“In things pertaining to enthusiasm, no man is sane who does not know how to be insane on proper occasions.” Henry Ward Beecher

When Allan Bellamy returned home from the Korean War, his mother invited him to join her in a “Mom & Pop” grocery store. Allan says that it was so small that when you opened the front door it bumped against the meat counter – which was located at the back door. Business was good – real good for Allan and his mother in Pine Bluff Arkansas. (Not surprising as any mother who can raiser her family from the dirt floor of a tent, when left on her own during the depression, and give them an education, has a lot going for her.)

A salesman told Allan that it was madness to buy neck bones for 15 cents a pound and sell them for 10 cents, but Allan reassured him it was all right because he was the “Mad Butcher” and the name became his permanent attachment. Allan says he was raised on the “someday we’ll make it big” philosophy and wasn’t the least bit bashful about talking to the banker about a loan to expand the store. With limited capital and unlimited enthusiasm he persuaded the bank to loan them $95,000 to build a supermarket. Opening day was chaotic and highly successful, in spite of the rain on the unpaved parking lot.

His business grew and prospered, and then word leaked out that Pine Bluff, Arkansas was the place to build a supermarket. During the next six months, ten major chain competitors opened a store in the area. Every opening took a little more of the Mad Butcher’s business. Pretty soon Allan was doing less business in the big store than he had in the little one; and things looked pretty bleak. Then Allan and four of his people signed up for a public speaking course which placed considerable emphasis on the right mental attitude. The fifth session was on enthusiasm which is, after all, an attitude. After that night Allan decided he and his people would be five times more enthusiastic as ever before. Now everyone knew he was mad. His customers were met at the door with an enthusiastic welcome and the entire attitude from top to bottom and front to back changed dramatically – and so did the results. In just four weeks the business jumped from $15,000 per week to $30,000 per week – and the business hasn’t fallen below that amount ever since.

Pine Bluff did not suddenly increase its population nor did the competitors close their doors, although several have since thrown in the towel. The only change was the addition of enthusiasm. Since it worked so well on a temporary basis, Allan decided to leave it in permanently. Since that date, the Mad Butcher has expanded into multiple successful stores. In 1974, in the face if a declining economy, The Mad Butcher, Inc. had the largest dollar and percentage increase in its history.

The enthusiasm was so contagious that personnel turnover was practically zero. Since people are the prime reason for any business success or failure, Alan Bellamy – The Mad Butcher – is enthusiastically in the people building business. He believes - as most successful business people - that if you build your people, your people will build your business.

Zig Ziglar – See you at the Top