But their competition was just waiting to see, and when they started to grow, they sprung their trap. Lawsuits later, this couple went on the side of integrity. They cleaned up the mess.

Chris Fortune says, "It's really important as a business leader to carry the torch and continually communicate your values to the company, the vision of your company to your employees."

Chris continues, You know a person by the trail he leaves and the people they hang with."

In this television show we discover the depth of character that should always define these fading words, "Made in America."

Meet Sara and Chris Fortune of Madison, Wisconsin. In 1989 Sara and Chris were tired of working for others and looked for a business to buy which would take them back to their native state of Wisconsin.

The business they purchased from the retiring owners is Graber Products, a manufacturer of bike racks for over twenty years. But their sales were flat. The Fortunes reinvented the business and quickly became known as their industry's innovator.

When they bought the business, they thought an old patent infringement lawsuit was settled. When their company became strong and competitive, it came up again. It cost them $1 million dollars that they did not have. Their advisors told them, "Declare bankruptcy." But like so many of our small business owners who choose to set down deep roots in their community, these people worked doubly hard and on less income to turn it all around.

Today, they are their industry leaders. They have kept manufacturing in America. And, their industry recognizes them for their generosity of spirit, moral courage, and ethical leadership.

These people are building their business on integrity.

HOMEPAGE: Each week the homepage for this site changes. Click here to see the homepage when this episode of the show was first released.

GO FURTHER: We start our business with a "big idea" but we sustain our business with "key ideas." There are links (just above in the green box) to the key ideas from this episode of the show. Because these case study materials are now published as part of over 40 leading college textbooks in business schools, these materials are being used daily in virtually every college and university throughout the country. So, please, spend some time with the case study guide and each of the related transcript segments.

COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS: We invite your comments and questions

REVIEW THE EPISODE ENTITLED, STAYING POWER. You see may places on this website where it reads, "Creating something of value makes a life worth living. When it's sustainable, it's a legacy." Over 70% of all businesses fail in their first year; and then whatever remains standing after 20-to-30 years, over 70% fail to transition to new ownership and leadership. Understanding people and understanding equity and liquidity are keys to staying power.

SUPPORT PUBLIC TELEVISION:
Become a member of your local station. If you are already, great. If not and your business is doing well, consider joining the Producers' Club ($1000). Too much? Get a twenty employees, customers and/or suppliers to join en masse with you at $50 per person.

Just get on the inside of your local station and learn how to become a producer.

• MORE ABOUT FINANCES. We have a section about money and it can be useful. BUT -- and this is a big one — we all need to know about RMA — The Risk Management Association. This is real insider information on your financials so take note.
  
  This organization is the banker's banker. They know more about key critical ratios than anybody on earth. Over 3000 banks and 16000 other kinds of financial organizations contribute the essential financial data from their loan inventory to RMA's "Annual Statement Studies" to calculate key critical ratios for every major industry type (and for most subsets of business vis-a-vis the SIC and NAICS). With over 150,000 loans per year, that is statistical relevancy.
  
  Do you know the average key ratios within your industry? We haven't learned ours yet for the TV/Production Industry, so we all need to ask our banker. To really make a study of it, keep an eye out for the next seminar by RMA in your area. It'll be the best money you'll spend to understand the organic nature of your business, and learn what it is that your banker so quickly knows about your industry. For more, read online: RMA seminars, RMA history, and their small business scoring (i.e. used by the SBA for their Low Docs).

• FIRST PRINCIPLES: Starting a business is the road to economic independence for most of us average people. Read a little more to see why incorporating a business keeps the passion of the American revolution alive!

• LOOK AT STEP 7: SUSTAINABILITY. Congratulations if you have returned from a failure or major setback with even greater strength and staying power. Also, review stories within your business type and those stories within Steps 6 & 8.

• CASES BY BUSINESS TYPE. Click on the heading to find all the business types and then click on your type of business to check out those case studies. This episode contributes insights into Home & Leisure, Metals - Steel, and Manufacturing.

• TRADE ASSOCIATIONS: JOIN, JOIN, JOIN Your professional associations in your industry are your key to continuing education, market research, collaborations, strategic partnerships, capital and so much more ... often you'll find that you enjoy like-minded people and many will become friends for life.
  
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• LOOK AT OTHER STORIES ABOUT BUYING A BUSINESS. Chris & Sara bought their business after thorough research. Chris wanted to develop a brand.
  To check out other episodes where the owner bought the business, click here.

• WATCH TV ABOUT VALUE CREATION: Turn off TV about people exploiting people. It brings us all down. To find SmallBusinessSchool, check your local PBS-member station. If you don't find us there, drop us a note and we will get it on your local government station for economic development. You can also check the rebroadcast of PBS-member station signals on DirecTV and Dish Network.

• Economic Development Commissions and Workforce Initiative: Be a partner with your local PBS-member station with this campaign for your small business owners to create "Just One More Job." Begin with this benefits statement. Always it'll be free from Small Business School..