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8 2 G R A P H I C S P R O • J A N U A R Y 2 0 2 3 G R A P H I C S - P R O. C O M M ary Louise Bennett, my maternal grandmother, taught me how to sew and knit (yes, knit) and was an amazing cook in the small West Texas town of Marfa. She met my grandfather, Jack Edwards, in nearby Alpine, Texas, the gateway to Big Bend National Park. Jack and his brother Cas came to West Texas to get into the car business, and by the 1960s they had dealerships in El Paso, Alpine, and Marfa, Texas, as well as in Ojinaga, Mexico. Cas had some early fame after he wrote a book of poetry about being a cowboy. Marfa, almost a mile high in elevation, is in the rugged but picturesque Chihuahuan Desert of the Trans-Pecos region and is surrounded by mountains. It's famous for several reasons. Over 75 documentaries, theatrical movies and episodic television shows have been filmed in the area, including "No Country for Old Men," "ere Will Be Blood," and — probably the most famous — "Giant," released in 1956. A rugged ranching town for many generations, today Marfa is home to minimalist artists from around the world. ey come to study and get their creative juices energized by the warm days, cold nights, and remote location. Some come to figure out the eerie, orb-like phenomenon of "e Marfa Lights," which have been seen since 1883. ere is even an annual festival celebrat- ing the flickering but elusive ghost lights. I've seen them many times over the years, and it is fascinating to contemplate how they remain unexplained. A cultural clash "cease-fire" with the multi-generational cat- tle ranchers has allowed these diverse cultures to co-exist. e popularity of being a Texas-styled artistic Santa Fe has driven up real estate prices to unprecedented levels. I'm proud to be a sixth-generation Texan, and spending years and later summers there shaped my dreams and goals, how I treat people, and even- tually my entrepreneur spirit. So, what does this remote area of West Texas have to do with the sign and graphics business, you ask? And how did I learn five life lessons about being an owner in this faraway place? B Y P A U L I N G L E Paul Ingle started selling signs in 1985 and has worked with regional, national, and international accounts with custom, architectural, and production manufacturing firms. He has held various positions in sales, sales management, and marketing since 1973. From 2006 to 2017, he and his wife Nita owned Design Center Signs in Tyler, Texas (now a Comet Signs Company). DCS provided a diverse offering of branding solutions. Paul is a past president of the Texas Sign Association and its regional chapter, the Greater DFW Sign Association. Contact him at paul.ingle@cometsigns.com. LESSON No. 1: Lead by example LESSON No. 2: Duplicate yourself LESSON No. 3: Build a culture not a business LESSON No. 4: Be proactive and not reactive LESSON No. 5: Be a visionary Life Lessons Learned from Being an Owner B U S I N E S S S T R A T E G I E S