married and
had produced two wonderful children.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Like most children mine enjoyed seeing a good movie from time to
time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My job as a parent was to
make sure the movies they saw were appropriate for them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Having children makes one look at a lot
of things differently.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I found that George Seaton’s letter of February 26, 1976 carried a
deeper meaning now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I began
comparing the contemporary films I had seen to the films of the 1970s.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The newer films were clearly more
permissive in subject matter, much more liberal in all uses of language, and considerably
more graphic in depictions of violence.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Then there was the question of tastefulness in how all of the
aforementioned elements were handled.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I can only imagine how Mr. Seaton perceived the films of the 1970s when
compared to those of the ‘30s and ‘40s.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The issues addressed by Mr. Seaton in his letter were not new to our
society in 1976.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Whether he was
consciously addressing it or not, growing permissiveness and the increasing
abandonment of Bible-based values have been present in the motion picture
industry from the moment Thomas Edison successfully demonstrated the Kinetosope
in 1891.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The film industry, as we know it today, probably began in 1902 with
the completion of Talley’s Electric Theater in Los Angeles, California, the
first theater built with the specific purpose of projecting films.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By the 1920s there was increasing
pressure on the Federal government to censor movies.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It obviously didn’t take long for
filmmakers to discover that exploiting the darkest, weakest elements of human
existence, and pushing every imaginable boundary drew an audience.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Hollywood responded to the threats of government wielded censorship by
establishing the Motion Picture Producers and Distributors of America in 1922,
a trade organization with former Postmaster General William H. Hays as
president.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Hays Code regulated
how sex, nudity, drug and alcohol use, and all forms of violence could be
displayed on the screen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It
prohibited the use of on-screen profanity, “ridicule of the clergy, and willful
offense to any nation, race or creed.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>These are just a few examples; it was an extensive list of regulations.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The Hays office kept a watchful eye on motion picture content well
into the 1960s.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is how the
Motion Picture Association of America describes what happened next in their web
site’s “History of the MPAA.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“In the late 1960s our nation was changing, and so was its cinema.
Alongside the progress of the civil rights, women's rights and labor movements,
a new kind of American film was emerging - frank and open.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Amid our society's expanding freedoms,
the movie industry's restrictive regime of self-censorship could not stand.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In 1966, former Special Assistant to
President Lyndon Johnson, Jack Valenti, was named MPAA President. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That same year, sweeping revisions were
made to the Hays Code to reflect changing social mores.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In 1968, Jack Valenti, who went on to
hold the position for 38 years, founded the voluntary film rating system giving
creative and artistic freedoms to filmmakers while fulfilling its core purpose
of informing parents about the content of films so they can determine what
movies are appropriate for their kids. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>More than forty years later, the system
continues to evolve with our society and endures as a shining symbol of
American freedom of expression.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">To me this MPAA paragraph is a message from motion picture producers
that essentially translates to, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">We aren’t
going to be told what we can and can’t do anymore.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are going to make films about
anything we want in any way we want, and we’re going to keep making them as
long as our audience keeps buying tickets.</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Yes, the audience <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">is</i> part of
the problem.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">all</i> responsible.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Filmmakers and audiences alike are
moving further and further away from what is true, good, solid and
dependable.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are moving closer to
the darkness and further from the light.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The majority of filmmakers frequently produce morally, ethically, and
spiritually questionable products, and the audience flock to the theaters, stream
it into their living rooms and download it to their iPhones. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The real issue is how we, as a nation are
steadily drifting away from a solid foundation of Bible-based values.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Today, if you don’t like the “frank and open” nature of the American
film you should be prepared to be labeled as a prude or close-minded.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You are blind to the way life <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">really</i> is.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You are stuck in the past, you are too
religious, and you aren’t keeping up with our rapidly changing society.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But films influence our culture and
morality and the range of influence is immense.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With the technology of today even a
small, independent film can potentially reach tens of millions of people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Amateur film and video efforts posted on
YouTube routinely reach even greater numbers than that.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">George Seaton realized from professional experience that motion
pictures greatly amplify everything we are as human beings, both the good and
the bad.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Movies reflect what our
society believes, our morals and ethics, our measure of faith, our reverence or
lack thereof for God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Movies are a
giant mirror of who we are as a people.</span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEdZBd7X4_uUfEDazRli6d3y2KLbaGRzj5qrlH0ws6IWcrpFQ-HSV4aC857l8QfvNuknG8iF-yI_c1eKew3srejXzn9_5OQLsEWVqRqvGPxkt9Kqz0fNddLmFslHcqdOQkM7xZbBP77re5/s1600/seaton-hunter-airport.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEdZBd7X4_uUfEDazRli6d3y2KLbaGRzj5qrlH0ws6IWcrpFQ-HSV4aC857l8QfvNuknG8iF-yI_c1eKew3srejXzn9_5OQLsEWVqRqvGPxkt9Kqz0fNddLmFslHcqdOQkM7xZbBP77re5/s200/seaton-hunter-airport.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">George Seaton with Ross Hunter</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">When you buy a ticket or pay to stream a film depicting recreational
sex or drug use without <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">any</i>
responsibility attached, how do you like the reflection you see?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When you look in the movie mirror to learn
how to expertly traffic drugs as taught by the “cool” drug dealer, how does
that reflection look to you?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sit
down to watch the contemporary horror and slasher films displaying the darkest,
most perverse aspects of the human psyche while striving to shock audiences
with unthinkable gore and brutality.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Do you like the reflection you see?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">For the record, I still love films and the art of filmmaking.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Granted, I’m much more discerning in the
films I choose to see, but I still believe in the potential motion pictures
have to educate, uplift, and heighten social awareness, as well as entertain.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I cannot claim to know the depths of George Seaton’s thoughts based
simply on the two letters he wrote to me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Based on the films he wrote and directed, I think he believed it was far
nobler to make a film that uplifted and gave hope to his audiences, even if he
was dealing with dark, violent or ugly subject matter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just from looking at how Mr. Seaton
handled the wide range of topics in his long list of films it is clear that he
realized the power of film can make audiences aware of important issues,
suggest solutions, and sometimes even point to a better way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All of his films were made with taste,
dignity and a respect for his audience.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">George Seaton’s letters tell me that he thought filmmakers should
strive to do better, to be more responsible, and to move away from the darkness
and towards the light.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And he had
worked long enough in the entertainment industry to realize that audiences can
powerfully influence the films that are produced simply by <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">not buying a ticket</i>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We
can all benefit from behaving more responsibly, filmmakers and audiences
alike.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s something to strive for.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">© 201<span style="font-size: x-small;">2</span> Philip Kassel</span></div>
</div>
</div>
Phil Kasselhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02077427236462103448noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1621163272369463397.post-87248179523561786842012-10-15T08:26:00.001-07:002012-11-23T15:46:33.918-08:00Road To Success - Epilogue<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Roads To Success – Epilogue<o:p></o:p></span></span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">The
last episode of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Secrets Of Success</i>
was shot sometime in 2006.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Over the
years the production of each episode had gradually grown further and further
apart.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>None of us producing the show
really understood the decision to discontinue production.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The weekly viewing audience at the time was
still astronomically high and there were certainly more highly successful
business individuals available to interview.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Internal
politics may have played a part in the show’s demise; Campus Crusade for Christ
had slowly been losing enthusiasm for the show and they eventually just pulled
the plug.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Without their fund raising and
far-reaching distribution network the series simply did not have a future.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><o:p><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I
will always have fond memories of my experiences during production of the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Secrets Of Success</i> series.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The people working with me were and still are
extremely talented.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They are people of
strong faith and strong character, and each of them cared deeply about the
product we were producing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Travelling
all over the United States and Canada together we got to know each other
extremely well.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">The
greatest value received by all of us working on the series came directly from
the business people featured in each episode.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Witnessing firsthand how they lived each day and used their success to
benefit others created in all of us the desire to do the same.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All of our featured guests had experienced
failures, and some had staggered their way through personal tragedies.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Family members and colleagues who witnessed
these struggles most often provided the descriptions of how our subjects
reached out to God to overcome their challenges, and how they drew strength
from their faith.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Both the processes and the results were
nothing less than extraordinary.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">In
introducing this compilation of stories I provided a list of commonalities
shared by the individuals featured on the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Secrets
Of Success</i> television series.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
think it is well worth reviewing them here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>With only one or two exceptions, all of our show subjects had built
their financial success from nothing, or next to nothing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They all place a high priority on their
families.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They care deeply and sincerely
for, and value, all people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Finally,
they judge their success not on how much they own or profit, but in how much
they are able to give to individuals or charitable organizations in need.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God, of course, knows our hearts and it
seemed to me that He knew well in advance how these individuals would use the
success He helped them achieve. <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Money
is certainly important to each and every one of these professionals; they are
in business to make money, they know that their businesses must show profits in
order to thrive.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But for all of them the
desire to generate greater profits is less about amassing more personal wealth
and more about creating greater resources to benefit employees, better serve
the community, help the less fortunate, and most of all to serve God.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Obviously,
each of these successful people benefit from and enjoy their wealth, but it is
important to understand that accumulating more cash is not what drives them
forward or controls their lives.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Every
one of them will tell you it is their love of God, seeking to understand God’s
plan for them, and walking in faith which is what brings true value to their
lives.</span></span><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">© 201<span style="font-size: x-small;">2</span> Philip Kassel</span> </span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span>Phil Kasselhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02077427236462103448noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1621163272369463397.post-41852827782040176122012-10-08T07:40:00.003-07:002012-11-23T15:47:14.100-08:00Roads To Success 4.12<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Real Success</span></b><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">The influence of Wayne Huizenga, Jr.'s conversion to a life in Christ first touched his immediate family. As he has grown in his faith over the years Wayne, Jr. has been able to share the Good News of his life within business as well.</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"></span><br />
<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">The
time constraints of a <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Secrets Of Success</i>
television episode made it impossible to include a great amount of story
details, and some of what follows had not yet occurred at the time of
production.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Fortunately, Wayne, Jr.’s
interview for the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">I Am Second</i>
movement documented many of those details.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">“I
like to think that I’m a shrewd businessman. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m very passionate about business,” Wayne,
Jr. described himself. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“But I try to
also bring God into business. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I share my
convictions with my employees every chance I get. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When we have successes I talk of those
successes because of God blessing us. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
pray for them. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ll pray for our
company. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I pray for them individually. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have a number of employees that will come to
me that some are believers and followers of Christ and some aren’t. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They will come and say, ‘Junior, God listens
to your prayers would you pray for my son, or my daughter, or my wife, they are
having difficult times.’ <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am happy to
do that and I’m blessed to be able to follow up with them.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Wayne,
Jr. has been able to expand beyond his one-on-one sharing of faith.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“We have a Bible study at our office every
Monday at noon and the Gospel is shared every Monday.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We invite our workers as well as our
customers to come. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is a special time.
