David Graebel of Wausau, Wisconsin started with one truck and built one of the largest moving companies in the world. In 1990 Graebel Worldwide Movers lost one of its largest accounts to bankruptcy. Graebel was stuck with an unpaid account of 1.8 million dollars.
Graebel immediately flew in all of his regional sales managers. When they were all gathered together he walked to the front of the conference room, turned around and exclaimed, “Isn’t this fantastic?”
His uncertain sales managers were inclined to think that this was not fantastic. But Graebel continued to enthusiastically rehearse the history of the company–the humble beginning–the incredible growth.
He praised God for His goodness. God had taken this company to the point that a single account lost could be so substantial, and Graebel Worldwide Movers could still be in business the next day. They could even afford to fly in all of their regional sales managers to figure out a strategy of survival.
And survive they did! 1991 was their best year ever. Rather than wallow in self-pity and bitterness, this company tackled the insurmountable and surmounted it.
