His advise to someone trying to grow
their business and get to a higher level? "Surround yourself with
people who are better than you. Like I hung out with Bill. He was
better than I was. Same thing with a musician. If you hang out with
better musicians, you become a better musician. Because I play guitar,
base guitar (as if he wasn't talented enough!); I played in bands in
nightclubs in Ohio when I was younger. But I always made a point of
hanging around with better musicians. That way I became a better
musician."
MacNeil says Kershaw's work was the
standard he set for himself. In addition to setting high standards and
goals for himself, he attributes his success to his persistence,
determination, studying the masters and finding a mentor. He feels a
positive attitude, taking a lot of classes from different people, and
a desire to be the best you can be are also keys to success.
"You've got to tell yourself you can
do this and have a positive attitude, knowing that you're a diamond in
the rough. It takes a little work and a couple of cuts to polish you
up. It's possible. If I can do it, anyone can do it. I was
determined."
MacNeil, once himself a diamond in the
rough, is now a cut above, shining at the top of his art. he now sets
the standard he was so driven to reach.
Holgate has passed away. Mike says of his
friend and mentor, "I wouldn't be surprised right now if he
changed those Pearly Gates to marble."
Is that what Mike's going to do?
"No, Bill's already don it," Mike says with a laugh.
"I'll wood-grain them. I'll paint over his marble and wood-grain
them."
Hmm, I wonder what Kershaw's doing now.
Debbie Ellison is a freelance
writer in Atlanta. She can be reached at DebbieEllisonInk@yahoo.com
