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Inspiring secrets of success

When Lynne Fruth spoke to the Belpre Chamber of Commerce’s annual dinner last week, she talked a lot about reaping what had been sown. In her case, as president of Fruth Pharmacy, she realized how much the quiet good works (and hard work) of her father had set the stage for the company to survive adversity and thrive.

“The generosity of the local people helped Fruth Pharmacy to survive,” she said. “All the years of my father’s generosity and concern for others had come back tenfold as everyone helped Fruth continue operations.”

In fact, Fruth’s speech was filled with ideas about work ethic and everyday life that might not fly well with some folks.

For example, no one ever got ahead working a 40-hour week. Many in the room were nodding their heads in agreement — successful people who work hard to get their jobs done well no matter how long it takes. But think about the people you know who have fallen into the belief that the bare minimum of time and effort to their job is good enough, and anything more is an unacceptable imposition.

Another reminder from Fruth likely applies to some of those people. “Bosses don’t like whiners,” she said.

More nodding heads.

Fruth’s father did not sell out when Rite Aid came calling after a fire did $2 million worth of damage to his company. He rebuilt with the philosophy his daughter said has carried the company, “Always do the right thing, no matter the cost.”

And with that idea in mind, Lynne Fruth said one thing has held true: “The harder I work, the luckier I get.”

She was not afraid to tackle an entirely different career when she switched from her life as an educator to the new world of running her family’s company. She has not been afraid to admit when she does not understand a situation; in fact, she pointed out how many people she encounters in the business world walk around ashamed to admit they do not know what is going on.

Not Fruth. She asks questions, she takes nothing for granted, nor does she accept “that’s just the way we’ve always done it,” or “we keep that (contract/business relationship/supplier) because we have always had it.” She is not afraid of change and risk.

Now, her family’s company is preparing to open its 30th store.

Fruth also passed along her mindset in dealing with patronizing men who assume she is at a disadvantage in negotiations because she is a woman. One particularly smarmy gentleman asked her just how it was that she had managed to become president of Fruth Pharmacy. She told him that, well, sir, her parents had five kids, and she was the meanest one.

He lost.

Of course, Fruth didn’t really come across as mean. She came across as determined, capable, smart and grounded. She knows the strength of her company lies in the faith and hard work of her family, the employees and the communities that have supported it for decades.

In that, she was an inspiration to those gathered at the Belpre Chamber of Commerce dinner. The men and women in that room must work every day to provide the same kind of leadership to their companies. And most of them do.

“The heart and soul of our community is small business,” said Karen Waller, executive director of the Belpre Area Chamber of Commerce.

Judging by what I saw at the organization’s annual dinner, that heart and soul are going strong.

Christina Myer is executive editor of The Parkersburg News and Sentinel. She can be reached via e-mail at cmyer@newsandsentinel.com

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