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RMDC
QUICK FACTS:
BILL
TAYLOR:
is
a Charlevoix High School and Central Michigan University Alumni
Bill
ran on the 1982 & 1983 Michigan H.S. Class C Charlevoix State Champion
teams. In 1983 Bill was the Class C Individual Team Champion in a time
of 15:46.
Bill
was also a member of three straight U.S.A World Cross Country teams from
1990-92.
He
is currently Director of International Operations for Microban Products
Company and founder of SelfSource, Inc.
You
can e-mail Bill at:
[email protected]
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An RMDC Chat with Bill Taylor:
Former
Michigan High School and College
Standout
By Dave
McCauley & John Brabbs
- RunMichigan.com, Inc.
7/16/99
RMDC: Tell us about your current job.
BT: Well, I actually have two jobs right now. Fortunately for me
both are very entrepreneurial in nature which fits my approach to business.
First, I'm Director of International Operations for Microban Products
Company. Microban is the leading antibacterial company of added-value
protection of consumer products. We license the technology and Microban
trademark to company's like Johnson & Johnson, Hasbro, Lifetime-Hoan /
Farberware, Aqua Glass, Neste, ICI Acrylics, IMI Cornlius for products
from toys to toothbrushes! Microban is an additive the can be added to
most products to provide antibacterial protection for the life of the
product. Our goal is to provide safe, durable and effective around the
clock product for an additional level of hygiene for any consumer product.
I primarily work on operational and product application development outside
the US, especially in the UK with leading retailers like JS Sainsbury
place.
The second job is as a founder of SelfSource, Inc. I, along with the founders
of Microban, wanted to get back to our roots of designing, manufacturing,
and marketing health and environmental lifestyle related products. Everything
from exercise and foot care products, performance active wear, air treatment
and filtration products, and all-natural cleaning and disinfectant products.
This is a pretty broad range of products, so we'll sort out difference
channels of distribution for each segment. However, to start we'll concentrate
on patented products like the FootFlex PSD for foot care, along with other
related products under the FootFlex trademark!
RMDC: Who influenced you the most in running?
BT: Great question. I cannot actually answer that question by noting
any one person. It has to be actually shared by a select group of mentors
and coaches. The group includes Pete Spieles, Walt Drenth, Jeff Drenth,
and Kermit Ambrose. As some people know, all these people relate back
to my prep days at Charlevoix High School. Mr. Spieles was a fantastic
high school coach; and he coached all the successful teams of the Charlevoix
program. He coached many talented runners, including Walt Drenth and Jeff
Drenth, and I. Many of us got our foundations during our days with Mr.
Spieles as our coach. Not only did he turn out good teams and athletes;
these people turned out to be successful coaches, teachers, entrepreneurs,
professionals, etc.! To the day that I retired from competitive running,
some of the very workouts I did and work ethics I learned had origins
in what we did under Mr. Spieles!
After high school, I was coached entirely by Walt Drenth. We shared a
pretty special bond as friend, coach, athlete. Even though I was trying
to follow in the footsteps of his brother Jeff, Walt has by far had the
biggest imprint on my running career. You could say we grew up together,
me as an athlete and he as coach! We worked well together, which lead
to some very rewarding moments! I was very fortunate to have worked with
one coach / system my entire career. I truly believe it had allot to do
with my success!
Kermit Ambrose, the grandfather to high school track and cross country
in the state of Michigan. What else can you say. Many kids have been influence
by this man. I went to his Wolverine Cross Country camp, later counseled
there with both Jeff and Walt. I am truly lucky to have known him and
have him in my corner!
RMDC: What do you remember most about your running days in Michigan?
BT: Fall! I loved the fall weather and the cross country season!
I miss Northern Michigan in the fall. I have many bright moments centered
around that time of year. Great times, great people. I was fortunate to
have been involved with so many talented and dedicated people that lead
to some wonderful memories!
RMDC: What lessons that you learned through running have helped
you with your current business success?
BT: First, I think my competitive and aggressive attitude has been
the back bone of my desire to succeed in anything I approach. I've always
wanted to do the best or win at anything I do. With that, I always wanted
to be around or surround myself with people who feel or want the same
thing. But the basics to being successful is that you first must dare
to dream and dream big, set goals and develop a plan, make a commitment
and work hard in that commitment, and then perform with "Quiet Confidence."
These are basic values that I learned and practiced from my early running
career that shape my business career today.
RMDC: You were a member of one of the most successful high school
programs around at Charlevoix High School. What advice could you give
to today's high school runner?
BT: Wow! Well, a lot of the same things that I just mentioned.
