Features

Invention Mysteries TM
Self-syndicated weekly newspaper column

The case of the missing 'monkey'

By Paul Niemann

[MARCH 20, 2003]  This story will probably remind you of one of those popular "The Rest of the Story" stories that you hear on Paul Harvey.

Our story begins in 1956 with a lady named Bette Nesmith, who was a typist for a bank. She wasn't a very good typist, though, and found herself erasing her frequent mistakes with a pencil eraser. When her employer switched over to electric typewriters, she could no longer erase her mistakes on the new type of ribbon, so she set out to invent a product that would allow her to paint over her mistakes. Bette created the invention of Liquid Paper, which was originally known as Mistake Out, to help her in her job.

Bette experimented with many different combinations of ingredients until she found the right formula. Later, after she had already begun selling bottles of her Liquid Paper, she was fired from her job. The firing turned out to be a blessing, though, as it enabled her to devote all of her time to her Liquid Paper business. Sales began to skyrocket and, in an attempt to fill the demand while keeping her costs down, Bette had her son, Robert, help her fill the bottles of Liquid Paper.

By 1975, her company, the Liquid Paper Corporation, employed 200 people and produced 25 million bottles of Liquid Paper that were sold in 31 countries. She later sold her company to Gillette for $47 million plus royalties.

I don't mean to change the subject, but back in 1997, the 1960s pop band The Monkees staged their "30th Anniversary Reunion Tour." Only three of the original four band members participated. Davy Jones, Micky Dolenz and Peter Torkinson, aka "Tork," were all there, but what happened to the fourth Monkee? Why would he skip their reunion tour?

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Could it be because the missing Monkee was in a much better financial position than the other Monkees? If so, how did he become wealthier than the others?

Remember when I mentioned that Bette Nesmith's son, Robert, helped her fill the bottles with Liquid Paper in the 1950s?

Robert is his first name, but he goes by his middle name, Michael. You probably remember him as Michael Nesmith, guitarist for the band The Monkees … Bette's boy.

Congratulations … you've just solved the "case of the missing Monkee."

[Paul Niemann]

Paul Niemann is a contributing author to Inventors' Digest magazine and he also runs MarketLaunchers.com, helping people in the marketing of their new product ideas. He can be reached at niemann7@aol.com.

Last week's column in LDN: Which U.S. presidents were the most successful inventors?

Eagle continues open for business

[MARCH 19, 2003]  Rumors that the Eagle store in Lincoln may be closing are completely untrue, according to a company vice president.

Pat Flatley, vice president of information technology, said in a telephone interview that the "tons of rumors" are false. "We're not closing; we're not closing the chain," he emphasized.

"I get calls and e-mails all day long from customers, who are happy to hear that we are not closing," Flatley continued. He said Eagle employees are among those who have spread the rumors, and the company has requested that they discontinue doing so.

Without supplying any statistics, Flatley said he believes Lincoln sales have been affected by the rumors. Customers who believe the grocery store is already closed go elsewhere to shop. However, he said he was in the Lincoln store on Saturday, and Lincoln manager Barb Pollock reported that sales are beginning to recover.

[Lynn Spellman]

Lincoln and Logan County
bucking the trends

Economic growth slow but steady

[MARCH 14, 2003]  Over the course of the last 18 months many people have been quite concerned about the economy in Logan County. With the closing of the Lincoln Developmental Center and a couple of retail businesses going under, the rumors began to swirl. However, not all the news is bad news. In fact, a case may be made that Lincoln is not only bucking those negative local trends, but also bucking those depressing national trends as well. Unemployment rates that are climbing, taxes being raised and not much talk about any economic prosperity may have you wondering: How could Lincoln be curbing those indicators?

But a closer look at what is actually happening in Lincoln and the surrounding area seems to indicate that reports of our demise may have been greatly exaggerated. Take Precision Products for example. Bob Jones is reporting that PP has actually added 22 new jobs just during the month of February, not exactly your growth month. And Ed Block over at Saint-Gobain Containers is reporting the creation of 12 new positions at their plant. Main Street Lincoln Director Cindy McLaughlin has cited at least six individuals who have applied for grants to start new businesses in the Courthouse Square Historic District. Several other local businesses plan to expand or add jobs in the near future. Bill Campbell and Charlie Lee over at the IGA grocery store are planning a 5,000-square-foot addition as soon as possible.