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m very, very blessed to be the head of
my company.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think it is easier for me
to conduct myself that way and to be, to share what I believe in, and share who
Jesus is to my life than someone that’s maybe in middle management or has a
boss that doesn’t accept that.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">So,
what do the people surrounding Wayne Huizenga, Jr. think of his success?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">"His success is really a testimony to his dedication to his values and the experiences he has had over the years, "stated Carlos Vidueira during the <i>Secrets Of Success</i> interviews.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">"He's always had a good heart. I think that his faith has allowed him to take a good man and make him into what potentially can be a great man," commented Bill Pierce.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">"My husband has been such a great success because he has allowed God to use him as a vessel. He has not put himself first," stated Fonda Huizenga.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">And what does Wayne, Jr. have to say about success?</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; mso-ansi-language: EN;">“Success for me is that one day when I die and I see
Jesus,” <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Wayne</st1:city></st1:place>
explained in his <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">I Am Second</i>
interview.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“That he will look at me and
say, ‘Well done my good and faithful son.’ <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve been given such a gift based on the life
that I lived, a second chance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s a
chance to follow Jesus, to go to heaven, to live an eternal life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m going to live forever and I know for
certainty that I’m going to live in Heaven. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That’s success. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And the other part of success is knowing that
my bride and my children will also live with me for eternity in heaven. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Success is knowing that your family will live
with you in heaven forever and ever. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m
blessed to know that although my mother has already left this earth, she’s
waiting [in heaven], and I’m blessed to know that my father has Jesus living in
his heart as well. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some of my brothers
and some of my sisters [know Christ], not all of them, but I have hope. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Success is knowing that those that you love
will make it to heaven.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Wayne Jr.'s final statement in his <i>Secrets Of Success</i> interview summed it all up nicely. "To me success is being able to use what we've been given to change other people's lives. And I have this great desire to share what I have with other people. To me that's success."</span><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">© 201<span style="font-size: x-small;">2</span> Philip Kassel</span> </span></div>
</div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span>Phil Kasselhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02077427236462103448noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1621163272369463397.post-91934958923095030132012-10-01T07:25:00.002-07:002012-11-23T15:47:42.056-08:00Roads To Success 4.11<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Business Faith</span></b><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Through
a season of loss and heartbreak Wayne and Fonda Huizenga stuck together and
worked through it all.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>More importantly,
Fonda observed Wayne, Jr. displaying quiet strength, peace and even joy throughout
one challenge after another.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
experience made it clear to Fonda that her husband’s conversion to Christianity
was authentic, genuine and lasting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She
wanted those things in her life and after months of searching made a confession
of faith to join her husband in a new life.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Fonda
was not the only person to observe the “new” Wayne, Jr.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He became President of Huizenga Holdings
shortly after his conversion and the changes in his life quickly became obvious
to his colleagues.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">“The
primary changes I saw in Wayne, Jr., after he became a man of faith, were quite
dramatic,” related Bill Pierce, at the time Chief Financial Officer for
Dolphins Enterprises.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“It was apparent
mainly in his ability to focus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It also
manifested itself in respect to the commitment and the time and the effort to
understand the business from top to bottom.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>And it manifested itself in newfound patience.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Carlos
Vidueira, Vice President at Huizenga Holdings commented, “He no longer wanted
to be associated with or be around certain types of behavior.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Wayne,
Jr.’s father also noticed the changes in his son.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In his <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">I
Am Second</i> interview Wayne, Jr. described an extremely deep conversation
with his father.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Wayne, Sr. asked his
son if he had ever considered returning to school, going to seminary to become
a pastor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Wayne, Jr. could not avoid
wondering, “One of two things is happening.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Either I’m not doing a very good job as the president of the company and
this is a way to conveniently move me on, or dad really things that I should
become a pastor.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">In
a sincere quest to discover God’s will for his life, Wayne, Jr. had already
consulted with competent people sharing the Christian faith.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All of them advised that the business world
was where he could be most effective.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Wayne, Jr. confidently answered his father with, “There are a lot of
people who will never darken the doors of a church that are in this incredible
business world we work in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And this is
exactly where I need to be.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Wayne,
Sr. was more than pleased to have his son remain in place as President of
Huizenga Holdings.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Wayne Huizenga, Jr.’s
faith is now apparent in all areas of his life, including business.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“We tend to pray before our business meetings
and ask for leadership,” he said in his <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Secrets
Of Success</i> interview.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">“After
his [Wayne, Jr.’s] newfound faith what I found was a real focus on trying to
capitalize on the opportunities to do good and to intertwine those with his
business opportunities, instead of looking at those things separately,” related
Carlos Vidueira.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">"I ask for His interpretation of my family situations," Wayne, Jr. explained. "How do I discipline my children? How do I spend my money? We've been blessed with so much. How much should I use for worldly assets here? How much should I give to support our community and support interests that are aligned with our church and faith? And the most interesting part for me is the love I have for my employees now. I think as a family and as businessmen Wayne, Sr. and I have always treated our employees fairly well. But now I look past the ledger and balance sheet to the employees and their families and how they're doing."</span></div>
<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span></span><br />
<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">“He is someone who really cares for people, whether they’re
at the top of the organization or the bottom of the organization,” Pastor Mark
Davis described Wayne, Jr.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
<br />
“We recently acquired a large boat building and yacht refurbishing
center and marina,” Wayne, Jr. related during his Secrets Of Success
interview.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Part of the deal included a
promise to do our best to keep all of the employees.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Unfortunately, as we got deeper into the
business we found that the business was not as viable as we first thought it
was when we were doing our due diligence.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>A promise is a promise, but especially a promise made in faith.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We embarked on a major renovation where we
spent $7 or $8 million dollars rebuilding our facilities so we can continue to
employ the 130 employees we made a promise to support.”<br />
<br />
As Wayne, Jr. grew in his faith, his company would grow
along with him.</span></span></span><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">© 201<span style="font-size: x-small;">2</span> Philip Kassel</span></span> </span></span></span></div>
<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span></span></span><br />
<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><o:p></o:p></span>
</span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span></span><span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
Phil Kasselhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02077427236462103448noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1621163272369463397.post-26153604504780918672012-09-24T07:07:00.000-07:002012-11-23T15:48:28.924-08:00Roads To Success 4.10<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">New Growth<o:p></o:p></span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">After her husband's conversion to a life in Christ, Fonda Huizenga found herself in unfamiliar territory. Wayne, Jr. had turned away from drinking; he was more patient, more focused, and more loving. Unquestionably all these changes were positive but Fonda wasn't sure she knew this <i>new man</i>. It would not be long before a series of critical challenges would illustrate to Fonda that the changes in her husband were both authentic and lasting.</span></span><br />
<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span></span><br />
<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Very
shortly following Wayne, Jr.’s conversion his mother, Joyce Huizenga, became
seriously ill.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At first doctors were unsure
what the malady might be but they eventually diagnosed cancer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Joyce grew weaker and soon moved in with her
son and his family.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">In
his <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">I Am Second</i> video interview
Wayne, Jr. said, “I began taking her to the doctor. We began praying
together.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And I was blessed to be able
to love on my mom like she loved on me all of those years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had a new strength the old Junior - on the
plane, on the boat, and in the bottle – didn’t have.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The new Junior wanted to be with mom over
those nine months, when she lived and died in our house.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I wanted to be strong for my children as they
watched their grandmother die.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">“I
saw him living a life that was more settled, happier, even though our
conditions at that time did not warrant that,” Fonda remembered.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“He focused on his children; he focused on
his relationship with them and with his mother.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">“It
was an incredible time to care for someone who cared for me and only because of
this new found relationship with Christ,” Wayne, Jr. summed up the experience.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Wayne,
Jr., focused on his mother for so many months, did not anticipate yet another
loss.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“A month later I lost my
grandfather,” Wayne, Jr. related.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“He
was also instrumental in raising me as a child.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>So, losing him right after losing mom was really devastating in my
life.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Through
all of the challenges, the heartbreak and loss, Fonda observed her husband
closely.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“He focused on me,” Fonda
remembered.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“He encouraged me even in
times when I knew I had let him down.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"></span><br />
<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">“My
faith gave me the ability to be strong for my wife, for my children who had
seen their beloved grandparents pass away, for my dad who had just lost his
father, and for my brother who had lost his mother and grandfather,” Wayne, Jr.
explained.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">“I
saw things in his life that I wanted so desperately in mine; a sense of peace,
a sense of joy, and a sense of contentment,” Fonda told the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Secrets Of Success</i> camera.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“And I got closer and closer to him in ways I
never had before trying to find out, ‘What is this and how do I get it?’ <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How do I appropriate that in my life?”</span></span><br />
<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span></span><br />
<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Fonda eventually found the answers she was searching for and joined her husband's life of faith. "When I then made a confession of faith and started moving forward, it was the same thing as being in a canoe together and now you're both paddling together," she illustrated.</span></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">© 201<span style="font-size: x-small;">2</span> Philip Kassel</span></span> </span></span></div>
</div>
<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span>Phil Kasselhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02077427236462103448noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1621163272369463397.post-14989667721012913692012-09-17T07:05:00.003-07:002012-11-23T15:49:05.342-08:00Roads To Success 4.9<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">The New Guy<o:p></o:p></span></span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">On
a rainy, thundering Wednesday night, during a visit to a friend’s church, Wayne
Huizenga, Jr. gave his life to Jesus Christ.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The Word of God spoken in the church that night finally energized all of
Wayne, Jr.’s conversations with his friend, Captain Brad Fleetwood McDonald,
all of the church sermons he had heard over the past months, and his own hours
of elementary study of the Bible.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Arriving
home that evening he shared the monumental news of his conversion to his wife,
Fonda.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“My immediate reaction was, ‘Have
you lost your mind?’” recalled Fonda with a warm laugh.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Wayne,
Jr. was undaunted.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For the next eighteen
months he made continued attempts to describe his experience to Fonda, and
exactly what it meant.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“She told me at
one point that I had been abducted by aliens,” Wayne, Jr. laughed.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Aliens
certainly had been nowhere near Wayne, Jr. but he knew for certain he was a
different man.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“</span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">I tried to go out to parties like I used to, and at first I felt terrible
in the morning,” he related in his <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">I Am
Second</i> interview.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I called up my
friends and I said, ‘I feel horrible!’<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>They’d say, ‘Well Junior, the way that you acted last night and the way
you drank, you should. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You’re hung over,
son!’”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">But Wayne, Jr. knew there was more to
it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After only two or three such parties
he called the friends who had invited him to the Wednesday evening church
service.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After explaining what he had
been experiencing his friends provided an answer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It began with a reminder that he had invited
God into his heart.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And then they
explained that, when he prayed the prayer of acceptance, God entered his heart
through the Holy Spirit.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">“It all kind of clicked,” Wayne, Jr.
remembered.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Captain Brad, the hole in
my heart, and my new relationship with Jesus.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">When his friends explained that the
excessive drinking and other bad behavior saddened God, Wayne, Jr. in turn felt
sadness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His preference was to make God
happy.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">“I tried to drink less,” Wayne, Jr.
