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Leaving His Mark: How Hall Manufactured Success

Article Overview: "All I was trying to do was make a living," Hall once said. "In those days, if you didn't work, you didn't eat. And I like to eat."

Leaving His Mark: How Hall Manufactured Success

"All I was trying to do was make a living," Hall once said. "In those days, if you didn't work, you didn't eat. And I like to eat."

Hall might have driven the same Buick for most of his life, and eaten lunch in the company’s cafeteria every workday, but he was no ordinary employee. By the time Hall died in 1982, the company he started was valued at roughly $1.5 billion. From two boxes of postcards to a multinational company that offers a vast range of successful products, Hall came a long way from his humble beginnings. How did he do it?

Quality: Hall was a busy man, but never too busy to make sure he reviewed each and every single greeting card design that his company was about to release. He made it his mission to personally ensure that his products were of top quality. On top of that, Hall began introducing some of the world’s greatest art and poetry into his designs, refusing to use anything but the best.

Determination: Few other words could describe a boy of 18 years old who left home to start up his own business with nothing but two shoeboxes full of postcards than determined. That same determination showed through again five years later when Hall lost his entire inventory in a fire. Hall, however, was no quitter, and at times it was his fortitude alone that kept the company going.

Instinct: Hall might not have had any business experience, but that did not stop him from being willing to trust his gut. Even where his peers told him he was foolish, Hall went ahead with every decision he wanted to, relying on his instinct to carry him through.

Action: From greeting cards to land development, Hall took the actions he deemed necessary to achieve his goals. He refused to sit around and wait for others to step up to the plate. He refused to leave his future in the hands of fate. Instead, Hall took charge and created the life for himself that he wanted.

Innovation: Hall’s career has been characterized by one innovation after another. From the idea to create cases that would put his greeting cards on easy display for the consumer, to creating cards for every occasion imaginable, Hall was determined to lead a new path. He wanted to do things in a way nobody else ever had. In doing so, Hall not only achieved his own success, but he revolutionized an industry.

Hall’s father had a mantra that he would frequently repeat to his children, “The Lord will provide.” While Hall believed this was true, he took it further, saying, “It’s a good idea to give the Lord a little help.” When Hall died, he left about $200 million to his children and $100 million to charity. Still, the company he founded continues to bring in billions each year through the retail stores in over 100 countries that carry its line of products.

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Article Tags: 18 years, buick, business experience, busy man, cafeteria, fire hall, fortitude, greeting card design, greeting cards, hands of fate, humble beginnings, instinct, multinational company, own business, peers, postcards, quitter, shoeboxes, top quality, workday



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