My friend Don Harley’s story

I wrote this a year or so ago about a friend of mine who has inspired me to keep on keeping on.  I just learned today that he passed away.

He will be missed by many. including me

RETIREMENT

It was about 10 years ago that I met Don Harley through another client. Don produced acrylic awards, marketing them to various promotional item reps. A few years later he asked me to advise him in the sale of his business, which I did (although I didn’t do much) and he eventually he sold his business. The interesting part though is that he was 80 years old at the time, and wanted to sell because he had some other business ideas he wanted to explore. Today he is doing just that by marketing various hand drawings of products that he accumulated over the years as pieces of art. At first I thought he had “lost it”, but I was wrong again, he now has a display at the Minneapolis Institute of Arts in

Minneapolis! With the advent of computer drawings, his have become almost a lost art. He is working on selling his collection now and is presently having it appraised. Now he is 90, and has ideas for another business after he sells this collection!Retirement isn’t in his vocabulary. He has had many health issues such as stroke, cancer and other ailments that haven’t dampened his enthusiasm at all. I think the key to his success is his attitude and faith.He is one of the most “others-centered” people that I have ever met. He is constantly interested in what others are doing, including me by always asking what I am doing more than talking about his efforts. That and the constant sparkle in his eye have earned him the respect and friendship of many people.I have learned many things from him, including loving what you do, looking for opportunities, and keeping going. I am fortunate to have him as a friend.