told the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">I Am Second</i> camera. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Then I’d have a couple of drinks. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then I’d say something that I knew was wrong. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And I’d set my drink down, and I’d find myself
a quiet spot at the party, and I’d tell God I was sorry.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">The power of those confessions to God,
along with the requests for forgiveness, would soon become evident.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Eventually, years ago, I told Him [God] I
don’t want to drink anymore,” Wayne, Jr. explained. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“And He said, ‘Okay Junior, you don’t have to
drink anymore.’ <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And I got up the next
morning haven’t had a drink since. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s
power, the power to change. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At that
point my wife still hadn’t come to know the Lord.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Of course, no one was affected more by the changes in Wayne, Jr. than Fonda. "The drinking stopped. The carousing stopped. He devoted himself to business in a way I had not seen before."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">The bottom line was that Fonda's "new" husband worried her. "The obvious changes were immediate," Fonda recalled. "He had a change in attitude that was prfound. And to me it was very frightening because this was the first time he had made such a radical change in his life without making me even vaguely a part of it."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">"I had more patience with my wife. I had more patience with my children, and with all those I came into contact with," Wayne, Jr. explained. "I began to experience the peace I had seen in Captain Brad. The sense of searching for something more began to subside."</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Fonda may have found all of
the changes in her husband unsettling, but she would soon see Wayne, Jr.’s new
life put to the test when faced with a number of serious challenges.</span><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span>© 2012 Philip Kassel</span></div>
<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></span></span></span></div>
Phil Kasselhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02077427236462103448noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1621163272369463397.post-1309879256130675082012-09-10T07:29:00.001-07:002012-11-23T15:49:31.082-08:00Roads To Success 4.8<br />
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Power Struggle</span></b><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">With the encouragement
of Captain Brad Fleetwood McDonald, Wayne Huizenga, Jr. began exploring what it
meant to have a relationship with God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He enjoyed what the pastor had to say and was often moved to tears by
the sermon.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Gradually, Wayne, Jr. began
doing his best to change his life.</span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">“If I was in town, I was
in church,” Wayne, Jr. said in his <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">I Am
Second</i> interview.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I put my money in
the basket when it went by.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I went to a
little bit of Bible study and I even learned some Bible verses.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When Captain Brad came into town I had my own
Bible and I could find my way around it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I could even quote some scripture to him.”</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">It was a strong and
heartfelt start for Wayne, Jr. but it was not comprehensively effective.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">“I’d listen to the
message and I’d try to be different but at the end of the day I found myself
out doing the worldly things that I had always done.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I didn’t understand how to change my life,”
Wayne, Jr. remembered.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I was still
struggling.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was trying to be different
but I didn’t have any power to change.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I’d say, ‘I’m not going to swear as much today or I’m not going to drink
as much this weekend.’<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But my changes
were short lived.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was a very mixed
up, difficult time.”</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">One day friends invited
Wayne, Jr. to accompany them to a Wednesday evening service at their church in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Fort Lauderdale</st1:city></st1:place>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His acceptance of their invitation would lead
to a breakthrough in his life.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">The fact that this
particular church held services on Wednesday evenings was just one of the
differences setting it apart from Wayne, Jr.’s more traditional church.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His friends’ church was a ‘mega-church’
meeting in a warehouse-type building with about 4,000 people in
attendance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Instead of hymnals the
worship song lyrics were projected on large, strategically placed screens.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And the sermon was powerful, almost as
powerful as the storm thundering outside, lasting almost a full hour.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Towards the end of the
sermon the pastor posed a question that reached deep into Wayne, Jr.’s
heart.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Wayne, Jr. presented the details
in his <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">I Am Second</i> video.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“At the end of the service the pastor asked,
‘</span><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">If you were driving home in the night, and something
happened to you, and you died, do you know for certain you’d go to
Heaven?’<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was very quiet in
there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And he said, ‘Well if you don’t,
you can know for certain you’re going to go to Heaven.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You can come forward tonight.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You can ask Jesus to come into your heart,
forgive you of your sins, and live in you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>And you’ll know with certainty that Heaven forbid, if anything should
happen, that you’d go to Heaven.’”</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0in;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">As the choir began to sing, Wayne, Jr., his heart racing, watched people
begin rising from their seats and making their way to the front of the
auditorium.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">“The pastor came back up
to the pulpit again after a minute or two,” he continued.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“He said, ‘Do you think that there’s got to
be more to being a Christian than just going to church on Sundays?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do you think that there’s a reason that God
allowed you to be born?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do you think
that He has a plan for your life?’”</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">What came next moved
Wayne, Jr. profoundly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“The pastor said,
‘God wants to have a personal relationship with you and He wants to do it
through His Son, Jesus Christ.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God has a
plan for your life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why do you think
you’ve been given all the things you’ve been given?’”</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">The words took hold of
Wayne, Jr. in a powerful way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I
thought, ‘Man, I’ve got a lot.’<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
realized I had been given these incredible gifts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had airplanes, boats, money and the ability
to do almost anything I wanted in life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>And I realized I was using it all for me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was all being used selfishly and in no way
did I use any of it to glorify God.”</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Finally, the pastor
said, “If you want to have a personal relationship with God, with Jesus Christ,
you can come forward right now and join these people, and pray this simple
prayer.”</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Wayne, Jr. simply could
not remain in his seat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The truth of
what he had heard pulled him forward.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I
made my way down to the row to the aisle, forward to the front of this church
that I had never been to before, and I fell to my knees.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And I began to cry,” Wayne, Jr. described
that memorable night.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I listened to the
pastor and he said, ‘Repeat these simple words and ask Jesus into your
heart.’<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And I did.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I told Jesus I was sorry, that I loved Him
and that I wanted to know what His plan for my life was.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I wanted to be in this personal relationship
with Him if He wanted to be in it with me.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Wayne, Jr. got up, dried
his tears, and then went home to tell his wife what had occurred.</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">© 201<span style="font-size: x-small;">2</span> Philip Kassel</span></span></span></span></div>
Phil Kasselhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02077427236462103448noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1621163272369463397.post-76115953780863013502012-09-03T15:10:00.000-07:002012-11-23T15:50:40.894-08:00Roads To Success 4.7<style>
<!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:Times;
panose-1:2 0 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0;
mso-font-charset:0;
mso-generic-font-family:auto;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;}
@font-face
{font-family:Times;
panose-1:2 0 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0;
mso-font-charset:0;
mso-generic-font-family:auto;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;}
@font-face
{font-family:Georgia;
panose-1:2 4 5 2 5 4 5 2 3 3;
mso-font-charset:0;
mso-generic-font-family:auto;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{mso-style-unhide:no;
mso-style-qformat:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
margin:0in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Times;
mso-fareast-font-family:Times;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";}
p.MsoBodyTextIndent, li.MsoBodyTextIndent, div.MsoBodyTextIndent
{mso-style-unhide:no;
mso-style-link:"Body Text Indent Char";
margin-top:0in;
margin-right:0in;
margin-bottom:0in;
margin-left:27.0pt;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
text-indent:-27.0pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:14.0pt;
mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Times;
mso-fareast-font-family:Times;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";}
span.BodyTextIndentChar
{mso-style-name:"Body Text Indent Char";
mso-style-unhide:no;
mso-style-locked:yes;
mso-style-link:"Body Text Indent";
mso-ansi-font-size:14.0pt;}
.MsoChpDefault
{mso-style-type:export-only;
mso-default-props:yes;
font-size:10.0pt;
mso-ansi-font-size:10.0pt;
mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Times;
mso-ascii-font-family:Times;
mso-fareast-font-family:Times;
mso-hansi-font-family:Times;}
@page WordSection1
{size:8.5in 11.0in;
margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in;
mso-header-margin:.5in;
mso-footer-margin:.5in;
mso-paper-source:0;}
div.WordSection1
{page:WordSection1;}
</style>
-->
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-left: 0in; text-indent: 0in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt;">A Hole In The Heart</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-left: .5in; text-indent: -.5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-left: 0in; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt;">One day in 1995 Wayne Huizenga,
Jr. received a call from a friend bearing an unusual invitation, the
opportunity to sail from South Carolina to South Florida aboard a nuclear
submarine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>During the three-day voyage
Wayne, Jr. met and became acquainted with Captain Brad Fleetwood McDonald.</span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-left: 0in; text-indent: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-left: 0in; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“He became an important influence in my life,”
described Wayne, Jr.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“He had patience
that was beyond belief and he had incredible wisdom.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And he didn’t seem to be searching like I
was.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I saw a calm and a peace in him I
had not seen in anyone else.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Wayne,
Jr. and Captain Fleetwood became good friends.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>In his interview for <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">I Am Second</i>
Wayne, Jr. described their friendship.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“</span><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Georgia; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">He took me on his submarine so I started taking him out on my fishing
boat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We traveled to Venezuela, Costa
Rica, Panama, the Virgin Islands, and wherever.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>And as time went on I began to notice that he always had his Bible with
him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He never pushed it in my face but
he always had it with him.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: Georgia; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Wayne, Jr. realized that if he wanted to learn
more about leadership there was no better person to ask than a man who
commanded 120 sailors beneath the ocean for six months at a time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I’d ask him about conflict resolution, about
how he led the guys, how he would help them to grow as individuals and he
always referenced his Bible,” Wayne, Jr. narrated in his <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">I Am Second interview</i>. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“It
was incredible. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He’d read me a few Bible
verses and then he’d explain them to me. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And, the more time we spent together, the more
I realized how different he was from me. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You know, he was a sailor, but he didn’t drink
like a sailor, he didn’t swear like a sailor. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I did. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And
he had this incredible peace about him that was unlike any that I’d ever seen
in all the people that I had met through Wayne, Sr.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was a peace that was worldly, and yet he
was so incredibly humble. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One day I got
up my courage and I asked him, “You know, Captain Brad, why are we so different
and how do I become more like you? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What
do I need to do?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-left: 0in; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt;">Captain McDonald answered that he
used the Bible as a guide for his life, reading it daily, and that he enjoyed a
personal relationship with God.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-left: 0in; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt;">“He always referred me to the
Bible,” Wayne, Jr. told the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Secrets Of
Success</i> camera.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“He’d quote
scripture to me and say, ‘This is what the Old Testament says about how to live
your life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is where I go when I
have questions and this is where I get my peace from because God resides inside
of me’.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-left: 0in; text-indent: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-left: 0in; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt;">Captain McDonald emphatically told
Wayne, Jr., “You have a hole in your heart.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He explained that mankind is made in God’s image and that the hole in Wayne,
Jr.’s heart is where God is supposed to reside.</span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-left: 0in; text-indent: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-left: 0in; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt;">At first Wayne, Jr. was able to
understand only some of what his friend was telling him, but he kept asking
questions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Captain McDonald explained
that the hole in Wayne, Jr.’s heart consumed everything he tried to put in
it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All of the things Wayne, Jr.
hungered for - the business deals, new boats or cars, and all the travel to
more exotic locales - that black hole in his heart consumed it all.</span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-left: 0in; text-indent: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-left: 0in; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt;">Captain McDonald made it clear
that the hole would never be filled with all of those worldly things; it could
only be filled with God.</span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-left: 0in; text-indent: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-left: 0in; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt;">In his I Am Second video Wayne,
Jr. said, “I thought, ‘Could that be it?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Could it be that easy?’ <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All these
things I’ve been chasing, all these places I’ve been going, could it be a
relationship with God?’”</span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-left: .5in; text-indent: -.5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-left: 0in; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt;">With Captain McDonald’s influence,
Wayne and Fonda found a church they liked and began attending.</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">© 201<span style="font-size: x-small;">2</span> Philip Kassel</span></span></span></span></div>
</div>
Phil Kasselhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02077427236462103448noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1621163272369463397.post-24457886317227225752012-08-27T07:18:00.001-07:002012-11-23T15:51:12.997-08:00Roads To Success 4.6<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">An Unknown
Element</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
</div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Wayne
Huizenga, Jr. was happy in marriage and had worked his way up through the ranks
of Blockbuster Video, and then continued that upward movement in his father’s
new conglomerate, Republic Services.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As
perfect as life appeared on the surface there was still something missing, and
at the time, Wayne, Jr. wasn’t even completely aware of it.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Wayne,
Jr. eventually became a vice president at Huizenga Holdings.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even though he had shown great focus in
obtaining the goal of working with his father, his new executive position revealed
that this focus did not necessarily transfer into all areas of business.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"></span><br />
<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Bill
Pierce, Chief Financial Officer for Dolphins Enterprises, was a senior
executive in the company at the time and served as a mentor to Wayne, Jr.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Like his father, he had great ideas, and he
was very, very quick,” Bill said.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“But clearly,
he lacked the focus necessary to be successful in business.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While he had a great business mind I would say
he didn’t focus to the extent that he could stay with one project to see it all
the way through.”<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"></span><br />
<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Wayne,
Jr.’s focus was somewhat blurry in his personal life as well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He had purchased Blockbuster stock while the
company was still very young, and that stock’s value had risen
astronomically.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Wayne and Fonda were
living a life that most people can only dream of. <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"></span><br />
<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">“We
were incredibly happy living a life that was beyond anything that either of us
had ever imagined,” Wayne, Jr. said in his I Am Second video interview. <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"></span><br />
<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Wayne,
Jr.’s mother told her son that there “wasn’t much reality” to his life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“She’d come to me and say, ‘Junior, you know,
you need to get back to the church.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>You’ve got two children now, three and four years old.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They don’t know anything about who the Lord
is and they have no grounding.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And the
lifestyle that you’re living, it’s not like the rest of the world lives’.” <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"></span><br />
<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">“He
loved to take big trips and take all his friends,” recalled Carlos Vidueira, a
Vice President at Huizenga Holdings.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“He’d
pack them up and go to exotic parts of the world.”<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"></span><br />
<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">“There
were no limits.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There were no boundaries.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There were no standards,” Fonda explained. <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"></span><br />
<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">“My
impression of <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Wayne</st1:city></st1:place>
was that he was a very good person, a warm-hearted person,” recalled Carlos
Vidueira.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“But when you pack up
twenty-five adults and take them to the <st1:place w:st="on">Caribbean</st1:place>
or other exotic parts of the world it doesn’t always go according to plan.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>People get into disagreements.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>People drink too much.”<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">In spite of his lavish
lifestyle, something was missing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There
was an unknown element absent from the Huizenga family’s lives, and Wayne, Jr.
