Shy Enterprises, Inc. Ann Arbor, MI

When I told Jason that I had been fired from my job, he laughed and told me I had no excuse. Now I had to come join him at Kirby.  I had pre-bent conclusions about it.  I only thought of “Vacuums” and how I had no sales experience. It was a bit intimidating for me to be honest.  Since I had nothing to lose, I went in for the interview.  When I started training, I can honestly say that I was very impressed with the product and could see why the Kirby Company had been  in business since 1914 and was still going strong.  It became obvious to me this vacuum was at the top of its class because Kirby was selling to many happy and loyal customers. I began to get excited.  From the time I sold my very first Kirby, I paid my parents back in less than 1 month! I was on top of the world.  I even won a company trip to Orlando, Florida.  The company paid for EVERYTHING.  I also earned $1,000 for the college program Kirby had.  Needless to say, I enjoyed my summer working for Kirby.When summer was over, it was time for me to go to college.  I was going to Western Michigan.  I remember that my parents drove me up and helped me get settled.  That night, I waited a few hours after my parents drove home, which was 3 hours away, and I decided to follow them back.  I snuck into the home and went to bed.  I woke up for work the next morning and walked down into the kitchen of my parent’s home and they could not believe I was home. I explained to them that being Saturday, I had no classes yet and it was a great day for me to work!  I was not the best student.  To be honest I always had a hard time in school. I ended up coming home a lot that year on weekends and even some evenings to work. At the conclusion of the school year, I entered into my second summer of Kirby.  I found myself earning much of the same results as the summer before.  I was earning anywhere from $750/wk to $2,000/wk, with my average week being around $1,000+.  I enjoyed what I was doing.  At the end of the summer, I approached my parents one evening and shared with them that I was done with school and did not want to return.  I wanted to proceed with Kirby.  I originally wanted to become an actor.  I am a member of Screen Actors Guild and I’ve been in many commercials, industrial films and some movie work.  I fell in love with what I was doing at Kirby and it gave me the same “Rush” that being on stage gave me, but with a lot more promise.  My parents were a bit shocked, but knew I was never big on school.  My father graduated from Michigan State and my mother from Wayne State.  My older brother graduated from U of M.  My father explained to me that I would be the first one in the family to not earn a degree.  I told my parents that I had a hard time sitting in a class room listening to a professor struggling to earn $30,000/yr trying to teach me how become a millionaire.  My father told me that I could pursue Kirby and if it worked out for me than great, but if not, I had to go back to school. Deal!I worked full time at Kirby and moved into management.  I was making more money, earning more free company paid vacations and even a Rolex watch!  I was so proud of myself.  Shortly after, I earned the right to open my very own franchise.  I was nervous and excited all over again.  I went to the Ann Arbor area to start my own company.  The great thing was that I was in business for myself, but not by myself.  The company gave me a lot support.

At 23 years old I now found myself running my own company.  I earned over $250,000 my first year.  I remember going home one day to visit my parents at their home and saw a brand new Lexus LS400, a $60,000 car, parked in their driveway. It was very nice.  I took it for a test drive around the neighborhood and instantly loved it.  I left my parent’s home and bought the same exact car.  I went back to my parent’s home the next day and parked my brand new Lexus right next to theirs!  I walked inside to say hello and asked if they wanted to go for lunch.  Not knowing about my purchase, they naturally wanted to take their new Lexus, but I proudly insisted on driving mine.  When they walked out on to the driveway, both of their jaws dropped!  My mother was concerned that I would not be able to afford it.  My father told my mother, “If he could not afford it, he would not have it!”  It was a great feeling to release my parents from the worry that most parents have, the fear that their child might not be able to fend for themselves and live well when they grow up.  I became successful at a young age. I can remember going to family functions driving up in my Lexus and seeing my Uncle’s driving Chevy’s.  That was cool, but also a bit weird feeling being half their age.

