James H. Elliott

The Blacksmith's Son James H. Elliott

This novel is a fictional version of the management of a large manufacturing Company. It is intended to portray that any Company, large or small, reflects the desires and wants of the Chief Executive. The direction any Company takes is directly related to the approach made by the Chief Executive. In this instance the Company was wrongly managed, but in spite of this, earnings while not good, were adequate to pay dividends and retain earnings in the business. A long strike, accompanied by a recession brings forth the Company's weaknesses and suddenly to the surprise of everyone the Company is approaching bankruptcy. Here is where the novel starts. A new chief Executive James L.(Scot) MacDonald of Scottish ancestry, and the son of a blacksmith, is brought in and it is his leadership that turns the Company, Universal Industries, around. His influence is felt immediately when on his first day on the job he schedules a meeting of all the Company Executives and announces his 12 point plan to bring the Company back to solvency. By a series of flashbacks the reader will also be able to discern that not only Scot's leadership qualities but other qualities as well were a very part of his exemplary life. These were his affection for his Scottish parents , his schooling ,his courtship, engagement, and marriage to a beautiful; Scottish lass, Mary Fraser, whose family lives in the Chicago area, and the love which continued to grow with the addition of children; all of this contributed to Scot's respect and esteem for others.