knew it.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">“I was happy in my
life,” Wayne, Jr. remembered.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I had
everything the world would consider everything you should have – jet planes,
yachts, a big house, and a wonderful family.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>But I never really felt fulfilled.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">It took some time but eventually Wayne, Jr. began to get his bearings. It happened gradually and in an unexpected way, and it really began with a submarine voyage.</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">© 201<span style="font-size: x-small;">2</span> Philip Kassel</span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><br />
</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span></span><br />
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0in;">
</div>
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span></span>Phil Kasselhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02077427236462103448noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1621163272369463397.post-5720710763880330282012-08-20T07:15:00.000-07:002012-11-23T15:51:44.946-08:00Roads To Success 4.5<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Ladder Climb</span></b><span style="font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Life was going well for Wayne Huizenga, Jr.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Disappointment over the news of his father’s retirement from Waste Management, Inc. was now just a memory.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It had been replaced with the satisfaction of achieving the goal of working along side his father in business.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The business at hand was Blockbuster Video and the work was to expand the company.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">While Wayne, Jr. was doing his best to advance at Blockbuster Video, Fonda Hicks once again emerged on the scene.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; text-indent: -0.5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">“She was living in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Phoenix</st1:city></st1:place>, working for Proctor and Gamble, and she was on the fast track then to become a plant manager,” Wayne, Jr. related.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“She called me up and told me she was going to be in town visiting her parents, and asked if I would like to get together.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; text-indent: -0.5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Getting together was fine with Wayne, Jr.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He and Fonda had kept in touch since their summer romance but hadn’t seen each other in five years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They made plans to spend an evening together catching up.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">“That one night would become a weeklong date,” Wayne, Jr. smiled.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I realized at that time there was something special there, something I hadn’t felt with anybody else I’d ever dated.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12pt;">In many ways, <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Wayne</st1:city></st1:place> was still the fun-loving boy Fonda had dated when they were both fifteen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But she also recognized several new traits in him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; text-indent: -0.5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">“He was a very young man, very energetic, very idealistic, very excited about business prospects, very excited about this whole world that was opening up to him,” Fonda described. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; text-indent: -0.5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">So, after 13 years apart, Wayne Huizenga, Jr. and Fonda Hix were together again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And after a long distance relationship that lasted almost a year, Fonda moved from <st1:state w:st="on">Arizona</st1:state> to <st1:state w:st="on">Florida</st1:state> to be with <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Wayne</st1:city></st1:place>. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; text-indent: -0.5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Fonda’s friends thought she was crazy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After all, she was leaving a promising career and stock options to marry a man who displayed every indication of being a playboy. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; text-indent: -0.5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">“She would go on to say that she knew in her heart of hearts I was the right person for her,” Wayne, Jr. told the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Secrets Of Success</i> camera.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“And she saw wonderful things in me that I never saw in myself.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; text-indent: -0.5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">In 1988, Wayne, Jr. and Fonda were married.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Within a few years they produced two children.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Wayne Huizenga, Jr. was doing very well, indeed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not only had he married his childhood sweetheart but his professional life was advancing nicely as well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Blockbuster became the largest video retailer in the world, at one point opening a store a day for several years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But late in 1994, Wayne, Sr. sold the company to Viacom and began looking for new business territory to conquer.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Wayne, Jr. described what came next.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“The opportunity presented itself for Wayne, Sr. to get involved with an old associate and get back in the garbage business.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At that time my uncle also owned a large garbage company in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:state w:st="on">Florida</st1:state></st1:place>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They merged the two together creating Republic Services.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; text-indent: -0.5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Republic Services was designed to be a conglomerate.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, while looking for diversified investments, the automobile industry drew Wayne, Sr.’s attention. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; text-indent: -0.5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">“We started Auto Nation,” Wayne, Jr. advanced the story.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Unfortunately, as we started to grow our mega used car super stores we discovered the margins weren’t as good as we had hoped they would be.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; text-indent: -0.5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Equally troubling, when the stock market began to focus on the hot technology sector, the Republic Services conglomerate lost favor with Wall Street.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Seeking to become a company focused on only one industry, the Huizengas spun off several of Republic’s assets into new, public companies and sold other assets outright. As for Auto Nation, they phased out used car sales and became a new car dealership.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Auto Nation would eventually become the largest car dealer in the world with over $20 billion in revenue annually.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Not only was Wayne Huizenga, Jr. climbing the ladder he was nearing the top of it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But in spite of business success and a good marriage his life was not everything it seemed to be on the surface.</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">© 201<span style="font-size: x-small;">2</span> Philip Kassel</span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</div>
Phil Kasselhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02077427236462103448noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1621163272369463397.post-36325454485404258972012-08-13T07:39:00.000-07:002012-11-23T15:52:30.242-08:00Roads To Success 4.4<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">A Little Video Store<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">As Wayne Huizenga, Jr. neared the completion of high school he saw his dream of working with and being more like his father transforming into something much more tangible.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>College was the next step and then it would be a mere four years to finding a place in his father’s company, Waste Management, Inc.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was aware of the respect and power his father acquired as the leader of a large, growing company.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He liked and enjoyed the lifestyle, the private jets, the yachts and the lavish trips.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">In his <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">I Am Second</i> video presentation Wayne, Jr. said, “The stories that my mother would tell us about Jesus and trying to share about God quickly left my mind as I began to focus on what I had to do to be like dad. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I wanted all the things that he had. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I grew, went to college, and became very, very focused on what I had to do.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">But in 1984, in his third year of college, Wayne, Jr.'s plans were shattered with his father’s announcement that he had decided to retire from Waste Management. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; text-indent: -0.5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Wayne, Jr. told the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Secrets Of Success</i> camera, “I remember thinking to myself, ‘what am I going to do with my life now?’<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had always known I was going to work at Waste Management and had trained for that my entire life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had worked at the landfill picking up garbage at age twelve.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had worked at grinding containers and worked on the back of a truck.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had worked at doing sales while I went through college.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; text-indent: -0.5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Wayne, Sr. assured his son that he could still work for the company, but Wayne, Jr. wasn’t interested.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He never believed he would actually get to work side-by-side with his father in Waste Management, but his heart had been set on being a part of his father’s business.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Essentially, a childhood dream had been destroyed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I was really very unsure of what the future held for me,” Wayne, Jr. said.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I didn’t know exactly what I was going to do.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; text-indent: -0.5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">But Wayne, Sr.’s next business venture in 1987 would soon put his son’s uncertainty to rest.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It concerned a single video store in Chicago and its owner who wanted to expand into the franchise business.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; text-indent: -0.5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">“Wayne, Sr. made an investment in a small company called Blockbuster Video,” explained Wayne, Jr.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“At the time it was himself and two of his partners from Waste Management.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">It was a deal that Wayne, Sr. almost passed on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He rarely took the time to watch movies and didn’t even own a VCR.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But once he took a close look at the numbers and actually visited the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Chicago</st1:city></st1:place> store, he became excited about the potential.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">“Wayne, Sr. and his partners were going to be passive investors with David Cook in this startup video company,” Wayne, Jr. elaborated.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Wayne, Sr.’s role in the new company would not remain passive for long.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A difference in philosophy regarding how best to grow the company led to David Cook retiring from actively running Blockbuster and selling his shares to Wayne, Sr.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; text-indent: -0.5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">“At that point Wayne, Sr. was in the position of having to protect the investment of his two friends as well as his own investment,” Wayne, Jr. elaborated.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“He took over the helm of Blockbuster Video which coincided with my graduating from college.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">The timing was perfect for Wayne, Jr.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He entered Blockbuster, as he had all his father’s businesses, at the ground floor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He began as a store employee, worked his way up to store manager and eventually became a district manager.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>From there he moved to special projects, working directly with Wayne, Sr. and the executive staff.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Working directly with his father was a dream-come-true for Wayne, Jr., but it was something of a challenge as well.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; text-indent: -0.5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">“It was an adjustment for me because I was treated no differently then any of the other employees,” Wayne, Jr. recalled.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Often father and sons don’t work well together in business.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve been blessed; it did work for Wayne, Sr. and me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But it was definitely an adjustment for me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He’s as intense at work as he is at play, and spending time with him in the workplace really lent an insight as to why I didn’t get to spend much time with him while I was growing up.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; text-indent: -0.5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">As Wayne, Jr. was advancing through the ranks at Blockbuster, Fonda Hix reentered his life.</span><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span>© 2012 Philip Kassel</span></div>
<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></span></span></span></div>
Phil Kasselhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02077427236462103448noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1621163272369463397.post-46008442401104098342012-08-06T07:21:00.000-07:002012-11-23T15:53:05.822-08:00Roads To Success 4.3<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Blind Date<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; text-indent: -0.5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">After eight years in <st1:city w:st="on">Chicago</st1:city>, <st1:city w:st="on">Wayne</st1:city>’s mother moved him and his younger brother, Scott, back to <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:state w:st="on">Florida</st1:state></st1:place> so they could be closer to their father.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Wayne, Sr. always took care of his family, but there was still a dramatic difference in living with his mother and the life Wayne, Jr. experienced visiting his father. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; text-indent: -0.5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Wayne, Jr. described it this way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“There was a disparity between how I lived with my mother, which was clean and comfortable and more than adequate, and what a visit with Wayne, Sr. was like.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’d go to visit Wayne, Sr. and it was over the top.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He had a 90-foot motor yacht at the time, a number of cars, and jet planes with the corporation, so it was different.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Wayne, Sr. would eventually build Waste Management, Inc. into the largest waste disposal company in the world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Wayne, Jr. observed the process as it unfolded and as a teen-aged boy his longing to spend time <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">with</i> his father transformed into a strong desire to be <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">like</i> his father.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Realizing that attending college would be necessary if he was to someday work alongside his father in business, Wayne, Jr. set his sights on higher education.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But college was still a few years away; high school, along with the fun that often accompanied it, occupied his time.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">One particular high school date would prove to be significant in Wayne, Jr.’s life, even though that significance would not be immediately obvious to him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Wayne, Jr. had a friend whom was dating a fifteen-year-old-girl from a neighboring high school, Fonda Michelle Hix.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The friend asked Wayne, Jr. to accompany him and Fonda, and Fonda’s girlfriend, on a blind date.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Wayne, Jr. agreed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">“We spent the day water skiing behind our 13-foot Whaler and had a fabulous time,” Wayne, Jr. recalled.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“That night we all decided to go roller skating and my mother drove me to the roller skating rink.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Much to my surprise I had no date.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">“I flat out told my girlfriend who was supposed to be along with us at the roller rink, in no uncertain terms, that she would not be going with us that evening,” Fonda said, taking up the story.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Of course, Fonda made certain that her date [Wayne, Jr.’s friend], did not show up as well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“That was pretty shameful, too,” Fonda confessed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I just dumped him.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Wayne, Jr. didn’t know it at the time but this roller skating date with Fonda Michelle Hix would eventually change his life in a major way.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; text-indent: -0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12pt;">“We had your typical <st1:place w:st="on">South Florida</st1:place>, teenage kid romance,” Fonda explained.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Fonda was completely unaware of Wayne, Jr.’s family background or what his father’s business success, a lack of awareness that was simultaneously charming and frustrating to her summer love.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“She never believed our family had a yacht or flew on a private jet to go fishing in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country -region="-region" w:st="on">Mexico</st1:country></st1:place>,” Wayne, Jr. said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">“Dad has this or dad has that down in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Fort Lauderdale</st1:city></st1:place>,” Fonda remembered Wayne, Jr. telling her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“My standard response was, yeah right.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; text-indent: -0.5in;">
