The following article first appeared in the November 2005 issue of Electronic Products & Solutions. Click the image for full-size.

A Tribute to the American Dream

By Kristin Walker

Take a German  immigrant who did not step foot on  American soil until the age of 18, a speeding ticket that changed his destiny forever and combine that with an unyielding passion for service - those are the ingredients necessary to achieve the American Dream.

Through a lifetime of experiences, John Long has put an exclamation point on the end of a successful career.  He has now developed a 12-Point Program to help service industry professionals achieve that same dream.

In Germany during the early '60s, Long's mother married a member of the U.S. military who later adopted Long and brought the new family to the United States.  Not long after arriving in New York, the Long family headed south to Jackson, Miss. Long remembers the exact  date and time he stepped foot in the capital city.

"It was Monday, April 26, 1965," said Long.  "The clock on First National Bank read 5:10 p.m., and it was a scorching 88 degrees outside.  I remember that because it was my first time to see a digital clock."

On April 27, 1965, Long got his first start as a sixth-floor stock boy at Kennington Department Store.  He recieved his degree intextile sales while in Germany, so a start with Kennington, and later Miller's Department Store, made sense.  He spent a few months in the retail industry and later got some quality experience at a car dealership before finding his true calling.

"A career in the service industry came somewhat as an accident," said Long.  "I received a speeding ticket in Pearl, and the Justice of the Peace said I could pay $50 for the ticket or pay $12.50 and contact his friend, Tony, at K&C Electric about a job.  Needless to say, I chose the latter."

Long went to work as an electrical apprentice for K&C Electric in 1965, and that experience led him to form Long Electric Company, Inc. in 1986.  With one panel truck, the company began serving customkers within a 10-mile radius of Jackson.

Long's latest product targets small business owners who seek to significantly increase their profits.  This product is the 12-Point Program by Runco, which stands for "Run Your Company."

"This program shows the one-to 10-person shop how to be profitable in step-by-step workman's language," said Long.

"We want to show small businesses how to generate 15-20% profits.  But in order to be successful, companies have to be dedicated to the cause.

The 12-Point Program is a structured plan applicable to the plumbing, heating, air conditioning, electrical and appliance industries.  In addition, the plan shows how certain aspects of a business are more apt to be profitable, while others are not.

"If I can get business owners to use at least two to three of the 12 points, I can guarantee that their business will improve," Long added.

Long's "are you writing yourself a check?" approach does not put a lot of emphasis on computer skills, but rather on logs and forms.  With this approach, owners are able to put current workers on the system quickly and easily train new employees.

"I've talked to several other companies with similar products, but their programs were very vague and not necessarily applicable to the service industry," said Legan Kemp, owner of Kemp Electrical Services in Meridian, Miss. "The 12-Point Program is to the point, and I have been able to use Long's ideas to better my business and increase profits."