You never know where inspiration might come from. During the recent pandemic and due to a health issue in our home we had the opportunity to watch a lot of rodeo on the Cowboy channel. Recently some of the cowboys have had a curious patch on the back of their hats.
It was a circle that contained two symbols, a plus sign, and an x, (+X).
Turns out that these unusual markings were in tribute to a man named Keith Maddox, also known as the Hat King. As a young man he was a bull rider and bareback rider. After attending Eastern Oregon College in LaGrande Oregon he ended up working in the western ware business. Eventually opening “The Best Hat Store” in the historic Fort Worth Stockyards. Later he would achieve his lifelong dream and purchase the American Hat Company.
Just two years after buying the company, a grassfire destroyed $13 million worth of inventory. While many would have given up, he went back to work to rebuild. Tirelessly poured his blood, sweat, and tears into something he believed in. He worked hard and stayed positive. Five years later, the American Hat Company was back on track. When asked what he thought during those hard times, he said, “I always knew it would turn out this way, I just never knew it would take this long.”
Keith was reportedly the most positive person around. Quoted as often saying: “I’ve never had a bad day. I had a bad 15 minutes one time, won’t ever do that again!” He believed in only having more positive times (+X).
Work hard and stay positive. Sounds like good advice. Thank you, Mr. Maddox.
