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