<st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12pt;">Wayne</span></st1:city></st1:place><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12pt;"> and Fonda’s summer romance turned out to be just that.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; text-indent: -0.5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12pt;">“For some reason the phone calls kind of tapered off,” Fonda recalled.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I began to realize that it was a summer fling.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; text-indent: -0.5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12pt;">“I was a young man and I was looking for a bad girl, and Fonda was a good girl,” Wayne, Jr. admitted.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“So I said goodbye to her but we kept in touch over the years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Her mother worked in the principal’s office at my school.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She kept tabs on me since I visited the principal’s office numerous times throughout my high school career.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; text-indent: -0.5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">It would be 13 years before Wayne and Fonda were truly together again.</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">© 201<span style="font-size: x-small;">2</span> Philip Kassel</span></span></span></span></div>
</div>
Phil Kasselhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02077427236462103448noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1621163272369463397.post-75730797540207505682012-07-30T07:02:00.000-07:002012-11-23T15:53:34.660-08:00Roads To Success 4.2<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Just One Truck</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Wayne Huizenga, Jr. is currently the President of Huizenga Holdings and oversees a business empire valued in the billions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At the time we shot Wayne, Jr.’s episode of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Secrets Of Success</i>, the company’s diverse assets included ownership of Miami Dolphins and Dolphin Stadium, thousands of acres of <place w:st="on">South Florida</place> real estate, banking interests, marinas, boat building interests and tree farms.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">At one time Huizenga Holdings had the unique distinction of being the only company to own three individual sports franchises at the same time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“We owned the Miami Dolphins,” Wayne, Jr. proudly began the list.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“The Florida Marlins, which was our startup baseball team that began play in 1993, ultimately winning the World Series in 1997.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And the Florida Panthers which began play in 1995 and went to the Stanley Cup playoffs in their second year of play.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">This immense business empire began in <place w:st="on">South Florida</place> in the early 1960s with H. Wayne Huizenga, Sr., and he started, literally, with nothing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“When my mother and father were married Wayne, Sr. sold his pickup truck to buy my mother’s engagement ring,” Wayne, Jr. began the narrative.</span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">With few prospects, Wayne, Sr. began working with his father in construction.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But he soon found an opportunity to run his own business in the waste disposal industry. </span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; text-indent: -0.5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">“He started with a loan from my mom’s parents and bought a single truck down here in <place w:st="on">South Florida</place>,” Wayne, Jr. explained.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“My mom used to tell stories of holding the flashlight for dad in the evenings so he could repair the truck.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Every morning he would leave early before the sun rose to start the route.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He’d complete his route picking up garbage by noon, come home, change clothes, put on a suit, and go back on the street to sell new business.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">And Wayne, Sr. sold a great deal of new business, growing his company into Waste Management, Inc.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As his business grew he purchased other small, independent garbage haulers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By the time he took his company public in 1972 those companies numbered 133.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Of course, building the new company consumed most of Wayne, Sr.’s time.</span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; text-indent: -0.5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">“My parents were divorced when I was five-years-old,” Wayne, Jr. narrated.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“My father was a hard charger and wasn’t around very much when I was growing up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My mother decided that she would move back to <place w:st="on"><city w:st="on">Chicago</city></place>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, I grew up in a five-room house, if you included the back porch, at 63<sup>rd</sup> and the tracks in <place w:st="on"><city w:st="on">Chicago</city></place>.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">In his on-camera autobiography for the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">I Am Second </i>movement, Wayne, Jr. described his family as being relatively poor after moving to <place w:st="on"><city w:st="on">Chicago</city></place>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His mother worked multiple jobs to make ends meet and often suffered from loneliness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Adding to the discouragement, the Huizenga’s had been members of the Dutch reform church, but the pastor of the Chicago congregation told Mrs. Huizenga that divorce was not accepted and therefore she was not welcome.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The result for Wayne, Jr. and his younger brother, Scott, was that they rarely attended church other than on Christmas or Easter.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Wayne, Jr.’s impression of church life may not have been very positive but he did make it to Sunday school class just enough to hear that God existed and he had a Son named Jesus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And in spite of her rejection by the church, his mother did not waver in her faith; she would pray with her two sons and talk openly about God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Wayne, Jr. heard the words but it would be many years before he really understood their true meaning.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">As with most children in families fractured by divorce, Wayne, Jr. found himself longing for the companionship of his father, and always desired more time with him than he was able to get.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“In the early days I didn’t see dad very often, just a handful of times each year,” Wayne, Jr. explained.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“He was busy building Waste Management which ultimately became the world’s largest garbage removal company.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As he became more successful we started to spend more time together but there were years when we saw him four or five times in the whole year.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">“I think that it affected me as a young man,” Wayne, Jr. told the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Secrets Of Success</i> camera.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“There was not a strong force in the house.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mom tried as she would but she was always mom, and so I was a little bit of a rebel during high school.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was out there partying and running around.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There were nights I didn’t come home and did things I’m not very proud of today.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Wayne, Jr.’s mother fully realized that her boys needed their father, and after eight years in <city w:st="on">Chicago</city> moved her household back to <place w:st="on"><state w:st="on">Florida</state></place> so her sons could to be closer to Wayne, Sr.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With more access to his father, Wayne, Jr. would quickly observe that there was a great difference between the life he lived with his mother and the life he experienced when visiting his father.</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">© 201<span style="font-size: x-small;">2</span> Philip Kassel</span></span></span></span></div>
</div>
Phil Kasselhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02077427236462103448noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1621163272369463397.post-53177305383759774892012-07-23T08:48:00.003-07:002012-11-23T15:54:38.075-08:00Roads To Success 4.1<style>
<!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:Times;
panose-1:2 0 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0;
mso-font-charset:0;
mso-generic-font-family:auto;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;}
@font-face
{font-family:Times;
panose-1:2 0 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0;
mso-font-charset:0;
mso-generic-font-family:auto;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;}
@font-face
{font-family:Georgia;
panose-1:2 4 5 2 5 4 5 2 3 3;
mso-font-charset:0;
mso-generic-font-family:auto;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{mso-style-unhide:no;
mso-style-qformat:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
margin:0in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Times;
mso-fareast-font-family:Times;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";}
.MsoChpDefault
{mso-style-type:export-only;
mso-default-props:yes;
font-size:10.0pt;
mso-ansi-font-size:10.0pt;
mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Times;
mso-ascii-font-family:Times;
mso-fareast-font-family:Times;
mso-hansi-font-family:Times;}
@page WordSection1
{size:8.5in 11.0in;
margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in;
mso-header-margin:.5in;
mso-footer-margin:.5in;
mso-paper-source:0;}
div.WordSection1
{page:WordSection1;}
</style>
-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; text-indent: -.5in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Wayne Huizenga, Jr.</span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; text-align: center; text-indent: -.5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">I
first met Wayne Huizenga, Jr. on an overcast morning in the Dolphin Stadium parking
lot in Miami, Florida, in 2002.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
occasion was an event organized by Lift Up America, at the time a very new
charitable organization committed to bringing hope to those in need.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The organization had arranged for sizable
donations of food and toys that would be divided among several Miami area
churches; the churches would then distribute the donations to needy families.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Several Miami Dolphins’ players were on hand
to help unload the trucks, distribute the goods, and sign autographs.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">This
was one of Lift Up America’s first events and I had been enlisted to help
coordinate and direct the media team tasked with documenting the proceedings.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was preparing on-air copy with announcer
Spencer Tillman when someone called out, “Here comes Wayne.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A helicopter cut through the gray sky over
the stadium and touched down in a barricaded space in an empty section of the
parking lot.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Wayne,
or “Junior” as he is often called by friends, energetically exited the
aircraft, shook a few hands and then immediately stepped in front of the news
cameras to answer questions presented by the press.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Once the questions had been answered Wayne
climbed up on the tailgate of a nearby refrigerated truck and began helping offload
large bags of frozen chicken provided by Tyson Foods.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I assumed he was doing the manual labor for
the benefit of the press but I would later learn that Wayne Huizenga, Jr. has
never been afraid to get his hands dirty or work up a sweat.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Somewhere
in that busy morning Wayne, Jr. and I were introduced.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There was really no time to have a genuine
conversation but in the brief minutes we did have he was sincerely friendly and
genial.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He possesses the ability to make
you feel as if you’ve met before, as if he’s reunited with a friend from
somewhere in his past.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As Mark Davis,
Executive Pastor of Calvary Chapel in Fort Lauderdale said in his on-camera
interview for Wayne, Jr.’s episode of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Secrets
Of Success</i>, “Wayne was obviously a people person.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Two
years would pass before I would meet Wayne Huizenga, Jr. again for his <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Secrets Of Success</i> interview.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This time I spent two days with him and his
lovely wife, Fonda.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They opened their
Fort Lauderdale home to the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Secrets Of
Success</i> television crew, and we were all made to feel like old friends who
had come to visit.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">In
listening to Wayne, Jr. tell his story it became obvious that, over his lifetime,
he has qualified for a number of different labels: jet setter, playboy,
entrepreneur, successful businessman, family man, and financially wealthy among
them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Early in his Secrets Of Success
interview Wayne, Jr. said, “People in business have often asked me why I think
I’m successful, and I have to stop to quantify that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do they mean successful in terms of money or
successful in terms of what I think success is?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">That
statement hints strongly towards the label Wayne, Jr. most prefers and most
identifies with.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>First and foremost,
above all the other things, he is a follower of Christ, a man of faith, and he
knows with great certainty that his primary purpose is to serve God.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Wayne’s
story is a near-perfect illustration that material wealth and a luxurious
lifestyle is not the ultimate source of happiness, satisfaction, security or
peace.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The story really begins with his
father and is essential to understand who Wayne, Jr., is today.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, stay tuned.</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">© 201<span style="font-size: x-small;">2</span> Philip Kassel</span></span></span></span></div>
</div>
Phil Kasselhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02077427236462103448noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1621163272369463397.post-57996093138600058572012-07-15T21:11:00.003-07:002012-11-23T15:55:09.197-08:00Roads To Success 3.7<style>
<!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:Georgia;
panose-1:2 4 5 2 5 4 5 2 3 3;
mso-font-charset:0;
mso-generic-font-family:auto;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{mso-style-unhide:no;
mso-style-qformat:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
margin:0in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";}
.MsoChpDefault
{mso-style-type:export-only;
mso-default-props:yes;
font-size:10.0pt;
mso-ansi-font-size:10.0pt;
mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;}
@page WordSection1
{size:8.5in 11.0in;
margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in;
mso-header-margin:.5in;
mso-footer-margin:.5in;
mso-paper-source:0;}
div.WordSection1
{page:WordSection1;}
</style>
-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">Views Of Success</span></b><span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Six different men - their
definitions of success are all different - and yet all the same.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Mark Manthei explained his
perspective on success.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“My personal
success is in having a wife I’ve been married to for almost twenty-five
years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have four wonderful kids who
have taken hold of the faith my wife and I share in Christ.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And I think we have a relationship with our
God that will carry into eternity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We
have been blessed by God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We’ve tried to
operate our company on the principles put forth in the Bible and I think that
anyone who operates based on those principles is going to be successful form a
business point of view.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">“Having a personal
relationship with this master designer, having a relationship where I
understand why I am here and why I exist, I feel that this is what makes me
successful,” explained Tim Manthei.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“It’s understanding why I’m here and then doing what I was created to
do.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">“If I could share one
thing with my counterparts around the world,” offered Ben.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“If I could help them find the success, the
fulfillment, the purpose in life I’ve found in my personal relationship with
Jesus – that’s the most amazing thing I could share.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I believe every one of us was designed by God
for a purpose. If we can unlock and find that purpose we were designed for, and
then be obedient to do it, we will be successful at whatever we do.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Jim contributed this
definition.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I attribute success to
having God’s blessing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Having the
ability to work together as a team, and part of teamwork is having the ability
to put others needs ahead of your own.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
would say that the Christian mindset, thinking as a Christian the way Jesus
Christ set it out works.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It works in
life, it works in family, it works in your home, it works in everything you do.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">“I define success as doing
what I’ve been designed to do,” Dan told us towards the end of taping the
show.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I feel personally that I fit into
what I was designed to do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Money is not
the end goal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Money is a means to an end.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If we don’t have the proper goal in mind
money will destroy more than it will help.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>People are designed to have a relationship with their designer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The designer, which I believe is the God of
