“Pull your own red wagon.”

That’s the message Jim Byard Jr. brought to members of the Pike County Chamber of Commerce on Wednesday.

The former Prattville mayor and current director of ADECA was the guest speaker at the annual Business Development Week Breakfast, and he brought insight about both personal and professional successes.

“We sit down to dinner every night together (in our family) and we talk about three things,” Byard said. “The first, and I have to tell my 10-year-old this all the time, is ‘pull your own red wagon.’

“You worry about what you can do, what you are doing, instead of what others are doing you’ll be much happier in life.”

The second tenet for a productive life is to do the right thing. And the third, he said, is to be positive.

“In today’s world it’s so easy to be negative,” Byard told the more than 75 business leaders at the breakfast. “How much more would you sell, how much more would you produce if you were a person of optimism?”

He also reminded the business leaders to remain present in the moment. “God only puts so many moments in front of us each day … it’s important that we remain present in the moment,” he said.

Byard also explained to the business leaders the role of ADECA and its impact on communities like Troy and Brundidge.

“We take federal money available and award it to cities and counties in ways that make people’s lives better,” Byard said. “We’ve touched every life in here, you just don’t know it yet.”

In Pike County, ADECA provided $700,000 to assist with employment and infrastructure at Golden Boy manufacturing; a CDBG to assist with infrastructure at Southern Classic Foods in Brundidge; a $40,000 grant for downtown development in Troy; and a $100,000 grant to extend the walking/biking trail at the Troy Sportsplex.

“We have three criteria when considering a project: Is it wise? Is it legal? And is there a return on investment for the people of Alabama?,” Byard said. “I can assure you those 200 families who are affected by the employment at Golden Boy believe it’s a good return on investment for the people of Alabama.”

In addition to Byard’s presentation, members of the Chamber’s Business Development Committee recognized local businesses and industries who have a profound impact on the Pike County Economy.

“Normally we recognize the historic businesses in Pike County,” said Scherr Qualls. “But this year, we decided to recognize the largest businesses in Pike County. Together, these businesses employ 5,700 people with an annual salary of $309 million.

“If a dollar rotates in the local economy four or five times … that’s $1.5 billion moving back through the community. It’s a huge impact that these companies make.”

Companies recognized included CGI; KW Plastics and Recycling, Sanders Lead and Sanders Truck Lines; Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation; Troy Bank & Trust; Troy Regional Medical Center; Troy University; the Walmart DC; and Walmart of Troy.

New businesses recognized included Alliance Total Solutions; Colliers on Main; Guardian Credit Union; Health Actions of Troy; and Tower Loans of Troy.