Gary Sharpe

Gary Sharpe had the opportunity to learn from his education, military experience and his first job out of college with a pharmaceutical company. Starting his business with his wife in 1978 in the spare bedroom and the garage of their home he learned that you are most creative when most constrained, thus his life long relationship with innovation was learned. As the business grew he was able to travel the world trying to sell his products and experienced many customs and cultures and learned to adapt the best ideas from them. He learned there are many opportunities from determining which direction the heard was going and then go in the opposite direction. Doing things other businesses did not want to do and making machinery do things they were not supposed to do, he and his team created some interesting and profitable products and niche markets. He and his wife enjoy living in Ohio, Florida and Anguilla B.W.I.

Gary Sharpe learned basic business when he got his first paper route in the 7th grade in Williamsport, Ohio, a then thriving metropolis of 900 people in a central Ohio farming

community.

1. Back then a paper boy had to buy the papers and resell them. You had to have money to pay for the papers and inventory control was important because of the difficulty of selling day old papers. The lesson: cash is king.

2. Customers wanted their papers delivered on time seven days a week. The lesson: do what you say you will do, no exceptions.

3. Saturday mornings and early Saturday afternoons were spent collecting for the papers sold that week, records updated, money counted and deposited. Then the afternoon papers had to be delivered. Some customers were regular payers and some ran up big bills but almost always paid. You had to have cash reserves to cover the late payers because the paper publishers were strict about being paid on time. Some people could not pay because they did not have the money but they got a paper and “business tithing” was learned. The lesson: cash control and have compassion.

4. Another daily was added so there were more sales for peddling the three and one half mile route in rain, snow, ice, cold, heat or sleet and in sickness and in health. Yes, growing and running a business is much like being married. Then two once a week papers

were added. The route was large but with saddle bags and a basket on the front of the bike added capacity so all papers could be delivered in just one circuit. On Sundays the papers were large and you had to go back and restock until all papers were delivered. Parental controlled required the papers be delivered and to go to Sunday School Lesson: expand your product lines, grow your business and fulfill the obligations of your faith.

When asked what it takes to create a successful business is the strength and courage to borrow as much as you can and be willing to sacrifice and work many long hours. You have to be willing to sacrifice. You will struggle, have failures but you must endure, persist and overcome.

Then:

1. Have a product or service someone is willing to give you their money to acquire it.

2. More money (cash) must come in than goes out.

3. Do What You Say You Will Do.

Many thanks to the good people of Williamsport who helped me learn to be a good person and how to be a businessman. Special thanks to Paul Schein, the Horch family and many, many others. How Gary’s parents put up with his independence and forging his own path in life is amazing. Erma and Harold Sharpe should be made Saints.