Imagine Life Without These!

A.P. certainly had his share of obstacles. When he was only 7, his father died in a fight over one dollar. Things were hard for him and his mother. She remarried a man who went into the produce business. A.P., at age 14, quit school to work with him. By 19 he was a partner in the thriving enterprise, built largely on his reputation for integrity and honesty. At 31 years of age he had all the money he needed or wanted, and announced his retirement. One year later his real career began…

At 32, A.P. was asked to join the board of the Columbus Savings & Loan society, a modest bank in the Italian section of town. It wasn’t long before A.P found himself at odds with the other directors. A.P. wanted the bank to loan money to hard-working immigrants, but at that time banks were in business only for business men and the wealthy. His ideas of loaning money to the working class were scoffed at.

No problem. A.P. had a vision and he was determined to make it reality. He raised $150,000 (a massive amount of money then) from family and friends, bought a converted saloon right across the street from the Columbus S&L; kept the bartender on as an assistant teller; and opened the Bank of Italy.

In those days it wasn’t considered proper to solicit banking business. He ignored the “proper way” and began ringing doorbells and talking to everyone he could about what a bank did. He advertised. He kept the bank open longer hours, and on weekends, to fit into working people’s schedules. Business boomed.
A.P. believed in making other people’s dreams come true. He helped the California Wine Industry get started. He bankrolled Hollywood when they were trying to make movies popular. When Walt Disney ran $2 million dollars over budget on Snow White, he stepped in with a loan.

A.P. believed integrity and “giving back” were the formulas for success. What began in 1904 as the Bank of Italy transformed into the Bank of America – now the world’s largest bank.

What about A.P.? Did he die a billionaire? When he passed away at age 79, his estate was worth less than $500,000. It was purely by choice. He disdained great wealth, believing it would make him lose touch with the people he wanted to serve. He worked for no pay for years. A surprise $1.5 million bonus one year was promptly given to the University of California. It was far more important for him to give and make a difference.

All of us have that ability and opportunity. As you strive for success, remember you can use it to make a difference in the world. A.P. strove to make a difference every day of his life. Follow your own formula for success, then look for ways to give back to the world that has given you so much.

There are always ways. They are out there waiting for you to find them!