On July 27, 2001, Calvin Jackson called his good friend and former copier sales co-worker Wayne Arrington to say he had been fired-on his birthday, of all days. Arrington was selling insurance at the time and not particularly enjoying it.

Arrington joked, "Why don't we start our own office equipment company and earn back all our old customers?"

Two weeks later, the pair met with an attorney to draw up the partnership agreement. Says Arrington, "He asked us how much money we were putting into the business. We looked at one another, and I said, 'I've got 100 bucks.' And Calvin said, 'I've got 100 bucks.' So, we told the attorney, 'We've got $200'!" And Brazos Valley Office Solutions was born!

Without a product line or store front, they went door to door, earning clients' business with BVOS. For the first six months, after paying vendors for parts and supplies, each took home about $50 a week. Both partners acknowledge their supportive spouses for letting them stay with it during the lean times.

After their first year, BVOS moved into a 600 square-foot building, incurring rent, utilities, and insurance expenses. Six years later, BVOS is still operating at the same location, but has quadrupled the store's size to offer a broad range of services and supplies.

By treating every customer as if they were their only customer, hiring loyal hardworking employees and treating them well, BVOS has found persistence pays off. "Nike shoes says it best: 'Just Do It'!," says Arrington. "Don't sit around and talk about it; get out and make it happen."