the Bible, designed us specifically to have fellowship with him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, the purpose we have is to develop that
fellowship with Him and help as many other people see that relationship as
possible.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Last but not least, Tom
Manthei provided his view on the subject of success.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Success and significance is not so much a
material thing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s not based on how
much money you have or how many cars you have or how many material things you
have.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Success to me and significance to
me would be my ability to allow God to accomplish through me what His purpose
is.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If God can accomplish through me
what He has designed me to do, that is success, that is significant.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Shortly after taping this
collection of perspectives on success Ben Manthei added something of a
footnote.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“There are times I feel we
have an unfair advantage.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When we’re
doing our work I feel like we have a higher purpose, a calling that gives us an
advantage even in the workplace because we have a reason for doing what we do.”</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">© 201<span style="font-size: x-small;">2</span> Philip Kassel</span></span></span></span></div>
</div>
Phil Kasselhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02077427236462103448noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1621163272369463397.post-82812067818330348962012-07-09T07:11:00.004-07:002012-11-23T15:55:35.146-08:00Roads To Success 3.6<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-outline-level: 1;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">Extended Family</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-outline-level: 1;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-outline-level: 1;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">The Mantheis common commitment comes from a faith that lays a foundation for both their business and personal lives.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They acquired it from their parents.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-outline-level: 1;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-outline-level: 1;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">“One of the things that they [our parents] found is that they had to start with God,” Dan Manthei revealed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“They had to start with His principles.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-outline-level: 1;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-outline-level: 1;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">“The principles of integrity and honesty are principles that are biblically based.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They come right out of the Bible,” Tom elaborated.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“The book of Proverbs talks a lot about integrity; it states that a good name is more valuable than silver and gold.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That’s a core belief of ours.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We’d rather have a good name than an extra paycheck.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our name is very important to us in the community.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And in our industry our name is very important to us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We work very hard at keeping a good name, and we do that through the principles of giving good service and being honest.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-outline-level: 1;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-outline-level: 1;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">“Do everything you say you’re going to do,” added Tim.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“It’s a really simple message but it’s a hard one.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But if you follow that principle then contracts are going to be kept.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Your relationships with your vendors are going to be a lot better because you do what you say you’re going to do.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-outline-level: 1;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-outline-level: 1;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">“God’s principles are opposite from man’s principles,” Dan expanded.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Man has a tendency to want to gather, and get, and hold.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God’s principle says that if you give then you’ll get; love man and serve him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In serving man there will be a return that comes back to you for that service.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We serve our customer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In serving our customer we build up loyalty with that customer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The customer comes to us when he has a need because he knows he will get the service back.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-outline-level: 1;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-outline-level: 1;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">“Recently we were awarded the largest job we’d ever had as a company,” Ben offered.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“We were not the low bidder nor were we the most qualified but they gave us the work.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Afterwards we asked them why they decided to give us the job.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They told us, ‘You guys have a reputation of doing what you say you’re going to do.’”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-outline-level: 1;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">The Mantheis apply these principles to everyone in their company.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s a family operated business that treats employees as if they are part of the family.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">“Our strongest asset in the company is our people,” Tom stated.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“We have a lot of other assets in our company; we have financial assets, we have good machinery, but our number one asset is our people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, we do our best to treat our people with dignity and respect.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">“The first people we hired thirty years ago are still working for us,” Jim illustrated.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“We have a pretty strong loyalty factor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That’s because we treat people well, pay them a good wage and try to take care of their needs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have several people working for us who have worked for some of our competition.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One company is three times our size and they work employees an average of eighty to ninety hours a week.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When you work those kinds of hours you have no family life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have a fairly long waiting list of people wanting to come to work for us even though they may earn less money.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our family is more important that chasing the dollar all over the state.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Each member of the Manthei team makes sure their own families come before the business as well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They all walk the talk.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">© 201<span style="font-size: x-small;">2</span> Philip Kassel</span></span></span></span></div>
</div>
Phil Kasselhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02077427236462103448noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1621163272369463397.post-50291626097164701182012-07-01T17:08:00.000-07:002012-11-23T15:56:04.585-08:00Roads To Succes 3.5<style>
<!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:Georgia;
panose-1:2 4 5 2 5 4 5 2 3 3;
mso-font-charset:0;
mso-generic-font-family:auto;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{mso-style-unhide:no;
mso-style-qformat:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
margin:0in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";}
.MsoChpDefault
{mso-style-type:export-only;
mso-default-props:yes;
font-size:10.0pt;
mso-ansi-font-size:10.0pt;
mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;}
@page WordSection1
{size:8.5in 11.0in;
margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in;
mso-header-margin:.5in;
mso-footer-margin:.5in;
mso-paper-source:0;}
div.WordSection1
{page:WordSection1;}
</style>
-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">A Business Of Principles</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Each of the Manthei
brothers may be intensely independent but they all share a common commitment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s commitment from a faith that lays the
foundation for both their business and personal lives.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They acquired it from their parents.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">“There are principles we
do business by that we think are very important,” explained Tom Manthei.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“These principles are based on many of the
teachings we’ve found in the Bible.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Teamwork is one example.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Teamwork
is a concept that we’ve found allows common people to accomplish uncommon
goals.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You can take a group of average
guys – they don’t have to be really talented, just average – but if they work
together in a team and they contribute their strong point and cover the other
person’s weak point they can accomplish uncommon goals.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">In spite of the different
personalities that make up the Manthei family, and even in light of the
occasional differences of opinion or outright conflict, the mutual respect these
six men have for one another is clearly apparent.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Beyond respect there is evident an
appreciation for individual skills and talents.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">“Tom is a very good leader
and very good at bringing all the team members together,” Mark Manthei
described his cousin.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“He gets everybody
on the same page and pulling in the same direction.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">And Tom had this to say
about Mark.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Mark has a lot of
analytical ability.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He can think through
the scenario of numbers, how a project fits together and how it makes sense
from a business point of view.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">“Ben connects with people
and does a great job with marketing,” Tim told the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Secrets Of Success</i> camera.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Ben described Jim
Manthei.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Jim is the marine type of
worker because we give him the most difficult jobs that nobody wants to do and
he gets the job done.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He brings a
tremendous creative energy to every project.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">“Dan’s strong points are
in the technical areas,” Tom said of this brother.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“He’s very good at bringing ideas to
life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He’s very good at building, the
mechanical aspects of projects, engineering and designing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A lot of the machinery that we have in our veneer
mill has been designed and built by my brother, Dan.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">“Tim is a real entrepreneurial
sort of guy,” explained Mark.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“He comes
up with entrepreneurial business ideas and is good at presenting those to the
group.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">It might be tempting to
believe that the Mantheis were just performing sibling public relations duties
because a television camera was pointing at them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The truth, though, is that the sincerity in
their observations is one of the foundations the success of their business is
based upon.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">“As we’re all strong
willed we all know how to fight hard for the idea we bring to the table, but
we’re committed in the group to kick around these ideas,” offered Ben.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“And by the time we’re done tweaking these
ideas based on everybody’s input we usually come out with the right decision.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Tom offered this view,
once again emphasizing the concept of teamwork.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“When everyone learns to contribute their strong point and cover the
other person’s weak point, that’s the key to success.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Human nature is just the opposite.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We tend to pick on the other person’s weak
point and while we’re doing it forget our own strong points.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Covering another guy’s weak point is not
ignoring it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s identifying it, and then
purposefully covering for it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If he does
the same thing for you, then as a whole most of the weak points disappear.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All the bases get covered.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Teamwork enables all the bases to be covered.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">“When we come out of a
meeting, it’s rare that any one person’s gotten everything he wants,” Ben
added.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“But whatever the final decision
we all get behind it because we know the decision we made together is better
than a decision one of us might have made as an individual.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We end up with a better end product.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Bible has a proverb, 24:6, that says, ‘Victory
depends on having many counselors.’”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">“It makes the company as a
whole stronger,” Tom expanded.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“There’s
another verse, in Ecclesiastes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It says,
‘Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A cord of three strands is not quickly
broken.’”</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">© 201<span style="font-size: x-small;">2</span> Philip Kassel</span></span></span></span></div>
</div>
Phil Kasselhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02077427236462103448noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1621163272369463397.post-47884031051799347442012-06-18T07:20:00.003-07:002012-11-23T15:56:38.765-08:00Roads To Success 3.4<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-outline-level: 1;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">Beyond The Mill</span></b><span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">The Manthei brothers, cousins and uncles successfully rebuilt the veneer mill started by Ted and Ernie Manthei.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Conflict existed during that process and, as might be expected, it still exists in the company today.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">“We fight regularly,” Tom admitted during his interview.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Fighting isn’t a bad thing. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What keeps us together is everyone in our group knows and is committed to the fact that we need each other.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We don’t necessarily always think alike.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We don’t always have the same idea on how we’d do something ourselves.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But what we do know is that we need each other and there is a commitment to the team concept.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">“We are as different as night and day,” Ben contributed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“But to work as a team we’ve developed a deep respect for one another because we see what each of us add to the team.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Rebuilding the company from the ashes served to strengthen the family—although some of the older family members eventually left the partnership to pursue their own interests.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Their departure created openings for the other brothers who, at the time the partnership was originally formed, were too young to participate.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Those who remained have expanded the company considerably beyond the original veneer mill.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">“Six of us are left in the business,” Tom explained.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“The core businesses are the veneer mill, we have three mobile home parks in the <city w:st="on"><place w:st="on">Palm Springs</place></city> area, and we have a construction company.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And then we do a variety of land developments and different investments.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">“As a team through the years we’ve developed eight different businesses and combined we do approximately $50 million in sales a year,” Ben elaborated.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">At this point in the original <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Secrets Of Success</i> show we cut to something of a “who’s who” in the Manthei organization, beginning with Tim Manthei.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I’m the director of the Manthei west coast operations.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I came out and started to build some RV spaces and it ended up being an RV and mobile home resort business.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have about sixteen-hundred spaces now.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Next up was Mark Manthei.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I’m the president of the Manthei Development Corporation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My responsibilities are the general, overall management of the company.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This company is really composed of three basic departments: the aggregate division, the Ready Mix division and then our contract division.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">“My role with the company is to develop the systems and the equipment in the plant so we stay as efficient as possible,” offered Dan Manthei.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“We want to make it as easy for the employee as possible, run as much veneer through the plant as possible, and get the most wood out of each log as possible.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">“I’m the President of Redi-Rock International,” Ben Manthei explained.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“And we are presently marketing one of the new products we just developed which is a large retaining wall system that looks like natural, cultured rock.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Jim Manthei was next in the lineup.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I am the vice president of Manthei Development and I’m in charge of all the heavy construction.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve been with the company ever since it started and through that I’ve developed the heavy construction end of the business as far as working in the field.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">And last but not least, Tom Manthei.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I’m president of Manthei Incorporated and we make single-ply, fancy face quality veneers here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We use maple, ash, cherry, walnut and some of the more exotic woods.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our products are used primarily in the cabinet industry.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">The Manthei Corporation is clearly comprised of a group of strong, independent personalities, each with their own way of doing things, each with a unique approach to creativity and problem solving.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, how do these businessmen manage to overcome their differences?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Stay tuned.</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">© 201<span style="font-size: x-small;">2</span> Philip Kassel</span></span></span></span></div>
