Ross Rayburn Interview For Bfuniv.org
By Allan Wallace


Ross Rayburn had a distinguished prior career in sales, in sales training and in management. For the last 17 years Ross has been a very successful small businessman. For some a business is a game they play to win. For others they value the freedom and choices that success brings. Ross is of the latter type, he would rather not work for others. Ross found being an employee or an employer took too much of his effort pleasing co-workers rather than clients. Ross now runs his own business as salesman, manager and employee. He has done extremely well for himself, and for his customers.



BFU Rector) Your course is about starting a business; do you have a “most important advice” for a person considering working for themselves?

Mr. Ross Rayburn) No. What is most important will vary with each person. Some will need to discover themselves first, others just need to get off their butts and start. I would encourage someone that is not confident of their ability to get a sales job in a retail establishment. Promotions come quickly in retail, they will get experience in all sorts of business disciplines; sales, buying, inventory control, income statements, and lots of other important knowledge. They will also get the chance to enter management and discover if they enjoy that relationship. If they decide to go out on their own, they will have the basics for success along with a knowledge of their own strengths and weaknesses.

BFU) So what makes the difference in starting styles, and how would a person find where they fit?

RR) Personalities. Some learn best getting face to face with clients, others need to get face to face with themselves first. Everyone needs to keep learning and challenging themselves if they expect to be successful. There are many good inspirational books or biographies of successful people that a person can read. I am usually reading three or four books at a time; I do make sure the book I read before bed is inspirational. I also avoid newspapers and T.V. News. The so-called news is filled with depressing tidbits that you cannot effect, feeling powerless is not a way to build the mental fitness required for success.

I also listen to motivational tapes or books on tape in the car. Music is nice, but it will not help me develop a winning outlook. A lot of your ability to apply yourself comes from your own determination, you develop that by immersing yourself in positive information.

BFU) I hear what you are saying about reading biographies. When I read about George Muller I found out a great deal about the flexibility of faith, and its application. Is there one biography you have read that stands out?

RR) Ford. Henry Ford. An original thinker and a great success at accomplishing what he set out to do. He had a top notch group of engineers, many of the best. He told them he wanted a V8 engine, they said it couldn't be done. He kept going back and asking how they were doing on that V8, they kept saying it was impossible. After a year or so he asked, and someone had an idea of how it might be done. It was done.

BFU) Was there anything else that impressed you about Ford?

RR) There was a point where Ford was going through competency hearings. Someone wanted to put him away and take over. They kept asking Ford basic questions, he only had a third Grade education, he had no idea what the answers were. Ford finally got fed up with their trying to show a lack of education meant he was not competent to manage his affairs. Ford said something to the effect, “I manage a huge company, I can push a button on my desk, and get the top expert in the world to answer any question I want answered. I don't need to know the answers, I know how to get an answer if I need it.” Ford knew his job was to think, and ask new questions; those with the education to have the appropriate