It’s sound advice from a business-savvy man of sage wisdom. He is David Oreck, founder and owner of Oreck Corp. If the name sounds familiar, that’s probably because it is.
You’ve heard his voice.
You’ve seen his face.
You’re aware of his famous appliance — the Oreck vacuum cleaner and related products.
This likable gentleman came to Cleveland Tuesday as a special favor. It was a gesture of kindness on behalf of one of his favorite nonprofit organizations in the country — United Way, and specifically, the United Way of Bradley County.
Oreck delivered the keynote address at the organization’s Community-Wide Kickoff Luncheon hosted, as it is each year, by the Rotary and Kiwanis clubs of Cleveland. It was held in the beautiful facilities of the Peerless Road Church of God of Prophecy. We thank all three for again providing an appropriate forum for a people-caring organization that has launched its campaign toward an aggressive goal of $2,275,000.
It’s a lot of money.
But our community has a lot of heart.
Like any town, ours has needs — people needs. Our community thankfully has been spared some of the severest impact of the down-trodden economy, but we are not immune. We have witnessed business closings. We have been saddened by a loss of jobs among family, friends and neighbors. We have heard the clamor of merchants still looking for innovative methods to entice consumers back into their doors.
To repeat — we have people needs.
This is the value of people-first organizations like United Way of Bradley County, a source of help to those most in need in our community. It gives us comfort — and an ever-growing sense of trust — knowing that successful businessmen like David Oreck take comfort in lending their names, and their reputations, to these doers of great deeds.
We admire David Oreck’s fortitude. We respect his success. And we salute his salesmanship.
In an interview with David Davis, our managing editor, he talked of what it takes to be a good salesman.
First, you must believe in your product. If you don’t believe it’s the best, then you’ll have difficulty convincing others.
Second, you must have perseverance and tenacity, and you must cling to a personal conviction that hard work and honest thoughts will breed honest response.
And third, you must market yourself as you would have others market themselves to you — with integrity, sincerity and a deep-rooted desire to understand through direct communication, both spoken and unspoken.
Present yourself in truth and without pretense, not just in sales but with any approach.
This is the strength of United Way and the value of having someone of David Oreck’s stature vouching for it. As is the case with this entrepreneur, we believe in United Way. We have believed in its mission for years. We will believe in it for many more.
What an outstanding kickoff it was on Tuesday. Hundreds of supporters, volunteers and donors gathering under the same roof to share the same vision — that through teamwork many of the ills of this community, if not altogether resolved, will at the very least be lessened. Companies like the fabulous Pacesetters and Challengers will see that this happens.
We trust others will follow their lead.
When it comes to your charitable dollar, we recognize United Way is certainly not the only way.
But it is a good way.
It is a proven way.
It is a trusted way.
And it is our way.
