Sales Bits: Wealth Built on Value
- Denny
- Mar 10
- 3 min read
Wealth does not begin with abundance—it begins with value. In this Sales Bit, Denny reflects on humble beginnings, the discipline required to build sustainable growth, and the importance of stewarding both financial and relational capital wisely over time.
From Denny Vander Molen, President of Vermeer MidSouth and Founder and CEO of Jackson Endeavors
Wealth is something to be sought after, but must be stewarded rightly and used to serve.
'The money you make is a symbol of the value you create." Idowu Koyenikan is an author and a wealth manager.
Our company had very humble beginnings. Humble to the degree of capital, collateral, and credit. What it did have was work ethic and character. Vermeer MidSouth had landed in approximately 150K square miles of real estate, with an estimated 8 million citizens, that was, in large part, undeveloped and an untapped opportunity.
In every business, there must be a value proposition. For the Vermeer enterprise, it began as a product, offering a solution for everyday problems. It goes back to 1948 when the wagon hoist was developed. By the time I came around, it was a big round baler. Before that, it was the stump grinder and the tree spade.
My early days in sales at Vermeer were in the ag sector. Vermeer forage equipment was sold through independent dealers who were farmers and used it for their own operations.
In 1987, the distribution channel for the industrial group had been in place for only about 10 years. It was very early in its development. Too many dealers with not enough product to sell or support, and certainly not enough customers for brand recognition. Low margin on parts, free labor for warranty, low margin on product, and then low volume of sales to be made. It was a challenge!
That is where the need to continue improving the distribution model comes into play. Building a team that creates value is vital. Developing processes and standard work is critical. Reducing waste in hours worked, excess inventory, transportation, and rework was needed. Building trust had to be built into everything we touched.
"The mind is just like a muscle-the more you exercise it, the stronger it gets and the more it can expand." Another quote from Idowu Koyenikan.
If you are interested in building wealth, look at what you have today. Do a self-evaluation and then put it to work. Spend less than what you take home. Invest for future return. Apply yourself in the best way you can every day. Build up trust credits. Let those trust credits build by adding more each day and experiencing compounded growth over time.
"We do not get to choose how we start in life. We do not get to choose the day we are born or the family we are born into, what we are named at birth, what country we are born in, and we do not get to choose our ancestry. All these things are predetermined by a higher power. By the time you are old enough to start making decisions for yourself, a lot of things in your life are already in place. It's important, therefore, that you focus on the future, the only thing that you can change." Another quote from Idowu Koyenikan.
How will your creative mind and skills be a catalyst for positive change and gain this week? What problem will be solved for the prospective customer, the team, or the enterprise? How will it compound over time?
You can get there!
“But since you excel in everything-in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in love, we have kindled in you-see that you also excel in this grace of giving.” 2 Corinthians 8:7
Have a great sales week!
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