Page 8 - Gary's Book - Final Copy 7.9.2017_Active
P. 8
If you think you know who I am, you will know me differently after reading this
book. I am not proud of some of my experiences, and I am ashamed of others. But
I do not blame anyone or judge anyone; that is for the Lord to do. I am just stating
my impressions and feelings. Some people try to turn back their odometers; not I. I
want people to know why I look and think this way. I have traveled a long way,
and some of the roads were unpaved. I have somehow gotten over the hill but have
not yet gotten to the top of the hill.
If you do not learn to laugh at trouble, you will not have anything to laugh
at during life.
Throughout my life, God has given me strength, energy, good health, endurance
and guidance, which I will never fully understand. With all the preparation,
exposure, education, and experiences I have had, I have not performed any great
feats or been largely financially rewarded. But I have made positive changes in
subordinate employees and their families. I have worked to provide jobs for less
fortunate people. I have coached, consoled, guided, directed, influenced, counseled
and encouraged, all by example, showing that a good life can be accomplished.
This has brought smiles and happiness to some along the way.
God has blessed me with a great family. Although I came from a very
dysfunctional group of blood relatives and foster families, I have been fully
accepted by my in-laws, which was of utmost importance to me. Later in life, I
located my cousin, Evelyn Wallace, and her family living in Buford, Georgia. We
now enjoy life there, too.
My business career facilitated roles that manifested into major responsibilities.
Along with having many part-time jobs, I have been a salesman, a lab technician
and a customer service representative. I have climbed the corporate ladder to
become a marketing manager, a sales manager, a general manager, and a
CEO/president.
During my forty plus years of employment, I was with three major Fortune 500
organizations, domestically and internationally, in various assignments. Even
though I have only lived in ten states, I have worked in 49 states (all but Hawaii),
in 25 countries and on three continents. I was a key management team member in
two major turnarounds with Olin Corporation and Telephonic Equipment
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