</div>
Phil Kasselhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02077427236462103448noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1621163272369463397.post-527119615289415772012-06-10T20:42:00.000-07:002012-11-23T15:57:05.937-08:00Roads To Success 3.3<style>
<!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:Georgia;
panose-1:2 4 5 2 5 4 5 2 3 3;
mso-font-charset:0;
mso-generic-font-family:auto;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{mso-style-unhide:no;
mso-style-qformat:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
margin:0in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";}
.MsoChpDefault
{mso-style-type:export-only;
mso-default-props:yes;
font-size:10.0pt;
mso-ansi-font-size:10.0pt;
mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;}
@page WordSection1
{size:8.5in 11.0in;
margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in;
mso-header-margin:.5in;
mso-footer-margin:.5in;
mso-paper-source:0;}
div.WordSection1
{page:WordSection1;}
</style>
-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-outline-level: 1;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">Starting From Scratch</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Ted and Ernie Manthei
worked hard to build their veneer business, enjoying growth and success in a
partnership of over twenty years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But in
late 1967 their veneer mill caught fire and burned to the ground.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The tragedy made a lasting impression on all
the brothers.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">“I jumped in my car and
ran down there just in time to see the roof cave in on the place,” said Mark
Manthei, President of Manthei Development.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“It was an emotional, dramatic time because I think all of us had a
strong identification with the veneer mill.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>My dad and my uncle both had a really strong work ethic and they had raised
us with that same ethic.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And we all
spent time working in that plant.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Jim Manthei, now Senior
Vice President of Manthei Development Corporation began earning his title as a young
boy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I had worked in the mill since I
was about seven or eight with my dad.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>And when I was about ten two of my brothers and I bought a little
sawmill.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We set it up out behind the
veneer mill.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">“That was actually our own
little business that we were running,” Mark added.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“And of course it burned along with
everything else.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">“I remember very well when
it happened and I thought <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">this is going
to change my life</i>,” said Tim Manthei, President of Sky Valley Parks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Oh, no.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>This is an awful thing.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">But once again Ted and
Ernie found a way to turn a “negative” into something positive.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">“They were both about at
retirement age and decided they didn’t have the energy to rebuild the mill,”
Ben Manthei told the camera.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“So they
came to our generation and said if you guys would like to continue with the
business we will help you rebuild but you’ll have to run it from there.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">It would be a daunting
challenge but Tom Manthei remembers that all the brothers and cousins wanted to
take it on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“At that time ten of us
started into the business,” he explained.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“It was eight brothers plus two uncles.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-outline-level: 1;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Rebuilding
the mill from the ground up turned out to be a formidable challenge.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Tom clearly described what
the new beginning was like.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“None of us
really knew how to rebuild a veneer mill.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We didn’t know a lot about how to do business.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Most of us were very young at the time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, it was a time of tremendous turmoil and
conflict, and learning how to build a physical plant on one hand, and how to
work with each other on the other hand.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>There was a lot of physical and emotional struggle going on while we
tried to figure out how to put all these elements together.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">“It was a very difficult
time,” remembered Dan Manthei, Senior Vice President of Manthei, Inc.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“It was probably much more difficult for the
older generation than for the younger generation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We were a bunch of young kids coming in and
telling our uncles, our elders how to do things, and they did not accept that
very well.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">“Whenever you have a
problem in life, it’s also an opportunity God that has given you,” observed
Mark.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I think when you look at it that
way, this was an opportunity to rebuild the plant with all new equipment, and
all new systems, and with all new ways of doing things.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We did have a little bit of a struggle with
some of the guys who had worked in the plant their entire lives because they
wanted to rebuild it just as it had been.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>And some of us younger guys were thinking we should build a plant a
whole lot better than the old one.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">With a mutual desire to
work through all the issues of reconstructing the family business, and with unwavering
persistence, the Mantheis felt their way through those early years to
eventually build a viable, thriving business.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The conflicts they encountered along the way and the methods devised to
solve those conflicts would play an important role in shaping their future
business<span style="font-size: x-small;">.</span></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">© 201<span style="font-size: x-small;">2</span> Philip Kassel</span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span> </span></div>
Phil Kasselhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02077427236462103448noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1621163272369463397.post-47489388522735608912012-06-03T21:20:00.000-07:002012-11-23T15:57:34.305-08:00Roads To Succes 2.3<style>
<!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:Georgia;
panose-1:2 4 5 2 5 4 5 2 3 3;
mso-font-charset:0;
mso-generic-font-family:auto;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{mso-style-unhide:no;
mso-style-qformat:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
margin:0in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";}
.MsoChpDefault
{mso-style-type:export-only;
mso-default-props:yes;
font-size:10.0pt;
mso-ansi-font-size:10.0pt;
mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;}
@page WordSection1
{size:8.5in 11.0in;
margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in;
mso-header-margin:.5in;
mso-footer-margin:.5in;
mso-paper-source:0;}
div.WordSection1
{page:WordSection1;}
</style>
-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-outline-level: 1;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">Short On Strawberry Crates</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">My first interview in the
family lineup was with Tom Manthei, President of the Manthei Corporation since
1979.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We spoke in the company boardroom
located in an upper level of the veneer plant.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The large window behind Tom’s chair overlooked the main floor of the
plant.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Tom is an amiable guy, and like
his other family members, proud of his family heritage.<span style="color: red;"></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">“It really began with our
fathers, Ted and Ernie Manthei,” Tom began.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“They were brothers who happened to meet two girls who were
sisters.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, the two brothers married
the two sisters.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They were dirt poor
when they started out, doing any kind of work they could find to get by.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After awhile they formed a partnership
growing beans.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With a lot of hard work
the bean farming became successful.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Ben Manthei, President of
Redi-Rock International, added to Tom’s narrative.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Ted and Ernie eventually left the
bean-growing business and began raising strawberries,” he explained.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“And God began to bless them in such a way
where they couldn’t even buy enough boxes to package all the berries they were
producing.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">The shortage of packaging
for their product, quite unexpected, would eventually lead Ted and Ernie in a
surprising direction.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">“They decided that making
their own berry boxes was the way to go,” Ben continued.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, they went looking for and eventually
found equipment they thought would do that,” Ben continued.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">“They bought a piece of
equipment, a type of lathe,” Tom elaborated.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“But after Ted and Ernie got the lathe home, they discovered they
couldn’t use it to make crates; it was the wrong kind of machinery.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So it just sat for a while in a barn and they
continued buying their crates.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">The equipment sat in
storage for almost two years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was
business as usual for Ted and Ernie during that period until their story took a
turn that many would describe as just plain old good luck.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Mantheis would probably describe their
fathers stumbling across a man named Mr. Metzelburg as divine
intervention.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mr. Metzelburg sold veneer
for a living and he recognized the lathe the brothers had purchased.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">“He told them they had purchased
some of the best veneer equipment in the industry,” Tom explained.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Metzelburg also had a friend in Wisconsin, a
man named Simon, who was a retired veneer lathe operator.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He had Simon come to Petoskey and in about a
half-hour Simon had the machine adjusted, and had beautiful veneer flowing off it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So Metzelburg told them that if they could
keep turning out runs like that he’d buy all the veneer they could make.” </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">“They set up the equipment
and started running the veneer mill.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>That was back in the mid to late forties,” Tom related.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Ted and Ernie Manthei put
their veneer machinery to good use, and their business quickly grew.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">“My dad was a visionary
and he had always had a lot of ideas,” Tom explained.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“My uncle, Ernie, was more of a manager type
so he could put wheels on the visions my dad came up with.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As a team they worked well together.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">The old machinery generated
enough money for the brothers to equip the veneer mill with newer, more modern
machinery.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The business continued to
grow and the brothers ran it for more than twenty years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They might have operated the mill even longer
if it was not for an unexpected tragedy. </span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">© 201<span style="font-size: x-small;">2</span> Philip Kassel</span></span></span></span></div>
</div>
Phil Kasselhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02077427236462103448noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1621163272369463397.post-73754447443214517032012-05-28T21:16:00.000-07:002012-11-23T15:57:55.097-08:00Roads To Success 1.3<style>
<!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:Georgia;
panose-1:2 4 5 2 5 4 5 2 3 3;
mso-font-charset:0;
mso-generic-font-family:auto;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{mso-style-unhide:no;
mso-style-qformat:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
margin:0in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";}
.MsoChpDefault
{mso-style-type:export-only;
mso-default-props:yes;
font-size:10.0pt;
mso-ansi-font-size:10.0pt;
mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;}
@page WordSection1
{size:8.5in 11.0in;
margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in;
mso-header-margin:.5in;
mso-footer-margin:.5in;
mso-paper-source:0;}
div.WordSection1
{page:WordSection1;}
</style>
-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-outline-level: 1;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">The Manthei Family</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Bring up the topic of a
family business and you better be prepared for raised eyebrows, perhaps even
blatant guffaws. Sure, the Mars family
has done nicely making candy (and many other products) for the world since the
1920s. They held the title of the
richest family in America until the Walton family of Wal-Mart fame displaced
them. But in spite of all that financial
success the family has experienced more than its share of internal conflict including
an estranged father and son, and a battle for control of the family business
empire (the company has 70 divisions).</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">There are certainly many
family-run companies that survive and thrive with all relations concerned
working together harmoniously. More
prevalent are the stories of family member greed, petty struggles for power and
even internal thievery committed by the brother-in-law a wife insisted would be
a true asset to the company. Yes, almost
every business experiences at least one of these situations at one time or
another, but imagine going through it with your son, cousin, brother, or even
your mom. Just imagine the nightmare.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">The family I interviewed
for a first season episode of Secrets Of Success in October 1999 falls into the
“working together harmoniously” category.
Well, all of them admit that every once in a while there is a modicum of
discord but most of the time they work together with productive results. They are brothers Tom, Dan, and Tim Manthei,
and their cousins – brothers Ben, Mark, and Jim Manthei.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">The Mantheis are something
of an unusual family - unusual because in spite of dramatically different
personalities and individual perspectives, they’ve discovered the key to
working together. And they’ve worked
together to effectively bring growth to their substantial company. It’s a company built on a foundation of
principles handed down by their parents.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">The Manthei Corporation is
headquartered in Petosky, Michigan, a resort community located in the upper
mid-western region of the United States.
Most of the town’s commerce is seasonal depending on tourists attracted
to the area’s lakes during the summer months, and snow mobile and skiing
enthusiasts in the winter. The Manthei
Corporation, however, operates year round and includes a veneer mill, a
construction company with three Ready Mix plants and gravel crushing facility,
three resort parks, and a land development business. Since their original interviews the Mantheis
added two companies manufacturing concrete blocks with decorative faces, one
for construction and one for the landscaping industry.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">I remember the initial
interviews being rather daunting. Up to
that point each of the Secrets Of Success shows had focused on a single
business leader. With the Manthei show I
had six key executives to speak with, each with a unique perspective on their
company. It wasn’t easy keeping it all
straight, but with all that input no detail was left from the story.</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">© 201<span style="font-size: x-small;">2</span> Philip Kassel</span></span></span></span></div>
</div>
Phil Kasselhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02077427236462103448noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1621163272369463397.post-82356111080211174812012-05-20T21:31:00.002-07:002012-11-23T15:58:19.216-08:00Roads To Success 10.2<style>
<!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:Georgia;
panose-1:2 4 5 2 5 4 5 2 3 3;
mso-font-charset:0;
mso-generic-font-family:auto;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{mso-style-unhide:no;
mso-style-qformat:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
margin:0in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";}
.MsoChpDefault
{mso-style-type:export-only;
mso-default-props:yes;
font-size:10.0pt;
mso-ansi-font-size:10.0pt;
mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;}
@page WordSection1
{size:8.5in 11.0in;
margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in;
mso-header-margin:.5in;
mso-footer-margin:.5in;
mso-paper-source:0;}
div.WordSection1
{page:WordSection1;}
</style>
-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">Epilogue: Jerry
Caven</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Regrettably, Jerry Caven
was not available for the “follow-up” interview that would bring his story up
to date for this series. There is really
no mystery in his lack of availability, though.
