By Frank Cornacchiullo
I recall many years ago during my tenure at the W. Braun company, I initiated a $1,000,000 project at the General Foods Company for a reusable Sanka Coffee Decanter in a white milk glass container with floral designs. it was a very complicated project and when we completed the design it took me to Houston Texas for production trials. When I first met the executives from the General Foods Corp. at the airport for our to Houston trip, they asked me where was I sitting? I told them "Coach". Well we're all siting in "First Class" so you better up grade your ticket because we want to discuss this project with during our trip to Texas. Wow, my companies policy was to always fly Coach. So I immediately called my company comptroller, Len Perlman, in Chicago, for approval. To say the least, he was not happy, but he reluctantly gave me his okay to upgrade my ticket to First Class.
During our trip I met with the General Foods Company executives that night for dinner. They told me that one of my old friends will join us. I replied that "I do not have any friends in Texas." But they insisted that I knew this person. We went to dinner, and much to my surprise, my old friend, Brooke Hooper, originally from Baltimore MD, appeared. Brooke Hooper and I had very close relationship when he was employed by the Anchor Hocking Glass Company.
The trials for the new glass container did not go well. We made corrections and I went to Texas for additional production trials. I also met up with my friend Brooke Hooper who by the way, was my competitor at the General Foods Company. We continued our friendship even though he worked for the Container Glass Corporation in Ohio. He told me that he was not happy and that he would relocate if an opportunity presented itself. I mentioned to him that we were interested in a pilot location in a Dallas Texas and that he could possibly join us. I presented my discussions with Brook to my CEO, and various executives of my company in Chicago. They turned down my proposal about hireling Brooke, because they could not present a financial package to my friend at that moment. So I gave Brooke the bad news. Unfortunately, my project could not move forward for production because of the failures of the production trials in Houston Texas. Therefore, there was no reason for me to continue my my trips to Texas.
Months went by when my executives in Chicago called me at my New York office to see if my friend Brooke, in Houston Texas was still interested in my proposal. I called Brooke and said that I will arrange for him to take, an all-expenses paid trip, to our headquarters in Chicago. The purpose of this trip would be to explore the possibility of joining my company with an acceptable financial package. He went to Chicago, and agreed, to start a new operation in Dallas Texas for us. This partnership agreement was successful for all parties involved because we only had customers that represented $200,000 in sales at that location. The opportunity I found during my trips to Houston Texas brought my company $8 million growth due to My friend’s experience in our industry. If it wasn't for my chance meeting Brooke Hooper in Houston Texas, I would not have been able to find the Acres of Diamonds for my company. Opportunities always present themselves many times by chance so do your best to recognize these new opportunities that can enhance your career goals. There are always Acres of Diamonds presenting themselves. My story is only one example I received throughout the years. I had no idea at that time that my initial trip to Houston Texas would bring my company substantial financial gains.
Comments