Aaron Feuerstein was born in 1925 to a family who had owned and operated a company named Malden Mills since 1906. Malden Mills was one of the largest employers in the town of Lawrence Massachusetts and would continue to grow, eventually employing over 3,000 workers. Malden Mills' prior research investments paid off and would soon rebound with the release of its newest textile, "Polarfleece." Trademarked as "Polartec Climate Control Fabrics," Polarfleece soon became the most in-demand textile in the U.S. and around the world, purchased in mass by the U.S. military and companies such as North Face, Eddie Bauer, Ralph Lauren and L.L.Bean. The tragedy of this story began in December 1995, shortly after Malden Mills invested millions of dollars into new equipment and research into creating Polarfleece out of recycled materials. A fire destroyed the factory complex and left all of the employees out of work. At the age of 70, Aaron Feuerstein could have easily pocketed the insurance money, closed up shop and retire. He also could have followed the trend of other large corporations and relocated overseas. Instead Feuerstein decided to rebuild the factory right where it had stood and ensure that the jobless employees were still paid a full salary during the down-time (at a cost of $1.5 million per week). He also pledged to keep their family's benefits for at least 3 months. Feuerstein became affectionately known as "the Mensch of Malden Mills". Despite running a company making millions each year, Aaron never spent company funds (or even personal funds) on lavish expenses such as private jets and chauffeurs. His commitment to his employees and their community despite the cost and his dedication to ingenuity and honest business practices makes him a moral hero, a model for future business owners and CEOs. "I think it was a wise business decision, but that isn't why I did it. I did it because it was the right thing to do" – Feuerstein.
My Message:
When I heard about this story and immediately after reading it, I knew I had to share it with you. In today's business climate, stories like these are rare and noble people like Aaron are few in number. It is so heart warming to see beautiful people like this in the business arena making a beneficial impact on humanity... such a great eye-opener. Aaron credits his decision to his belief in Jewish Law, which prohibits oppressing the working man, because he's poor and he's needy, amongst your brethren and amongst the non-Jew in your community," He stood by his values through the most challenging times in his business career and today people look up to him as a true hero. His response is "I just do what is right." You have the power to be brave and noble like Aaron in your everyday work and personal life, maybe not on the same scale as Aaron, but doing the 'right' thing is what it is all about. How often do you suppress the actions of your own heart and instead do what other people 'think' are right? This is your time to become an independent person, a leader, a role model and an ambassador of righteousness. Do what you know is the right thing and don't stop doing it. The world isn't waiting on you to become a person of greatness, its all up to you to make the change today.
May you have an awesome week.
Darren Zwiers
The Quote:
"I think it was a wise business decision, but that isn't why I did it. I did it because it was the right thing to do," - Aaron Feuerstein.
What's going to be on your tombstone? "Hopefully it'll be, 'He done his damnedest,'" says Feuerstein. "You know, that I didn't give up and I always try to do the right thing."
