Lift Up Your Hearts!

Check out the latest Occasional CEO post:  A Little More Inspiration for more than a little inspiration.  The Occasional CEO reports on his visit with a "full-time, fully energized, meet-with-customers and visit-operations-in-five-states, entrepreneurial CEO who has held his title for over 55 years."

Read the whole post.  <Ahem.>  Read the whole post.  It will be worth your while.  I would quote the whole thing if copyright laws and my conscience didn't forbid it.

He grew up in the Great Depression, in the Great Dustbowl, without indoor plumbing or electricity. Today he has a Blackberry and wanted a tour of my iPad, wondering how much better the iPad2 would be.

He doesn't take the elevator. He doesn't wear glasses. He works out at least five days a week, including 30 minutes stretching and 30 minutes on the elliptical machine.

I could not tell if, over his long career, he made money faster than he gave it away, or vice versa. Suffice to say he is successful and generous in equal measure.

He has 95 years behind him and spends all of his time thinking about what’s in front of him.

If you, like me, have often despaired about the state of business in America—and even more, our general spirit—this story will brighten your day, and maybe your year.  At least ... that is ... if this is an American company. I inferred as much from the fact that its leader was awarded the American military honor, the Legion of Merit, in World War II.  But every country needs men (and women) like this.

Go.  Be inspired.