Joe was the janitor at the local junior high school. It wasn’t the greatest job, but it paid the bills.
One day the principal came around with a form for Joe to fill out. It was a background check, part of some new administration policy. Well, you know what happened. Joe was honest about his past, and promptly lost his job.
He still had to make a living, so he started doing some light hauling with his beat up pickup truck. At first it wasn’t much, maybe taking some trash to the dump here, or moving an appliance there. But his little endeavor slowly grew. Before long, he was busy all week long. He eventually saved enough to buy a newer, bigger truck, and he could haul even more… increasing his income.
Then he made the leap of faith to purchase a second truck, and hire his brother-in-law to drive it. Things went well, he kept getting more and more work. Soon there was even the offer of a real contract with the local lumber mill to haul their wood.
As time went by, he bought more trucks, and hired more drivers. The business kept growing. He went Statewide. Then Regional, and in a few years he had some trucks running the length of the nation. Still the small company kept growing.
Well, as is the case with most larger businesses, there comes a point where you need more money to expand than you have on hand. Joe went to see a friend at the local bank. He secured a loan on the basis of that friendship.
The business grew and grew, and that banker friend made good money right along with Joe as the need for additional capital arose from time to time. In fact the friend became manager of the bank.
One day, Joe went in to see about another loan. His fleet of moving vans was in need of updating. This time he happened to be directed to one of the new loan officers the bank had employed. This young lad had him fill out some forms. All by the book, ya know.
Upon looking over the forms, he noticed Joe’s past standing out like a sore thumb. He immediately took the papers to his manager, Joe’s old friend. “No problem, Henry, you go right ahead and give him whatever he asks for” said the manager. “Joe owns one of the largest moving companies in the Midwest.”
Bewildered, the young man returned to where Joe was sitting, waiting. He stamped all the documents “Approved”, then he turned to face Joe. “May I ask you a question?” he whispered.
“Sure”, Joe replied.
“Well, I couldn’t help but see you’ve done time in prison, yet you are the sole owner of a huge trucking firm”
“Yes?” Said Joe
The young man said, “You’ve done so well for yourself, and have made so much money. And, I happen to know that you’re very well respected in this community.”
“You said you had a question?”, replied Joe
The young man said…….. “I was just wondering where you might have been today if you had not had to deal with this obvious handicap all your life.”
“Well” said Joe, “I’ll tell ya.” “I imagine I would still be the janitor over at the junior high.”
One day the principal came around with a form for Joe to fill out. It was a background check, part of some new administration policy. Well, you know what happened. Joe was honest about his past, and promptly lost his job.
He still had to make a living, so he started doing some light hauling with his beat up pickup truck. At first it wasn’t much, maybe taking some trash to the dump here, or moving an appliance there. But his little endeavor slowly grew. Before long, he was busy all week long. He eventually saved enough to buy a newer, bigger truck, and he could haul even more… increasing his income.
Then he made the leap of faith to purchase a second truck, and hire his brother-in-law to drive it. Things went well, he kept getting more and more work. Soon there was even the offer of a real contract with the local lumber mill to haul their wood.
As time went by, he bought more trucks, and hired more drivers. The business kept growing. He went Statewide. Then Regional, and in a few years he had some trucks running the length of the nation. Still the small company kept growing.
Well, as is the case with most larger businesses, there comes a point where you need more money to expand than you have on hand. Joe went to see a friend at the local bank. He secured a loan on the basis of that friendship.
The business grew and grew, and that banker friend made good money right along with Joe as the need for additional capital arose from time to time. In fact the friend became manager of the bank.
One day, Joe went in to see about another loan. His fleet of moving vans was in need of updating. This time he happened to be directed to one of the new loan officers the bank had employed. This young lad had him fill out some forms. All by the book, ya know.
Upon looking over the forms, he noticed Joe’s past standing out like a sore thumb. He immediately took the papers to his manager, Joe’s old friend. “No problem, Henry, you go right ahead and give him whatever he asks for” said the manager. “Joe owns one of the largest moving companies in the Midwest.”
Bewildered, the young man returned to where Joe was sitting, waiting. He stamped all the documents “Approved”, then he turned to face Joe. “May I ask you a question?” he whispered.
“Sure”, Joe replied.
“Well, I couldn’t help but see you’ve done time in prison, yet you are the sole owner of a huge trucking firm”
“Yes?” Said Joe
The young man said, “You’ve done so well for yourself, and have made so much money. And, I happen to know that you’re very well respected in this community.”
“You said you had a question?”, replied Joe
The young man said…….. “I was just wondering where you might have been today if you had not had to deal with this obvious handicap all your life.”
“Well” said Joe, “I’ll tell ya.” “I imagine I would still be the janitor over at the junior high.”