| Bill Farley is a well known name in | | | | year later he acquired Baumfolder, which |
| industrial circles. He is the chairman | | | | happened to be a subsidiary of Bell & |
| and owner of Farley Industries located | | | | Howell. During a time span of five years |
| in Chicago, Illinois. An avid follower | | | | - from 1980 to 1985, Bill Farley managed |
| of fitness he has several leading brands | | | | a series of acquisitions - from |
| to his credit such as the likes of | | | | companies such as Coal Creek Mining |
| Munsingwear, BVD and the very popular | | | | Company, Health Foods, Inc., The NL |
| Fruit of the Loom. | | | | Industries' Metals Group, and Northwest |
| His Humble Beginnings | | | | Industries (which included Fruit of the |
| Bill Farley was born in the town of | | | | Loom). His companies were at an all time |
| Pawtucket in Rhode Island. His mother | | | | high during the 1990s - during that time |
| was a factory worker and his father | | | | his companies employed more than 50000 |
| worked as a musician and a mailman. In | | | | people and had a turnover of over 4 |
| his early days of struggle, Bill Farley | | | | billion USD. |
| used to earn his living by delivering | | | | The Way Things Stand Today |
| Sunday newspapers. Later on he switched | | | | Today Farley has an impressive empire to |
| jobs to work for a toy manufacturer and | | | | his credit. He is the proud owner of |
| later as a lifeguard. Farley did his | | | | Farley industries (FI), as well as the |
| schooling from the Bowdoin College. A | | | | CEO of Body Wise International located |
| proficient scholar as well as an | | | | in Tustin California. Body Wise is a |
| athlete, Farley graduated from college | | | | leading marketer of nutritional |
| in 1964 with a degree in government. He | | | | supplements. Farley incidentally is also |
| decided to try his luck in the world by | | | | the CEO of Unity Group LLC located in |
| traveling in the United States. | | | | Washington D.C. which is a private |
| From Rags to Riches | | | | security force and defense contractor |
| Like many clichés even this one seems | | | | that operates in high risk zones like |
| to hold true for Bill Farley - the man | | | | Indonesia, Iraq and Sudan etc. |
| literally made it from rags to riches. | | | | His beliefs |
| There used to be a time when he didn't | | | | Bill Farley has always believed in |
| have enough money to eat. At such times | | | | taking risks. His famous quote says, |
| he would earn his living by selling | | | | "A willingness to take risk is probably |
| encyclopedias from door to door in Los | | | | a major reason for my success today. |
| Angeles. This ad-hoc training in | | | | Many people could be as successful as I |
| door-to-door selling helped him become a | | | | am, or more so, but for whatever reason |
| leading sales manager and trainer as | | | | they are unable to take steps that |
| time went by. He decided that education | | | | appear personally or financially risky." |
| would play a key role in shaping his | | | | This just goes to show that Farley has |
| career growth. That's why in 1966 Bill | | | | never shied away from taking personal |
| Farley enrolled in law school at Boston | | | | and financial risks. Be it in the series |
| College. He graduated three years later | | | | of acquisitions or his steady rise from |
| with a J.D. degree. Soon he went on to | | | | humble beginnings - everything |
| join the famous NL industries in New | | | | illustrates his beliefs well. Farley |
| York and started working in their | | | | also believes that in general |
| mergers and acquisitions department. It | | | | "management and owners sink or swim |
| was after quite a few years that he was | | | | together". That could be one reason why |
| sent to Chicago on transfer for the post | | | | Farley has always treated his |
| of regional manager in charge of NL's | | | | colleagues, subordinates and |
| metals division. After having worked | | | | acquaintances with utmost respect. He |
| with NL industries for a good 6 years, | | | | involves all employees and partners in |
| he shifted to Lehman Brothers in 1972, | | | | decision-making processes. |
| as an associate in corporate finance. | | | | Today Farley rubs shoulders with some of |
| The Acquisitions That Followed | | | | the most rich and famous people of the |
| Bill Farley bought his first ever | | | | world. |
| company - Anaheim Citrus Products in the | | | | Check out his brand new MLM company |
| year 1976 - just 4 years after joining | | | | called Zrii. The company is on its way |
| Lehman Brothers. It was during the same | | | | to become another billion dollar brand. |
| year that Farley became a partial owner | | | | Source: |
| of the famous Chicago White Sox. Then a | | | | See You at the TOP! |