“Give me a stock clerk with a goal and I’ll show you a man who will make history; show me a man without a goal and I’ll show you a stock clerk.”
—J.C. Penney
Great words from a common man who became one of America ’s great success stories. Whether you are a stock clerk or a stock market billionaire, having a goal and a plan to get there is your ticket to success in any venture.
James Cash Penney got his start as a lowly clerk in a small-town dry goods store. But his plan was to own his own stores, and he planned toward that goal by saving money and learning all he could about the business. Finally he was given the opportunity to purchase an interest in his first store in 1902, a first step that led to the American merchandising institution we know as J.C. Penney.
Penney’s business was built on careful planning, perseverance, and, later, a steady faith in God to help him succeed. That plan worked: By 1917, when he retired from active management of the J.C. Penney chain, his company owned 174 stores. Even in the depths of the Great Depression, through careful planning and a conservative financial approach, his business prospered, so that by 1929 Penney had some 1,400 stores nationwide and the undying devotion of a customer base that appreciated Penney’s efforts to provide them with quality merchandise at the lowest possible price.
It was those three important elements—planning, perseverance, and faith in God—that ensured Penney’s success, and allowed him to help countless other small business owners for several generations to prosper as well.
Likewise, those same three elements will serve you well in any venture to which you are truly committed. Base your success on sound planning, perseverance through every adversity, and an undying faith in God’s desire to help you succeed—and you WILL succeed!
There is a large retirement community, very nice place, that was built by J.C. Penny for retired pastors. Later, it opened up to regular retirees, but it is still a nice place even though it is old.