The growth is not just limited to our city's borders, as business seems to be doing well in the county too. Mark Hughes over at Inland Tool in Mount Pulaski has just added a new shift. That has meant the establishment of 10 new jobs. In Atlanta, nine of the 10 houses built on the golf course have been sold, while two new ones are currently under construction. In addition, three new ones are scheduled to begin construction in the spring.

We're sure that the math majors and the bean counters will be quick to remind us all that these reports will not make up for the loss of the LDC. While that may be true, you have to start somewhere. We commend these businesses for their vision and foresight during perilous times. We're sure those decisions must have been easier when the stock market was flying along at record levels.

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Keep in mind that the companies mentioned here are only the ones who have agreed to go public with their plans and additions. There are others with deals pending who don't want publicity until deals are done and contracts are signed. We suspect that there are several people wanting to relocate, remodel and or increase the size of their businesses, judging by the wealth of calls we're getting. We also believe that some people want to come to Logan County to set up shop. We are predicting that as the weather warms we will be bombarded with requests for even more economic development projects in our community and in our area.

And why wouldn't that be so? We have maintained for years that Logan County may be one of the best kept secrets in the state, if not the nation. For the second year in a row, Illinois was chosen as the No. 1 state for economic development in the country! Couple that with the tourist boom we're expected to see in the years ahead, and things might not be nearly as gloomy as the doom, gloom and naysayers would have you believe. At least these recent reports seem to indicate that Logan County may be bucking the trends!

[Jeff Mayfield, economic development director]

Nationally known business leaders
to host seminar in Lincoln

[MARCH 11, 2003]  You can take advantage of staying at home in Lincoln as Jefferson Street Christian Church, using cutting-edge technology, hosts "The Maximum Impact Simulcast" on March 28. The seminar to be presented, "Becoming a Champion of Change," seeks to offer participants answers to the following questions:

• Are you seeking to be a more motivated leader?
• Do you desire to know how to reach your leadership potential?
• Would you like to increase your ability to influence others?
• Do you need to hone your leadership skills and build a winning team?

• Would you like to maximize your impact on your workplace?

Who will answer these questions? Three of the nation's top consultants.

The live simulcast training session will bring well-known business leaders Ken Blanchard, John C. Maxwell and Joe Gibbs here to Lincoln. Ken Blanchard is author of "Raving Fans and Whale Done" and co-author of "The One Minute Manager." John C. Maxwell is best-selling author of "The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership." Joe Gibbs owns the titles of NFL coach of the three-time world champion Washington Redskins, is a NASCAR team owner and has authored "Racing To Win." These men are proven winners in business, sports and organizational management and will share their experience as instigators of effective change.

Their program is designed to appeal to a broad spectrum of businesses and organizations, with a focus on developing leadership potential. Participants will learn from America's leaders on leadership.

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The program is open to individual or team sign-ups. Primary goals of the one-day seminar will be to motivate participants to:

• Reach leadership potential.
• Increase ability to influence others.
• Become skilled at building a winning team, whether as a team leader or team member.
• Develop individual and team esteem.

• Make a maximum impact in the workplace.

A major benefit to this seminar is that it qualifies for ongoing continuing education credits. Additional course work is also offered following the seminar. Participants will receive more information at the seminar, or you may call to ask about the courses offered.

"Becoming a Champion of Change" will be hosted Friday, March 28, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. by the Jefferson Street Christian Church, 1700 N. Jefferson St. in Lincoln. The cost is $59 per person and includes lunch. If five or more participants come from the same organization, the price drops to $49 per person.

Call Donnie Case at the church, (217) 732-9294, to make your reservation.

[News release]

• Is this the right time to go into business?
  [Click here for Feb. 28 article by Jim Youngquist.]

Announcements

The Chamber Report

Lincoln/Logan County Chamber of Commerce

Bobbi Abbott, Executive Director

303 S. Kickapoo St.

Lincoln, IL 62656

(217) 735-2385

chamber@lincolnillinois.com
www.lincolnillinois.com

Honors & Awards

Main Street Corner News

Main Street Lincoln

Cindy McLaughlin, Program Manager

303 S. Kickapoo

Lincoln, IL 62656

Phone: (217) 732-2929

Fax: (217) 735-9205

E-mail: manager@mainstreetlincoln.com