Paul Gavin Motorola
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PAUL GALVIN Motorola
In every generation of American youth, there are probably tens of thousands of individuals who cherish the dream of owning their own small businesses. Paul Galvin was such a man. He was successful beyond his wildest dreams, for the small business he founded grew and grew until it became the giant communications equipment manufacturer known as Motorola. The way in which Galvin achieved his dream stands as an inspiration for the generations that follow.
L The Beginning
Paul Galvin was born in the small town of Harvard, Illinois, on June 27, 1895. His biographer tells us that Galvin's upbringing in this small town environment gave him a personality, "friendly, yet with a certain reserve, salty, yet at times very gentle, (with a) stress on personal loyalties, (a) shrewd assessment of men, and (a) strong moral code. ''1 Upon finishing high school, Galvin took a summer job as a clerk at the Harvard railroad roundhouse and the following fall, he enrolled at the University of Illinois, 150 miles away by train or buggy. There he relied on his savings and part-time jobs to meet his expenses and complete two years of study. But, by the end of his sophomore year, he concluded that he was not getting enough out of the school effort to continue. He returned to Harvard to work as a clerk in the railroad station and a year later went to Chicago where he found a clerk's job with Commonwealth Edison. Shortly thereafter Paul Galvin enrolled in an officer's training program in anticipation of America's entry into World War I. He eventually became an artillery officer and saw duty on the front lines in France. His wartime experience strengthened Galvin's faith in the virtues of a well-disciplined organization able to withstand crisis through mutual
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loyalty and the leader's concern for the men. 2 The wartime experience also strengthened Galvin's determination to make a place for himself in the business world.
II. Early Failures
Returning
PAUL GALVIN Motorola
In every generation of American youth, there are probably tens of thousands of individuals who cherish the dream of owning their own small businesses. Paul Galvin was such a man. He was successful beyond his wildest dreams, for the small business he founded grew and grew until it became the giant communications equipment manufacturer known as Motorola. The way in which Galvin achieved his dream stands as an inspiration for the generations that follow.
L The Beginning
Paul Galvin was born in the small town of Harvard, Illinois, on June 27, 1895. His biographer tells us that Galvin's upbringing in this small town environment gave him a personality, "friendly, yet with a certain reserve, salty, yet at times very gentle, (with a) stress on personal loyalties, (a) shrewd assessment of men, and (a) strong moral code. ''1 Upon finishing high school, Galvin took a summer job as a clerk at the Harvard railroad roundhouse and the following fall, he enrolled at the University of Illinois, 150 miles away by train or buggy. There he relied on his savings and part-time jobs to meet his expenses and complete two years of study. But, by the end of his sophomore year, he concluded that he was not getting enough out of the school effort to continue. He returned to Harvard to work as a clerk in the railroad station and a year later went to Chicago where he found a clerk's job with Commonwealth Edison. Shortly thereafter Paul Galvin enrolled in an officer's training program in anticipation of America's entry into World War I. He eventually became an artillery officer and saw duty on the front lines in France. His wartime experience strengthened Galvin's faith in the virtues of a well-disciplined organization able to withstand crisis through mutual
18
loyalty and the leader's concern for the men. 2 The wartime experience also strengthened Galvin's determination to make a place for himself in the business world.
II. Early Failures
Returning