I have gone on to have a great career. During my career, I’ve had the 5th largest office in the world, and Kirby was and is still located in over 77 different countries.  I bought a brand new Lexus for my wife to be for her birthday.  I actually went to the Lexus dealership and bought the car as a surprise for her.  I asked them to deliver it to the restaurant so when we were done with her birthday dinner she could go to the valet and get the new car as a surprise!  When the valet guy drove up the car, she just kept waiting for her car to pull up.  She had no idea.  When the valet finally told her she needed to get in her new car and leave as a line was starting to build up, she than realized I bought her a new Lexus GS400 for her birthday.  That was a moment to remember!  Since then, I also bought her a Lexus SC430 convertible for another birthday some years after.  I have also been fortunate enough to enjoy a beautiful home and an office building that I purchased. I have driven some of the nicest cars from BMW, to Porsche and Hummer, Cadillac and Lexus.  I even earned another Rolex from the company that is worth $10,000 and the best part is, it was free just for working hard.  I travel with the company all over the world each year and go to Europe on my own every year.  I look at where I started and where I am now, and sometimes have to pinch myself.  This business has been my vehicle to becoming a millionaire.  I always knew I wanted to be successful in life, but was unsure how.  I don’t list these things to impress you, the reader, but more to impress upon you that this opportunity is very real.

Unfortunately, many people that come into our company are unwilling to work or learn, which is why many are in an unsuccessful situation.  Some are influenced by negative people that have never stepped up to the plate.  If  I was going to take advice from someone, it be from one that is successful!  I meet a lot people who have negative, unsupportive and unsuccessful loved ones.  They hand out advice, but far too often, we take it because they love us.  I would never take swimming instructions from someone who had 4 people they taught drown in a pool; even if they are a loved one.  I’ve met people who were in the same shoes I was in when I started; who gave up because they took the negative unsupportive advice. It boggles my mind.  I tell them it’s funny because when you were working at the mall, or while you were working in the grocery store, in construction or as a waiter making NO money, they had no problem with that, but now that you have a real opportunity and they have a problem.  They hear your going to sell “vacuums” and prejudge it not knowing a bit about our company.  Our company has nothing to do with vacuums. We are in the People business!

The product we sell is just our “Golden goose” our “Vehicle”. I like to use the “Pizza” analogy.  If I say the word “Pizza” most think of food.  I say the same exact word “Pizza” to the owner of Little Ceasars he thinks of Money! Same word, different interpretation!  I feel if you continue to listen to that unsupportive advice, you will continue to run in place. It’s not that our families don’t love us or want what’s best for us, they are just not qualified to give us advice on finances and our careers.  I also find that when a new worker goes home and receives great support, it’s generally from a parent or an Uncle who is already accomplished and successful with business, so they speak our language.

If you always do what you have always done, you will always get what you have always got; nothing changes, nothing changes! At our company, we are not looking for long term sales people, we are looking for Managers.  You just can’t start out in Management for what would you manage?  You must first learn our business.

You may have heard some unsolicited, bad advice from people who “say” they have worked for Kirby and that we did not pay them, or the hours are too long or we are crooks…there are a lot of scams out there you should be aware of.  Kirby is not, and has never been, one of them.  The Federal Trade Commission does not call Kirby a scam.  Neither does the Better Business Bureau, FINRA or any of the other regulatory agencies in this country.  If just 1 person can make it in our company, just 1, than it can’t possibly be a scam. We are not a network marketing company, there are no start up fees or kits you need to buy, it is a very good business opportunity.  We have many happy, successful employees at Shy Enterprises.  There is  a young man that has only been with us for 3 months and just won a brand new car from our company! Another that earned $5,000 in free scholarship money last year!  5 people walking around under the age of 30 wearing Rolex watches they earned, free from our company.  Our employees travel and live well with great opportunities to continue down the same road to success like myself and most Kirby distributors.

So when you hear or read an unsuccessful story about Kirby, remember, Kirby did not fail him or her, they failed Kirby!  Never judge your potential success from a negative, unsuccessful “person” or blog that is not credible, especially from the internet. Negativity loves company and you are the company that you keep. Kirby and Shy Enterprises are very successful and we have the history and successful employees to prove it!

Do not be influenced by false and hurtful comments that are personal attacks against us from those that have nothing better to do with their time. We are busy making futures by allowing ordinary people accomplish extraordinary things.  I thank God I was smart enough to listen to my friend and follow through.

I wish you many successes,

Larry Shy

– CEO of Shy Enterprises
http://www.shyhr.com