The Roving Fisherman
The Roving Fisherman
This column today is different from what I write about most of the time. Today I want to write about tips for success.
As I have written several times, when I came home from the Navy after serving four years, all the money my wife and I had was $300 that I had won in a craps game in the South Pacific.
We then owned a 40 acre farm where I tried and failed to raise chickens. Then I tried to raise cattle and failed. Finally, I got a job working at a Batesville lumber yard.
I soon decided I wanted my own lumber company, so my dad and I went to the bank where he co-signed for $8,000. There were already two other lumber companies in town, both owned by women. One of these women said she would spend all her time trying to run us hillbillies back across the river.
My brother, Donnie, and I worked 18 hours a day to make it go, and it did! We cleared $1,800 the first year, and six years later, the two other companies went broke. Bryant Lumber became the largest lumber company in north central Arkansas.
Here are my tips for success: dedication, hard work, positive mental attitude, liking what you do, treat everyone the same, take chances, believe in God and live by the Ten Commandments.
Remember, you climb the ladder of success one step at a time.
There used to be a saying around town: “There ain’t hardly no business got around here what ain’t been went after by Bryant Lumber Company.”
Duffie may be reached at 3345 Shade Tree Drive, Batesville, AR 72501.
