You have all heard the story of how I started this company some 15 years ago. As we embark on our 15th year in business, I will not repeat it again, but I will say that money was not the motivating factor. I have always enjoyed building - starting with nothing and having no where to go but up.
I started the first track program at Livingston University (now the University of West Alabama) in 1965. They had no track, equipment or team. I spent seven years coaching track at Livingston and we were able to compete with the best teams in the south. We even beat Auburn once. And we never had a track during the seven years I was there.
I came back to Auburn in 1971 and had similar success helping them rebuild their track and field teams to a championship level. When I arrived back on the AU campus, Auburn had only one All-American in track. When I left in 1977, we had 157 All-Americans.
I moved over to the AU Alumni and Development office in January of 1977 and we immediately began laying the ground work for Auburn’s first major capital campaign. Our goal was $61.7 million and we raised $110 million with the help of 3 development officers.
I tell you all of this to illustrate the point that I love being part of something that is growing and constantly improving. In 15 years, JFSG has grown from two employees to twelve and we are certainly better than we were in 1991. But better is not good enough. Being the best we can possibly be is a journey, not a destination.
The basic philosophy we started with is still the same - provide quality service, do more than we are paid to do and build long lasting relationships with the clients we serve.
I am often asked how long I want to keep up this pace of traveling 50 weeks a year, working 12 to 14 hours per day. Well my goal, God willing, is to continue to work at this pace for another five years. Then I want to work a normal 40 hours per week.
I will never retire from this business. I love what we are doing too much to ever quit. I have said many times that I will probably just “hit the ground” one day. If I do, I will go with a smile on my face, knowing I have been doing something that I truly love. I hope you can say the same thing today, tomorrow and in 15 years.