My dad was almost a millionaire, once. He was also a dreamer with an engineering way of looking at life and a salesman's approach. At one point in time he owned seven hardware stores, a bakery distributing company, as well as, a real estate and insurance firm. He started as a sales clerk at Macy's. Then he bought a truck and created a trucking firm with about seven driver's working for him. He sold the trucking firm, bought a hardware store and grew from there.

       Dad had wonderful ideas, but he didn't always pay attention to details. About age 12, I noticed the manager at one of dad's hardware stores pocket the cash for a sale without ringing it up. The manager said he intended to ring it up later. I watched for a while. He seemed to pocket about every fifth sale. I told dad. Nothing much happened. About five years later this same manager actually stole the hardware store by presenting over five years of uncashed paychecks. We know how he lived for five years, but the court bought his story and dad lost the store.