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