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  • larry fagan shared a letter in the Group logo of Chasing Your DreamsChasing Your Dreams group 1 year ago

    I am glad I took a chance

    I had fallen into a career I truly loved, selling floor care, cleaning products, and equipment. It came on the heels of me losing a job with United States Steel, Duquesne Works, in Pittsburgh. The mill closed, and I thought that was it for me, but my mother taught me to have a good work ethic, so out hunting work, I went. I found two jobs being a janitor. I had to provide for my family, so I did what I had to do. Fast forward 18 years after a very successful career. I loved the work, I loved serving others, and that’s what sales is – serving others. After 18 years with a great national brand of floor care products, Hillyard, Inc, they were changing how they went to market. They were slowly removing company sales representatives like me and moving towards independent distributors. I was the last of the company salesmen, and I knew my career was about to change. I was very frightened. I did not want to work for someone else. I had been relatively independent for 18 years and had built a book of customers of over two million dollars. So faced with a decision and scared to death I decided I would start an independent distributorship. I had never done anything like this, but I thought long and hard and wanted to leave something for my three kids. I wanted to leave a legacy and a business for our children, should they want it.

    So I got some outside help and put together a business plan. I scheduled a meeting with the owners of the company I worked for and flew out to St Joseph, Mo. to Hillyard Company to present my business plan to the owners suggesting I’d become an independent distributorship, and the rest is history. That was September 10th, 2001. They quickly agreed. I ended my employment with them and took into the work of building Fagan Sanitary Supply Co. Some 20 years later, my children successfully run the company, and I sit here retired on a beach in the Bahamas. It was a frightening but great decision!

    Larry

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    • I love your story Larry. It’s a story of taking a chance on yourself, believing in yourself and going for it – no matter what anyone thinks. So amazing and so inspiring. Thank you for sharing and thank you for being a part of our family. <3 Lauren

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    • Hi Larry,
      I absolutely love everything about this story. I feel like it tells so much about who you are and what imprint you want to leave on this world.
      A lot of people never take a chance on themselves because they’re afraid to fail. Just the fear of failure alone leaves the majority in a stagnant position- but you didn’t let fear lead to inactivity. You saw one way of life was about to take a change in pace and so deciding to create a new one for yourself was not only an unselfish move but also one that was worth it. I aspire to be a lot like you because I do want to take chances on myself, especially knowing that my worth ethic and prayers won’t allow me to completely “fall through the floor.”
      Have you ever watched the movie “The Greatest Showman”? I would give it a watch. It is a musical and I’m not sure if you’re into that (lol), but it reminds me so much of your story and the importance of working hard and taking chances on yourself, even when there are other people relying on you or doubting your abilities.
      I have always been taught, “Nothing beats a Failure but a Try” and you are certainly a living example of that.
      Best wishes to you.

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    • Your story is inspiring. I know how scary it can be to take a leap of faith but most of the time it’s worth it. It’s exciting that you created a legacy that your children have decided to carry on. Thank you for sharing.

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    • What an inspiring story, I only wish I had that much power. I’ve always wanted to do something like this all my life, but never truly pushed it, plus I really didn’t know how to go forward with it. I had a lot of illnesses getting in the way during my life, and that held me up for years and after that I just didn’t go with the idea of starting a business. You did the right thing and when you stated that you worked as a janitor, because you had to do what you did for your family. You were right, that’s what a determined father and strong person will do for their family. In the end, you did it, you’ve left that legacy you wanted for your family. Good for you!

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    • You such a dedicated person, and you are so driven. Even when a difficult challenge comes your way you still kept it pushing and never gave up. Thank you for sharing.

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