Most of us are so conditioned to think locally that we miss the global view.

Such is not the case for Andalusia businessman Frank Henderson, who years ago began the transition that made Henderson Sewing Machine Co., Inc., a global business. Gov. Robert Bentley recognized Henderson and his business, along with seven other Alabama businesses, this week with the Governor’s Trade Excellence Award.

Henderson Sewing Machine is a global supplier of machines, parts and supplies for the sewn products industry, and also has an engineering team that designs custom automated systems. The company does business in more than 30 countries.

As the leader of that company, Henderson is a relentless world traveler who passionately wants other businesses – and especially educators – to understand the principles that have made his company successful.

“If we could ever make people in this community and others understand, they’re not competing with someone across the street or one state over, they are literally competing around the world,” he said. “And it’s about education, from a design, creativity and innovation standpoint.”

Henderson Sewing Machine is Exhibit A for what we can achieve if we have vision and courage to move beyond what most of us “settle” for in life.

We join Gov. Bentley and others in congratulating Henderson and his employees for this recognition. It is well deserved.