Opinion: I get by with a little help from my friends

My answers vary, and I am easily sidetracked, unfocused in my explanations. But now, after 25 years, I’m beginning to get my story together in a new, shorter, somewhat sanitized version.

The truth is simply this: I’ve had a lot of help from the right people at the right times. I never wanted to publish this newspaper by myself. And I’ve never had to. It would be a recipe for failure to even try to go it alone.

With lots of help and friendship from so many creative and generous people in this community, and from outside it, we have found a way to get this newspaper out one week at a time.

Readers and advertisers were scarce at first. Most had not been fully introduced to the concept of target marketing. Newspaper advertising was all about the numbers, rather than the characteristics of the readers. I like to think we were ahead of the times. In 2005, it is now widely known that Business Journal readers possess superior knowledge and education, influence and affluence.

But back in 1980, I also had a lot to learn. If I had known all that I know now, I would not be sitting here in my office at SBJ writing this column, but you can be sure that someone else would be. The wave of business journalism was spreading, and even here in Springfield and southwest Missouri, far from the coasts, we were ready to get wet. It was a good thing that I was thrown a few life preservers when I was bobbing around in the waves.

Once we began, I only knew how to keep going. When I complained to one of my former partners, he told me I should quit, but his words only sealed my determination. If someone tells me I can’t do something, it only makes me want to do it more! Sometimes, I think all entrepreneurs are slow learners and gluttons for punishment. If we were totally sane, we’d be able to get a job doing something else.

My good friend, retired businessman and banker Bill Cantrell, reminded me recently that he had advised me not to start this newspaper venture. “Just don’t do it,” he said.

Bill was brave and kind enough to tell me this face-to-face. I didn’t listen to him, and I didn’t even remember he had ever said it until he vividly recalled it to me. The fact and memory remains, however, that he forgave me for ignoring his advice. Once we began SBJ’s forerunner, Top’s Executive Journal, he lent his ear, and made the chair across from his desk available to me when I needed to sit and cry.

Even in my ignorance and my inability to face the cold reality that we were seriously, seriously undercapitalized, we began to gather a great staff around us here at SBJ. These people were, and continue to be, saints, marketing geniuses, and dedicated journalists, regardless of where they serve – the advertising, circulation, creative or editorial departments.

I can’t name a single soul at the Business Journal who has been afraid of hard work. If there were any, they didn’t stay around long enough for me to learn their names!

My parents, Dr. Clarence and Thelma Chrest, back in my hometown of Kalamazoo, Mich., also believed in the unique news and advertising vehicle that we were creating. They seemed to understand that it would be a long process, and they bailed us out a dozen times.

I think that their early trust in SBJ’s mission made a difference in this community. I hope that you think so, too. Our bankers must have believed in us, as well, because they also took a risk on us.

More times than I can count, Paula Glossip, first at Boatmen’s, then at First City and finally at Citizens National, picked me up, hugged me and sent me back out the door with the next payroll and my head held a little higher. This paper is in print because she listened and acted.

Ruby Letsch, long-time personnel company owner, did not have any money for me, but her advice was valuable and I listened for a change. I told her I needed another job and to find me one, please and quickly.

Ruby said that I was badly needed at the newspaper office, and she sent me packing right out the door. I don’t think she even took my résumé. That day was a turning point, and I will always remember our conversation.

Jim Shirato found an office for us downtown, and Joe Jenkins personally moved us – twice! Lois and Richard Weston, Fred Hall, Jimmy Bell, Vince Tyndall, Curt Strube, Steve Benton, Arlen Diamond, Jim Anderson and so many other Springfield-area business and professional people gave us the encouragement to keep us alive until we could thrive. Their advice was pivotal in the life of this business, whether they know it or not.

Certain other significant figures in the history of SBJ will live in our institutional memory and on my personal gratitude list forever. Veteran journalist Eddie Bass filled our pages with excellent writing for many years. I miss him every day.

Bolivar publisher Jim Sterling believed in SBJ so intently that he invested as a business partner when we needed him, and then graciously stepped aside when we were ready to be on our own again.

Joe McAdoo continues to keep his saber rusty in the pages of SBJ. We can’t imagine going to print without him. Ask Joe how many columns he has produced. He will be able to tell you exactly.

Every day, someone walks in the door of this office and freely gives me or another staff member exactly what we need that day. I am lucky, as well, to have the loving support of my husband, Andis, and two grown self-supporting children, Bart Sak and Jennifer Sak Jackson.

Every staff member who has ever worked here has changed this publication forever. It is what it is today because of them, and I have learned greatly from each of them. The saddest days of my career at SBJ have been when someone left the staff -– even when it was by mutual agreement.

The people to whom I owe the greatest debt of gratitude, however, are the 23 full-time professionals who staff the Springfield Business Journal now. The loyalty, diligence and accomplishments of this small group of people inspire me every day.

To the SBJ staff: You are the ones who made this memorable 25th anniversary issue. You will be the ones to honor the 2005 Economic Impact Award recipients on July 21. You will struggle to birth next week’s issue, the one following, and the many editions to come.

Thank God that our work never ends!

Dianne Elizabeth is publisher and president of Springfield Business Journal.

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