Today is May 11 and the Navigate the Chaos question to consider is “How often do you take responsibility to getting back up once you’ve been knocked down?”
Wally Amos knows a thing or two about being knocked down. In 1975, a friend suggested to Amos that he set up a store to sell his cookies, and in March of that year, the first "Famous Amos" cookie store opened in Los Angeles, California.
He started the business with the help of a $25,000 loan from Marvin Gaye and Helen Reddy.
The new company began to expand, and, eventually, "Famous Amos" chocolate chip cookies could be found on supermarket shelves across the United States.
Due to financial troubles, however, Amos was forced to sell the Famous Amos Company.
Because the name "Famous Amos" was trademarked by his former company, he had to use "The Uncle Noname's Cookie Company" when he got back up from being knocked down and launched his new company.
A Famous Amos distributor at the time, Lou Avignone, heard Amos on a local radio talk show and, inspired by Amos' story of his early business success with Famous Amos and his indomitable spirit, contacted Amos with the idea for starting a new business. In 1994, the two became partners and subsequently launched "Uncle Noname Gourmet Muffins."
The company focused on fat-free, nutritious muffins at that time. Uncle Noname ultimately became Uncle Wally's Muffin Company in 1999.
The muffins are sold in more than 3,500 stores nationwide. Because of his ability to get back up he has written ten books, many of which have a self-help theme, including The Cookie Never Crumbles and The Power in You.
As Amos noted “You may not be responsible for getting knocked down. But you’re certainly responsible for getting back up.” Amos was knocked down and took responsibility to get back up. Do you?