To trace the beginnings of Watterson's relationship with Taiwan, you have to turn the clock back 30-some years. The church assigned the then 19-year-old university freshman to Taiwan. Clueless, Watterson found himself shipped off to this completely alien island. He rode his bicycle around Tsoying and Hualien for two years and before he knew it, he "had fallen in love with Taiwan."

Watterson grew up in rural America and this was his first time taking an airplane. He recalls that he was surprised to find that the people living in his new home on the other side of the planet were so warm, hardworking, family-oriented, and upheld values so similar to those of own his faith. Back then, everybody's home was host to a cottage industry. Images of these "living-room factories" are still fresh in his mind.

After returning to America, he minored in Chinese at Utah State University. In 1977, while still a student, he founded Weslco, Inc., the forerunner of ICON. "I continued to rack my brain for ways to come back," he confides. From the beginning when he imported marble from Hualien and produced wood-burning stoves to later when he entered the fitness equipment business, he never let up in his quest to find OEM factories in Taiwan. Up until about ten years ago when OEM shifted to China, Watterson still had components, including treadmill belts and computers, produced in Taiwan. Over the past three decades, he has been to Taiwan no less than 30 times.

Patents and innovation galore

ICON manufactures and markets home-use fitness products under such well-known brands in as Nordick Track, ProForm, and HealthRider, as well as FreeMotion which specializes in training equipment for Olympic athletes and health clubs. With around half of the world's market, ICON is the world leader in home fitness equipment, with annual turnover in excess of US$1 billion, 181 patents, and over 500 trademarks. IFIT technology, an interactive system introduced in 2000 that is popular in the US, is just one example of ICON's innovative designs.

IFIT brings together fitness equipment and the Internet, allowing users to go online and choose an ICON fitness instructor who can then design a tailor-made fitness program based on the user's age, weight, and needs. Joggers can run through various types of DVD-generated scenery, such as sandy beaches and forest paths, while the running machine speeds up or slows down depending on the gradient shown on the screen.

But R&D isn't everything. Watterson believes that ICON's success is a result of God's blessing, and many of his patents have been "inspirations from God." One day, for example, his wife complained that their treadmill took up too much room in their house and was an eyesore. She asked if anything could be done about it. He prayed and received an inspiration--design collapsible equipment that resembles furniture when not in use.

When hiring top-level managers, he also seeks God's guidance. "It's common in America to stay with a company for three to five years, then sell your newly acquired skills to the highest bidder," Watterson explains. In contrast, his firm's core managers have worked shoulder to shoulder for over two decades.

The many businesses operated by LDS Church members, include Kodak, the Marriott Hotel, and IT giant Novell. Watterson believes the main reason they have become so prominent internationally is that their firms are characterized by the Mormon spirit, which emphasizes loyalty, industry, honesty, and family. "The family is the foundation of business. By helping one another, the family redoubles its efforts."

Answering the call

Performing missionary work overseas means three years away from his booming business. At a time when change is the norm for the market, isn't he hesitant about letting go of the reins?

"If one man had asked me to go, I probably would have ignored his request. But this was a calling from God through a prophet, so it is a welcome expectation. I would never even consider not obeying," Watterson exclaims. Mormon headquarters assigns more than 100 mission presidents to places around the world every three years to lead the development of local churches. For example, Gary Stevenson, his partner at ICON, was sent to serve in Japan at the same time that Watterson came to Taiwan.

The company is being managed by Watterson's younger brother, so there's nothing to worry about on the business front. The only thing that he has found a bit hard is being away from his family. His wife and two younger kids came with him to Taiwan, but his three older children and his parents are constantly in his thoughts. He does regret that his busy schedule kept him from returning to the US to be there when his first grandchild was just born and to see his second oldest son graduate from university.

Watterson explains how he and his wife have managed to remain so deeply in love all of these years, "1 + 1 = 1--that's the secret to a happy marriage." As to the polygamy controversy in the LDS Church, Watterson says that the church discontinued pluralistic marriage, a system which finds its roots in the Old Testament, more than 100 years ago. The few that currently practice it have nothing to do with the LDS Church. Perhaps this has not been completely understood outside of America.

Watterson's main job is interviewing and meeting with the 150 young missionaries and 4,000-plus church members in central Taiwan (from Chupei in Hsinchu County down to Puli and Huwei in Nantou) to strengthen their faith and establish the church through proselytizing efforts. If family members of missionaries become ill or are injured back in the US, it is his job to help take care of everything on this end, such as comforting the youngsters in Taiwan. Watterson frequently meets with individuals interested in the church and encourages them to join. You could say that he's "on call 24/7."

At home

Among the beautiful American-style decor in the Watterson's Taichung residence are a few pieces of antique Chinese furniture that cause the visitor to do a double take. The bridal sedan in the corner of the dining room, the carved wooden canopy bed in the bedroom, the elegant Chinese lantern on the landing of the stairs, and the ink-wash paintings hanging on the wall speak volumes of Watterson's love for Chinese culture.

Watterson has a passion for the written Chinese language. When he has free time, he pores over Sunzi's Art of War, studies Chinese idioms, and tells the 24 Stories of Filial Piety. "Look at the character '忠' [zhong--'faithful,' composed of 中 (zhong--'center') and 心 (xin--'heart')]. 'Fidelity' or 'loyalty' is putting your 'heart in the middle'--doesn't that say it all?" When asked why he loves Chinese culture, he explains in no that the main reason is that he is a big fan of the Taiwanese people and their culture is so much a part of them.