Pub. 1 2018-2019 Issue 3

32 In 1984, Mark and his brother bought a truck from their neighbor. The truck was a 1973 International cab-over, and lacked a transmission, but, it was theirs. In the spring of 1985Mark found aman that wanted out of his 1979 Freightliner cab-over as much as Mark wanted in.With a hand shake and promise tomakemonthly payments Mark drove off in his new-old truck. At that time Mark and his brother decided on separate business paths, his brother with the International andMark with the Freightliner and Double DDistribution officially began operations, hauling gravel and hay. In 1990 the company was legally formed and named. It was also in 1990 that Mark traded his 1979 Freightliner in for a 1987 Kenworth T600, and business continued to grow. In 1992 Mark was able to purchase a second truck to help keep up with the growing construction industry in Utah. As the asphalt construction in Utah grew so did his company. Fast forward almost thirty years and Double D Distribution has continued to grow, and today they are the largest asphalt carrier in the state of Utah. Over that time Mark diversified his company to make sure he could always provide work for his employees when construction wasn’t in season – which means that while asphalt is their core work, the company also transports crude oil, bulk milk and some food products. Double D Distribution has 38 trucks, 80-plus trailers, and over 40 employees. After a long and successful career in the paving industry, his best advice is: • Be courageous. I think all people have doubts in regards to job performance at some point in their career, and I think those doubts are especially weighty for small business owners. Can I make it as a new business? Have I taken on too much risk? And here’s the deal, even when you’ve have essentially made it, I think those doubts are still there. So, I would say, acknowledge them, and then be courageous. Walk through the doubts and the fears, and get the job done. • Work hard. I think a good work ethic is essential to any success in life. However, when you start and run a small business I think the definition of “work hard,” becomes “work harder than you ever have before.” I remember many days in those first few years where there were APPRECIATE YOUR LOVE BE PATIENT WITH THE EVOLUTION continued from the previous page