A Drop in the Bucket
Thoughts, Musings, and Jottings on Life's Experiences
by
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FORWARD
By
NEWT GINGRICH
I am honored to write an introduction for Larry Beighey’s book because he literally changed my life in two very important ways.
First, through his daughter, Anne, he gave me an extraordinary associate who made my work much more effective and enjoyable as House Republican Whip, Speaker of the House, and then as a businessman and civic leader after leaving the House. The values, intensity, enthusiasm, and determination Anne brings to life are a great tribute to both her mom and dad. Their values and their commitment to life are reflected in their daughter’s career.
Second, when I entered the private sector in 1999, I visited with Larry to learn his secrets as an entrepreneur. One key lesson he taught me was “never be afraid to ask too much or offer too little.” Free enterprise is a process of getting to a mutually acceptable agreement in which both parties feel they are better off because they were able to accomplish something they could not get done on their own.
Larry emphasized that in negotiating you were supposed to represent your own interests. If you had offered too little you could always raise the offer when it was rejected. If you had asked for too much you could always lower the price as the conversation continued.
Larry insisted that if you offered too much the other person would of course accept it but you might have paid much more than you needed to. If you asked for too little the other side would of course accept it but then you would have received much less than you might have.
I found this process of pleasantly and firmly representing your own interests inside your own head fascinating. Larry asserted that most people lacked the nerve to calmly represent themselves and tended to almost automatically offer too much or ask for too little. They wanted to be pleasant and to be accepted more than they wanted the best deal.
Larry’s insights will help you learn a lot more about being an effective entrepreneur and a profitable businessman or woman. More importantly, Larry’s stories and the principles they illustrate will help you live a better life and be a better person. Larry understands full well that life is about much more than simply making money.
Larry has lived a life devoted to his family, his community, and to
This book will teach you lessons about business but more importantly it will teach you lessons about life.
When you are done you will feel you have made a new friend and his name is Larry.
Newt Gingrich,
Speaker of the
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About the Book
Bottles and Buckets played an important part in my life thus the name, A Drop In The Bucket. Each of these “Drops” tells a meaningful lesson that played a significant role in my personal, business, family and social life.
My business career was like a roller coaster … many ups and downs … from being President of a large corporation … to losing my job when the company was sold … to buying a troubled plastic bucket company and turning it into a successful, lucrative business.
During all of this and the day-to-day life of raising six children with my wife, Carole, I relied on my beliefs, feelings and judgments to guide me along the way.
I hope you find these “Drops” useful and that they will strike a cord and fill your bucket of life.
About the Author
Employed in the manufacturing industry for over twenty-five years, Larry Beighey held various management positions, which gave him a broad, general business background. As President and Chief Operating Officer (COO), he merged two acquisitions into a $150 MM packaging company. He founded Transition Management Resources, a consulting firm that provided management resources to struggling companies. In 1990, he, along with another equity partner, purchased a troubled injection molding company.
His various responsibilities have provided him expertise in all management areas and he has extensive international business experience.
Larry Beighey has taught at the university level and has authored numerous business articles.
In 1988, he was named to WHO’S WHO IN
He is married to Carole La Flamme Beighey, a writer of children’s books, and they have six grown children, Skip, Susan, Tom, Tim, Elizabeth and Anne. The Beigheys have ten grandchildren.
He resides with his wife at Amelia Island, Florida and summers at