An intriguing question is: “How does Walker compete in an industry dominated by large corporations, as a David among Goliaths?” Part of the answer comes from being an independent company. Being independent allows us to make decisions that are best for our product and our customers, unencumbered by layers of corporate management urging compromise. At Walker we answer to no parent corporation. Walker faces none of the “quarterly earning pressure” of publicly traded corporations where shareholders demand profit each quarter, which virtually erases the possibility of long-term thinking.

Our readers have given us many encouraging comments that let us know Walker Talk is being read and the publication is working. Suggestions for improvement are also offered. One critique that has been mentioned several times concerns promoting safe operating practices; some of our customer profile stories show workers or operators not wearing “proper” protective clothing and devices. The idea is that Walker Talk should set the example of safe practice and require our story subjects to wear the appropriate gear for the photos, even if they don’t wear it in actual practice.

After I gave a little talk about the company at a business club meeting in Fort Collins several months ago, a college aged man came up to me and asked the question, “How long before your manufacturing is moved to China?” It wasn’t even an “if ” question but the foregone conclusion that all manufacturing is leaving America. That’s the popular thinking today; in a few years all American product manufacturing will be done elsewhere. My reply to the young man: “If we have to go to China to compete, we just won’t continue in this business”.

I heard a saying recently that I liked very much: “Love people, use money instead of love money, use people”*. The first way speaks to the way I have been taught by my parents and the way my brother, Dean, and I have tried to operate Walker Manufacturing. To us, loving people means taking care of people. “Using money” means money is a tool to be used; taking money that has been made and accumulated in business and using it as a tool to bless people and multiply opportunities for people.

In a world where there are barriers and walls that divide people, it is encouraging to see times when the “walls are torn down” and people are brought together. Sometimes even a machine, a company and a shared interest brings people together. I have enjoyed watching the example set by Harley-Davidson where the simple act of owning a Harley breaks down barriers. It doesn’t matter if you are rich or poor, blue collar or white collar, long hair or no hair, black or white, tall or short, man or woman, if you drive a Harley you are “in” the Harley family.

In all my 57 years, I do not ever remember my dad, Max Walker, or my grandpa, Wesley Walker, using the “R” word (retirement). Retirement was simply not part of their thinking and I am much the same. I know there are many folks who plan and dream of retirement. Our culture encourages it, and some companies and organizations force it. Yet the reality is that usefulness, accomplishment, production, experience, mentoring, learning and wisdom are all the positives of a person who stays engaged in living as much as they are able their entire life.