But, don't be afraid to dream and push your self in obtaining those dreams!
The hardest thing for me, and I still struggle with this today is PATIENCE.
Nothing ever happens overnight. Walt Drenth was always preaching to me
about being patient. There's a classic Kermit Ambrose quote that I've
never forgotten that deals with patience, " the only place success comes
before work is in the dictionary." Go ahead and dream, be patient and
work hard and you'll succeed in obtaining your goals!
RMDC: Where are some of the more interesting places in the US or
the World that you have had the chance to visit because of your running?
BT: Really, no one place in particular. As a small town kid being
able to travel around the US, Europe, SE Asia, South America, and Australia
at a young age was incredible. Running certainly has been a vehicle to
experience and travel the world that not everyone has enjoyed. For that,
I feel fortunate!
RMDC: What was it like growing up in Northern Michigan and how
did you maintain such a high level of fitness through the tough "up north"
winters?
BT: I love Northern Michigan. I couldn't think of a better place
to have grown up. I was extremely lucky to have a close family and circle
of friends that I could count on. To this day, the entire group still
has a strong bond even though we're spread around the country. All I can
say is we did the best we could. It was tough to train hard and stay health.
I really did not understand how tough our "winter" training was on the
body until I moved to the Williamsburg, VA. after college to train full
time. The one thing I know it did was make us tough! I'd say we were more
callused coming out of that environment in handling adversity. But the
bottom line is that we did not cut corners with training and we were out
in just about any weather! We all were committed to getting better and
achieving our goals. That's were we lived and trained. We really didn't
know anything different!
RMDC: How do you feel your coaches have influenced you?
BT: As I mentioned earlier, I have had only two coaches in my career.
Pete Spieles and Walt Drenth. I feel that having been coached in the same
system, some of which had its origins from high school, was a key in my
success. I understood the system and what each of us expected in the relationship.
Both were quiet motivators and got athletes ready to compete without a
high risk of injury. In my case, in wasn't about competitiveness or desire;
but patience. There was always a sense, especially during the balk of
my career with Walt, of "holding me back" so as not to over train. I owe
allot to both of these individuals! I feel lucky to have had them as my
coaches!
RMDC: What do you consider your greatest running achievement?
BT: That is really a tough question to answer. Can I say everyone?
Really! I am very proud of the successful teams that I was a part of in
high school, college, and post collegiately Basically, any individual
goals I had revolved around helping the team to be successful. I am fortunate
to be a part of championship teams at all levels that also correlated
with individual achievements. If I had to be specific I'd have to look
at the most recent stuff and break it down to my post-collegiate career,
and say the first would be making three consecutive US World Cross Country
Championship Teams, second would be the 1992 Olympic 5000 meter trials
performance, and last would be winning the 1991 Prefontaine Classic 5000
meter title (running a victory lap at Hayward Field is an incredible feeling).
RMDC: What is your current level of running or racing?
BT: I retired from competitive running in 1993 due to Achilles
tendon problems. I had surgery in early 1993 that allowed me to run pretty
comfortably, but not at the level to train for competitive racing at the
world or national class level. Currently, I run 3-5 days a week for 30-60
minutes. I still have a moderate fitness level that allows me to maintain
a quick pace. But running today for me is were I do my best "creative"
thinking about business topics. It's a great release from the day, and
allows me the time for new ideas or problem solving!
RMDC: How did you manage the transition away from running and racing
at such a high level?
BT: I refocused every bit of energy and competitive drive into
my career. It was not easy and I made some mistakes. However, I was fortunate
to have some opportunities present themselves and I worked hard. Today,
making the most of those initial opportunities is why I'm in the position
today with Microban Products Company and the new start up in SelfSource,
Inc.!
RMDC: What are your goals for yourself and your business?
BT:Goals for me are pretty easy. I just want to make the most of
my opportunities through hard work and planning. If I make that type of
commitment to anything I do, I know over time it will be successful! Microban
and SelfSource are the first in a line of many that I will have involvement
and ownership in. Microban is well on it's way to being a successful IPO
company in the next 2-3 years. I will then focus all my time on SelfSource.
At the present time however, SelfSource has many entrepreneurial opportunities
that are very exciting. I am eager to develop the FootFlex PSD ( see banner
ad on the RMDC site) and FootFlex family of foot care products, the athletic
performance wear trademarks of Racing Rags / Ragin'Rags, CitraSure Air
Treatment System (C.A.T.S) units, and the CirtrSure Family of cleaning
products. Please visit www.selfsource.com to stay tuned to our developing
product line, or just say hello!
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