He is just a really, really busy guy.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Jerry still actively serves
as Chairman of the Board for the Royal Fork Restaurant Corporation and is
President of States Realty. He is also President
of First Consultants, Inc., a company he established in 1978 supplying
wholesale restaurant equipment to the industry he knows well.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Jerry is, of course, actively
involved in growing his latest restaurant venture, Mongo’s Grill. A bit of internet detective work revealed
that these restaurants are receiving predominately glowing reviews with their
“healthy” menu selection, excellent service, and cleanliness being just a few
of the attributes singled out in numerous posts.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">One thing is for certain, a
follow-up interview is not required to know that Jerry Caven still fervently
pursues his faith daily. He lives his
personal life and life as a business executive according to biblical principles,
and he serves God regularly with his time, money and resources. He does all this actively and deliberately
with great purpose.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Thank you, Jerry, for
permission to use your story. It is truly
a great example of how to journey through life.</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">© 201<span style="font-size: x-small;">2</span> Philip Kassel</span></span></span></span></div>
</div>
Phil Kasselhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02077427236462103448noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1621163272369463397.post-14901077883903904542012-05-13T21:57:00.000-07:002012-11-23T15:58:44.381-08:00Roads To Success 9.2<style>
<!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:Times;
panose-1:2 0 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0;
mso-font-charset:0;
mso-generic-font-family:auto;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;}
@font-face
{font-family:Times;
panose-1:2 0 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0;
mso-font-charset:0;
mso-generic-font-family:auto;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;}
@font-face
{font-family:Georgia;
panose-1:2 4 5 2 5 4 5 2 3 3;
mso-font-charset:0;
mso-generic-font-family:auto;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{mso-style-unhide:no;
mso-style-qformat:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
margin:0in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";}
p.MsoBodyTextIndent, li.MsoBodyTextIndent, div.MsoBodyTextIndent
{mso-style-unhide:no;
mso-style-link:"Body Text Indent Char";
margin-top:0in;
margin-right:0in;
margin-bottom:0in;
margin-left:27.0pt;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
text-indent:-27.0pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:14.0pt;
mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Times;
mso-fareast-font-family:Times;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";}
span.BodyTextIndentChar
{mso-style-name:"Body Text Indent Char";
mso-style-unhide:no;
mso-style-locked:yes;
mso-style-link:"Body Text Indent";
mso-ansi-font-size:14.0pt;
font-family:Times;
mso-ascii-font-family:Times;
mso-fareast-font-family:Times;
mso-hansi-font-family:Times;}
.MsoChpDefault
{mso-style-type:export-only;
mso-default-props:yes;
font-size:10.0pt;
mso-ansi-font-size:10.0pt;
mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;}
@page WordSection1
{size:8.5in 11.0in;
margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in;
mso-header-margin:.5in;
mso-footer-margin:.5in;
mso-paper-source:0;}
div.WordSection1
{page:WordSection1;}
</style>
-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">The Man In Charge</span></b><span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Jerry Caven credits his
employees with making possible something that he and Muriel consider a priority
in their lives - ministry work.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">“I don’t have to worry
that they will lose their motivation or that they need to be challenged to do
their jobs every day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They have done it
for ten, fifteen, thirty or forty years,” Jerry explained.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“That gives me a great deal of confidence
then that I can leave to do ministry work.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Jerry and Muriel have
dedicated their time and resources to ministry work in Central America, India,
Pakistan, Africa, Bangladesh, and of course, the United States.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">“I explain to our people,
when my wife and I go to do ministry work, each time before we leave, that they
are as important to the ministry as we are.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We are the ones who go, but they are the ones who make it possible for
us to go,” Jerry told the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Secrets Of
Success</i> camera.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Jerry and Muriel’s
ministry work is not confined to just writing checks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Shortly before production began on their <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Secrets Of Success</i> television episode
Jerry and Muriel had spent six months in India.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>They were “hands on” in distributing food to the hungry, meeting with
local church pastors and educating anyone interested in learning about the
Christian faith.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Faith obviously plays a
key role in the Caven’s interest in ministry, and as already mentioned it holds
a primary position in Jerry’s varied businesses.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jerry may own the company but he will be the
first to tell you that God runs it.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">The Royal Fork Restaurant
Corporation Chief Financial Officer, Jim Chambers, illustrated it this way,
“Jerry basically does everything with prayer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He prays about whatever it is he is about to do, and the first person he
asks about anything is God.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">“The way we do business,
in terms the way people are treated, in terms of the expectations of what goes
on in any of our businesses, it’s obvious that faith makes up a huge part of
it,” Merlyn Knight added.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“And then
we’re challenged to do more than just make money.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How do we change people?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How do we make a difference in people’s
lives?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Before Jerry Caven decided
he wanted to spend less time at work, his combined businesses were producing
annual revenues in excess of $100 million dollars.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even now, with Jerry focusing more time on
ministry work, and his 5 children and 14 grandchildren, his businesses produce in
the ballpark of $75 million annually.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These
are impressive numbers attached to a man whose early ambitions were downright
mundane.</span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">“I’ve only had one
conscious asset goal,” Jerry recalled.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“When I was fourteen or fifteen years old I determined that someday I
would have a home with a fireplace.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That
is the only financial or material goal I can ever remember having.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have just worked hard and it just seemed
like you should do your best.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I believe
that a person who is in business just for the money, and then does not give
back either some of his money or his life in the process, he is missing out on
a huge blessing.”<span style="color: red;"></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">“Jerry’s been so successful
because he thinks through what he’s going to do,” Muriel said of her
husband.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“He just seems to have a knack
of picking the right businesses and the right people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Honesty and integrity and his reliance on
what he feels like God would have him do; it plays a big role in his
decisions.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">And what is Jerry Caven’s
opinion on his success?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“For some reason
our success in business is that the Lord intended it; this is what He wants and
desires and why that would be I don’t understand,” he told our camera.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Make no mistake; Jerry
isn’t advocating that anyone relax while God takes care of business.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“From a human standpoint you can’t just sit
and want to be in business and say that the Lord will bring success to us but
not do our part,” Jerry expounded.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“From
a human standpoint we have been consistent in the principles of business that
we believe in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have represented the
values and integrity [of the Bible].<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
think that if a person was starting a business and wanted to be successful in that
business, one thing I would tell him is to go to the Bible and to read and
understand the concepts that are put forth there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It tells us how to treat people and if you do
that [practice the concepts of the Bible] you will be successful.”</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">© 201<span style="font-size: x-small;">2</span> Philip Kassel</span></span></span></span></div>
</div>
Phil Kasselhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02077427236462103448noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1621163272369463397.post-14726729671907715482012-05-06T21:31:00.000-07:002012-11-23T15:59:07.106-08:00Roads To Success 8.2<style>
<!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:Times;
panose-1:2 0 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0;
mso-font-charset:0;
mso-generic-font-family:auto;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;}
@font-face
{font-family:Times;
panose-1:2 0 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0;
mso-font-charset:0;
mso-generic-font-family:auto;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;}
@font-face
{font-family:Georgia;
panose-1:2 4 5 2 5 4 5 2 3 3;
mso-font-charset:0;
mso-generic-font-family:auto;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{mso-style-unhide:no;
mso-style-qformat:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
margin:0in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";}
p.MsoBodyTextIndent, li.MsoBodyTextIndent, div.MsoBodyTextIndent
{mso-style-unhide:no;
mso-style-link:"Body Text Indent Char";
margin-top:0in;
margin-right:0in;
margin-bottom:0in;
margin-left:27.0pt;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
text-indent:-27.0pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:14.0pt;
mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Times;
mso-fareast-font-family:Times;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";}
span.BodyTextIndentChar
{mso-style-name:"Body Text Indent Char";
mso-style-unhide:no;
mso-style-locked:yes;
mso-style-link:"Body Text Indent";
mso-ansi-font-size:14.0pt;
font-family:Times;
mso-ascii-font-family:Times;
mso-fareast-font-family:Times;
mso-hansi-font-family:Times;}
.MsoChpDefault
{mso-style-type:export-only;
mso-default-props:yes;
font-size:10.0pt;
mso-ansi-font-size:10.0pt;
mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;}
@page WordSection1
{size:8.5in 11.0in;
margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in;
mso-header-margin:.5in;
mso-footer-margin:.5in;
mso-paper-source:0;}
div.WordSection1
{page:WordSection1;}
</style>
-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">Beyond Family</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Jerry Caven’s heartfelt
concern for family extends well beyond his own family.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“As in any business, really the key to it is
the people you employ,” he stated.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“In
our other businesses and ranching we’ve been very fortunate to have good
people.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Juan Guitterez first met
Jerry Caven on the Pitch Fork, a ranch Jerry owned prior to purchasing the Half
Moon Ranch.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jerry happened to be working
on a fence that needed repair when Juan, in need of a job, approached him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At the time the Pitch Fork didn’t need any
additional staff, but when Jerry understood just how badly Juan needed a job he
didn’t have the heart to turn him away.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">“He cares about you, he
cares about your family,” Juan told the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Secrets
Of Success</i> camera.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“He’s making sure
that when I get old I won’t just be sitting in a chair without any money.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Juan Guitterez worked so
hard that he eventually became the foreman of the Pitch Fork Ranch.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In a display of appreciation for his
foreman’s hard work, Jerry requested that Juan sign a contract that would give
him a percentage of the proceeds should the ranch ever be sold.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Juan signed and Jerry eventually did sell the
Pitch Fork.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">“When Jerry sold the ranch
that percentage resulted in a six-figure profit,” Juan gratefully related.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I put it in my savings account.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Jerry has also joyfully
paid for Juan’s children’s college expenses.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>And many more of Jerry Caven’s twelve-hundred employees have benefited
in a variety of ways from his faith-fueled generosity and compassion.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">“Hopefully they are happy
and paid well,” Jerry commented.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“But
when life’s circumstances come up it is my job to be there for these people.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Many business owners might
be tempted to view Jerry’s <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">extra mile</i>
approach to employees as unnecessary.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>But no one can dispute that it has a long-term practical affect.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">“It didn’t take me long to
understand when I started in business that constant turnover was costing me a
lot of time and a lot of money,” Jerry related.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“The best way was to find a good person that was willing to learn his
job, and enjoy his job, and then to remunerate and challenge that person to
stay long-term.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Jerry consistently reminds
his employees that they are a big part of the success of the company.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“That might not affect all of them but there
are some that really take it to heart,” Jerry said.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Our people know that I’m not concerned just
that they do a good job, but that they know I’m concerned for them
individually.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Merlyn Knight, President
of the Royal Fork Restaurant Corporation has been with the company for over
forty years, Jim Chambers, Chief Financial Officer, eighteen years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Diane, Jerry’s assistant, has been with him
for thirty-five years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Business experts
might be tempted to question the approach, but there is no debating the
results.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The proof here is in the
people.</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">© 201<span style="font-size: x-small;">2</span> Philip Kassel</span></span></span></span></div>
</div>
Phil Kasselhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02077427236462103448noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1621163272369463397.post-32699773860473883952012-04-29T20:58:00.002-07:002012-11-23T15:59:40.426-08:00Roads To Success 7.2<style>
<!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:Times;
panose-1:2 0 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0;
mso-font-charset:0;
mso-generic-font-family:auto;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;}
@font-face
{font-family:Times;
panose-1:2 0 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0;
mso-font-charset:0;
mso-generic-font-family:auto;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;}
@font-face
{font-family:Georgia;
panose-1:2 4 5 2 5 4 5 2 3 3;
mso-font-charset:0;
mso-generic-font-family:auto;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{mso-style-unhide:no;
mso-style-qformat:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
margin:0in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";}
p.MsoBodyTextIndent, li.MsoBodyTextIndent, div.MsoBodyTextIndent
{mso-style-unhide:no;
mso-style-link:"Body Text Indent Char";
margin-top:0in;
margin-right:0in;
margin-bottom:0in;
margin-left:27.0pt;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
text-indent:-27.0pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:14.0pt;
mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Times;
mso-fareast-font-family:Times;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";}
span.BodyTextIndentChar
{mso-style-name:"Body Text Indent Char";
mso-style-unhide:no;
mso-style-locked:yes;
mso-style-link:"Body Text Indent";
mso-ansi-font-size:14.0pt;
font-family:Times;
mso-ascii-font-family:Times;
mso-fareast-font-family:Times;
mso-hansi-font-family:Times;}
.MsoChpDefault
{mso-style-type:export-only;
mso-default-props:yes;
font-size:10.0pt;
mso-ansi-font-size:10.0pt;
mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;}
@page WordSection1
{size:8.5in 11.0in;
margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in;
mso-header-margin:.5in;
mso-footer-margin:.5in;
mso-paper-source:0;}
div.WordSection1
{page:WordSection1;}
</style>
-->
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt;">What Really Counts</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">As highly as Jerry values
land, he places an even higher value on people. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“We are Christians and strongly believe in the
concepts of the Bible,” Jerry explained.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“And the Bible clearly points out what we are to do with people and for
people.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Where people are concerned
family, of course, comes first.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On my
first trip to Boise Jerry was driving us to see his home when he related a very
unique and entertaining story that beautifully illustrated the strength of his
values, and how much he cared for his family.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The story never made it into Jerry Caven’s television episode, but not
because it wasn’t worth telling.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">It began with Jerry
describing how the house we were about to visit came to be.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the late 1970s, with five children growing
strong, the Caven house had managed to shrink around the family.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Business was thriving, and they had the cash,
so Jerry and Muriel decided it would be practical to design and build a new,
larger home.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Jerry recalled the process
as starting with the basics, but then the inevitable began to happen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Muriel would comment that it would be nice to
have a family room at the top of the main staircase and then Jerry would see
the advantage of having a home office off the main hallway.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Jerry was a little
apologetic and even a little embarrassed as he described how large the house
became.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“It was never intended to be
such a big project but you get ideas, then more ideas, and I guess it just kind
of got out of hand,” he reminisced.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“Anyway, we ended up with this fourteen-thousand-square-foot house.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We had it decorated and furnished, and then
moved in.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">The Cavens had not been in
the newly constructed house too long before Jerry began to observe something he
didn’t feel particularly good about.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I
don’t think my kids had ever thought about how much we had before.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You know, I don’t think they gave any thought
to my assets or how much money I earned,” Jerry explained.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“But then we’re all in this big house and after
a while I didn’t like the way they were acting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We were all developing an attitude that I didn’t like.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even Muriel and I started to forget our
priorities.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">After giving the issue a
great deal of thought and prayer, Jerry took action.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I didn’t tell anybody, not even my wife, and
I went out and bought a normal-sized house,” Jerry recalled.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Then I invited my wife to lunch.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Muriel wryly recalled that
upon receiving her husband’s lunch invitation she thought he was going to ask
for a divorce.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There was absolutely no
tangible reason for her to believe such a thing, but during this period of
their lives Jerry was extremely busy and spending a large amount of his time at
work; he rarely invited Muriel to lunch because his schedule didn’t allow it.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Jerry explained his
observations and concerns to Muriel over lunch.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“I told her how I felt about the kids, their attitude and all,” he recounted.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“She knew what I was talking about and
agreed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, we left the big house and
moved into this other house I bought.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
hired a caretaker to stay in the big house and we were gone for twenty years.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">In August of 1999 Jerry
and Muriel moved back into the house they had built twenty years before.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They never considered moving out of this
beautiful home a sacrifice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Their love
for their children, concern that their children develop healthy values and
maintaining their own healthy perspective was simply more important.</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">© 201<span style="font-size: x-small;">2</span> Philip Kassel</span></span></span></span></div>
</div>
Phil Kasselhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02077427236462103448noreply@blogger.com0