In simple and very real terms, I’m a car guy who peddles car wax. The story behind the story is that I was born into a family whose life was centered in the Church and honoring God in everything we do. I could have easily rebelled against that mindset and missed His blessings altogether.
When I graduated college, we were a tiny car wax company, buffing cars in car dealers and body shops. That was my life. Never in my wildest dreams could I have imagined God inspiring me to go into the retail market and Meguiar’s becoming the No.1 selling car wax in America. It’s a story of God’s favor on those who honor Him in everything they do, including their business.
I’ve been trained from birth that if you love God, you’ll honor Him in everything you do. Anything less dishonors God, and that’s the one thing I never want to do. We’ve often delayed the release of a formulation that outperforms our competitors, only because we know it’s still not as good as we can make it. We’re our toughest competitor, because we’re always striving to create products that exceed the performance of our own products.
I was invited to be the Grand Marshall at Franklin, Kentucky’s 50th Anniversary Car Show. While there, I was given the documentation of two Meguiar brothers who were in Jamestown, fought in our Revolutionary War with England, and accepted Land Grants given by Kentucky to Revolutionary War Veterans. Then I walked through the remains of two Meguiar Cemeteries with tombstones bearing scriptures and the names of Meguiar’s honoring God dating back to before the Civil War.
Those tombstones reminded me of the scripture in Deuteronomy 7:9 that says, The Lord your God is faithful, and will keep His covenant and show His constant love to a thousand generations of those who love Him and obey His commandments. In the midst of a fabulous car show, I was given the gift of understanding God’s faithfulness to Karen and me that has far exceeded what we deserve.
In 1976, I arrived at a crossroads. As much as I loved my business and our launch into the consumer market was gaining momentum, I became conflicted as to whether I should be in business or in ministry. With increasing frequency, businesspeople began asking me for prayer and counsel and God began using me in ways I never expected.
So, one day I closed the door to my office and prayed the most fervent prayer of my life. I really felt God was calling me into “full-time” ministry. I even promised Him I would leave Meguiar’s immediately if I knew for sure that this was His will. So very specifically, I told Him I almost needed Him to speak to me in an audible voice so I could know, beyond doubt, that He wanted me to go into “full-time’ ministry.
Less than 20 minutes later my secretary escorted David McNutt, a guy from my church, into my office. We had never met or even exchanged a glance. I knew he was a missionary kid, born in Africa, because he spoke from the platform on occasion. That’s all I knew.
He came into my office, with a big smile, saying he was in the area and thought he might stop by to see how things are going. I made a quick decision, based on his being a missionary kid, that he wasn’t into cool cars and shiny paint finishes. So, I began telling him about my increasing opportunities to pray and counsel people . . . and that’s when my life changed forever!
Dave said, “You know you have a wonderful ministry here?” That hit me like a bolt of lightning. The concept that my business and ministry are one in the same was completely new to me. So, I asked him, “Why would you say that?” He responded, “Pastors can’t reach the people you’re reaching, but as a businessman you can. It’s obvious that your business is your pulpit.” That was 1976!
That’s when I told Dave about the prayer I had just prayed, to which he said, “That explains it!” I said, “Explains what?” He said he had just dropped missionaries off at the Orange County Airport, was driving up Red Hill (the closest main street to my office) when God told him to go see Barry Meguiar. And then he said, “I argued with God all the way to your office, telling Him I know nothing about this man and will make a fool out of myself, but God wouldn’t let me go.”
If David had not been obedient, I would have become a failed pastor. God never intended for me to be a pastor. I’m a businessman, and that’s my pulpit. And my word for you when you’re reading this article is that wherever you are is your pulpit.
Here’s the motto of my story. When we honor God in everything we do, we’ll do everything to the best of our abilities, even to the building of our businesses, the restoration of our cars, and the honoring of our families.
There are many articles written for this esteemed magazine that are inspiring “Horatio Alger” examples of storied success in America. I love every one of them and I learn from all of them. But it’s also been said that all of us have a priority for life. Mine comes from knowing that when I get to Heaven, it won’t matter how many bottles of car wax I’ve sold. Once we get to Heaven, the only thing that will matter is how many others will be there because of our influence! – Barry Meguiar
