I don’t know any other way to put it or express how lucky I am to be the beneficiary of it. Yes, I’ve heard luck is the result of hard work. And I’d be hard-pressed to argue with myself I haven’t put in the work in the success of your favorite newspaper.

I certainly have.

But my diligence and efforts have always been on the opposite end of the spectrum in sales and marketing related to the success of the Business Times, while the real work was being done in the next office and directed to our most important asset: our readers. Lucky for me, I had Phil Castle in charge of that side of the business.

Yes, sales are important. Because as one of my business mentors, Harry Hall (OK, Dad), always said, “Nothing happens until someone sells something.” And at the risk of a shoulder separation patting myself on the back, I’ve made a lot of that “something” happen over the past 24 years. Which, in turn, created a lot of space to fill — which Phil filled in exemplary fashion.

For those who might not know, the Business Times runs on advertising revenue. So I suppose I have an integral role in keeping the doors open. If I don’t sell, we can’t pay people or print. It’s simple from my end of things. But more important about those sales and pages of ads (we could print an 18- to 20-page paper on ads alone) is this: If there’s nothing good to read in between all that advertising, there’s no reason to print. Period.

For 25 years and 734 editions of the Business Times, Phil Castle, supplied our readers with original, local, entertaining and compelling stories about your friends, neighbors and businesses. Sure, there were always the national and statewide stories on trends and stats, but Phil had a way of bringing those closer to home as well. Because if the Business Times couldn’t provide that between covers, why would anyone have a reason to pick it up?

Side notes here for your friendly author: Take less time than 10 years to realize what works and what doesn’t during this time of transition. Embrace the pivot as you notably mentioned in the story Phil wrote about you in the last edition.

Which reminds of another Castle “keep” over the years from working with Phil. Knowing which stories to print and how to tell them. After all, that’s what Phil did best. He gave you a seat at the kitchen table or living room to listen to the good folks doing good things in making good stories to tell. Heck, in his last edition he even chose to cover a story about me instead of one about him. Just so you know, I couldn’t have been more against his choice. In fact, I demanded we do a story about him. Phil would have nothing to do with it, saying, “The reporter — or editor — is never part of the story.” And Phil wasn’t about to go about breaking that steadfast rule in his last paper.

That’s a high standard. That’s excellence.

So as I pontificate prose and pablum for this piece, Phil is playing (assistant) editor one final time for the Business Times in the next office with our new designer, Jackie. All I can do is peck away on my keyboard writing this column with the Business Times going forward in my head. And to be frank, I don’t know exactly how that’s going to work without Phil. Simple reason. I’ve never done anything at the Business Times without Phil. So while Phil takes his one small (although I don’t think he thinks it’s small) step into retirement, I’m about to take one giant leap with the Business Times. I just hope I’ve accounted for the gravity for my coming out of this world experience.

You can be sure of a few things. First, I know how to sell, market and tell folks about it. Second, much of it through osmosis, I’ve been under the tutelage of the best writer/editor in western Colorado for nearly a quarter of a century. And much like Phil, I enjoy telling stories about the successes of the folks living across the Grand Valley. And with the reputation Phil has created or storytelling in the Business Times, we’re never at a loss for stories to tell.

Perhaps that’s one thing you’ll notice as we close the last quarter of 2024: more stories. That’s because, like Phil, it’s what truly gets me going here at the paper. Your stories. And like Phil, I bring the one thing to the table which makes for great storytelling: I’m truly interested in your story, and I’m going to write it in a way that makes readers feel like they’re sitting with you while I tell it.

Well, there you have it. The secret of my, well, the Business Times’ success. Excellence, true interest and professionalism in every dot of ink to hit the newsprint whether it’s for advertisers, stories or readers — all wrapped up in a high-quality product people want to read.

Who knew such a high bar could, and should, be attained in a newspaper? Phil Castle did. And I do from working in the next room for 24 years. And now, you get it as well.

Provided much of this survives one, last Phil Castle editing job.

Craig Hall is owner and publisher of the Business Times. Reach him at 424-5133 or publisher@thebusinesstimes.com