When Rockefeller was 86 years old, he wrote the following:
I was early taught to work as well as play, My life has been one long, happy holiday; Full of work and full of play- I dropped the worry on the way- And God was good to me everyday.
In a story of ruthlessness and strong ambition, as well as unmatched generosity, Rockefeller has become of the world’s most captivating entrepreneurs. From a poor boy in New York who was forced to sell candy to help his family survive, to become one of the wealthiest individuals in history, Rockefeller has become an American legend. How did he do it?
Efficiency: “Singleness of purpose is one of the chief essentials for success in life, no matter what may be one's aim,” said Rockefeller. From running a tight operation to buying out his competitors to finding productive uses for waste, Rockefeller obsessed about cutting costs down to the last penny. “I always tried to turn every disaster into an opportunity,” he said.
Courage: “I do not think there is any other quality so essential to success of any kind as the quality of perseverance,” said Rockefeller. “It overcomes almost everything, even nature.” Rockefeller was never afraid to do what hadn’t been done before. Indeed, that was what spurred him on. Even in the face of doubt and intense criticism, Rockefeller continued to march to the beat of his own drum.
Ambition: “The way to make money is to buy when blood is running in the streets,” said Rockefeller. He had big dreams and he was going to achieve them no matter what. Even once he had earned his initial goal of $100,00, Rockefeller’s ambition would not rest. “I have ways of making money that you know nothing of,” he once said, and he didn’t stop until he had tried them all.
Leadership: “The most important thing for a young man is to establish credit – a reputation and character,” said Rockefeller. It was precisely the reputation and character that Rockefeller had established that enabled him to be such a strong leader, encouraging hard work and loyalty throughout his workers that would carry him through even the toughest of times.
Duty: “If your only goal is to become rich, you will never achieve it,” said Rockefeller. While he did indeed become richer than even his wildest dreams, Rockefeller spent much energy deciding how to best contribute his wealth back to society. He believed it was his duty to give something back and work for the betterment of mankind. But, Rockefeller was never without his business eye, saying, “Next to doing the right thing, the most important thing is to let people know you are doing the right thing.”
A severe businessman who pushed the boundaries and raised the expectations of success, Rockefeller’s entrepreneurial legacy will undoubtedly continue to stand the test of time. “There is no mystery in business success,” said Rockefeller. “If you do each day's task successfully, and stay faithfully within these natural operations of commercial laws which I talk so much about, and keep your head clear, you will come out all right.”
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“The ability to deal with people is as purchasable a commodity as sugar or coffee and I will pay more for that ability than for any other under the sun,” said Rockefeller.
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When John D. Rockefeller was a young boy, he said that his two greatest ambitions were to make $100,000 and to live to be 100 years old. He died on May 23, 1937, just 26 months shy of his 100th birthday and with a n...
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