Editor's Focus: July 2001

"The man without purpose is like a ship without a rudder." - Thomas Carlyle

Some people may think I wrote this column to help someone sell mowers or to help us sell advertising, but that’s not the case. I’m writing this column because every once in awhile you encounter someone who demonstrates that not only can ethics and principles be part of a business, they also can be its heart and soul.

I was reminded of this on a sunny June day when I made the 60-mile drive north from Denver to Fort Collins, Colo., to spend the afternoon with Bob Walker of Walker Manufacturing. The essence of that interview comprises the latest offering in our Conversation Series, which you can find here: Conversation Series: Bob Walker, Walker Manufacturing. But the insights and philosophies that matter the most in this case have little to do with mower engines or cutting decks. Bob Walker is all about the people around him and his company’s impact on them.

Trade show attendees have witnessed Walker’s priorities first hand, since he won’t let employees work in his company’s booth on Sundays. This day, after all, is about faith and family – not work – regardless of the fact that such priorities cost him an opportunity to sell that no other manufacturers pass up.

Unfortunately, people like this seem few and far between these days, with newspapers writing about the latest corporate takeover or get-rich-quick opportunity. The Walker story will likely never focus on record sales or expanding markets, which is fine with him. Instead, his is a story about starting out slowly and, ultimately, appreciating success.

To truly realize the extent of his commitment to building an organization based on more than the bottom line you have to talk with him about how the company has achieved its success. You have to hear his voice crack when he talks about being fortunate enough to have the chance to personally greet all of the attendees at the company’s Family Reunion celebration for producing its 50,000th mower. "I wanted to thank each and every one of them for what they’ve done for us," he told me.

Today, Walker Manufacturing continues to make mowers. An average of 26 machines a day, to be exact. But the number that really matters to Bob Walker can’t be counted – that’s the number of people either impacted by or who have contributed to the company’s success.

Like I said, I didn’t write this to help someone sell mowers. I wrote this because there aren’t enough stories about people who run their business this way, placing people before profit.