Reminiscences From Ohio

Some of life’s best lessons seem to arise unexpectedly. I will use these pages to reminisce about several that for me literally fell out of the sky.

In one of my early jobs, shortly after receiving my sheepskin at Cornel, a laboratory supervisor at G.E., Ed Jones, a very substantial person with little formal education, asked me to write a report regarding some laboratory development work. The report had to be hand written on a ruled form with a carbon copy.

Simple enough. But when I turned in the report, Ed pointed out that the carbon copy had slipped, relative to the first page. This caused the second page to be offset from the original, and it did not meet the standards of his laboratory!

Well, the matter seemed as trivial to me as it was important to Ed!

What ensued, momentarily, was a Mexican standoff. Just in the nick of time, however, I came to my senses: the essential principle here was that Ed was mv boss. The legibility of the carbon copy was simply not the central issue.

As soon as I realized what was at stake, I knuckled under swallowed my pride, and rewrote the report. A few days later Ed invited me to have dinner with his family. When I finished the assignment he gave me a good rating.

However, the best turn Ed did for me was by setting an example of insisting on excellence in his lab and respect for authority.

Another of life’s learning experiences occurred in Condar’s formative years, when “sweat equity” was the name of the game. “Copy” was needed for sales bulletins and point-of-display hang cards. For budgetary reasons, the script had to be written without benefit of an advertising agency.

Somehow the best homemade syntax and enthusiasm did not seem to produce arresting advertising copy. Consequently, I reached out to a friend with extensive writing experience. My friend assured me that while I had all the facts in place, my writing was sprinkled with some “negative words” and “inactive verbs”. For example, the sentence “Joe tried to overcome the obstacle presented by Jack’s attitude.” could also be written as “Joe seized the challenge to persuade Jack.”

With considerable internal dialog and after a few years of practice, it became easier for me to communicate in what amounted to the “language of persuasion”. Furthermore, since we think mainly in words, my friend’s help had the effect of helping me view life in a more positive way. Perhaps what was at stake here was the importance of reaching out to others when we need help. Almost invariable, others are honored and cooperative when we ask them for help.

Finally, another valuable lesson was learned in about 1960, while I was in the process of buying a Ford from Jack Lowe, who owned a dealership in Chagrin Falls. As I recall. Jack had played football under Woodie Hayes at Ohio and understood and practiced teamwork. He was a marvelous guy.

I told Jack that I had to have a car available just about 100% of the time, even when my car was in his shop being repaired. At the time, it was not common for dealerships to offer rental cars and loaners.

Jack put it this way. “Dick, if you buy Fords from us, we’ll find a way to keep wheels under you at all times. If you play ball with me. I’ll play ball with you.” A simple concept? Yes, and very practical, but too often forgotten amidst the pressures and hurry in our lives. In any case. Jack got my business, and he kept his word. The service was always forthcoming at Lowers Ford dealership, as long a Jack lived.

So the advice from an old timer is to keep your antenna out and stay well tuned to the world about you. You’ll be surprised what’s “out there”, and free for the asking.

With love to all,

(signed Dick)

Hiram, Ohio Nov. 22, 1992

[From a family booklet compiled by Elisabeth Cornelison for Christmas 1992]