When you think of business tycoons, who comes to mind first?
It could be Bill Gates, it could be Jobs, it could be Rockefeller.
But many people don't know that in the 19th century there was a business tycoon who influenced American shipping, railroads, and finance.
He was the first non-statesman with the most leadership, Cornelius Vanderbilt.
Corneliers Vanderbilt
In the documentary "The Legend of the American Business Tycoon", a Douban score of 9.3, the first episode tells about his legendary life.
Let's see how he started from scratch, from the poor boy of New York Harbor to the rich railroad tycoon.
01 From a small ferry to having a fleet, accurately grasping business opportunities is a kind of excellence
Vanderbilt was born in 1794 on a small island in New York, where his father owned a farm.
By the time he was 16, he already had a keen sense of business.
He would often see ships coming and going in port, which was the only means of transportation at that time.
Vanderbilt saw the business opportunity and felt that if he could buy a boat to ferry, he would be able to make money.
So he borrowed $100 from his mother, which was not a small amount at the time. He used the money to buy a small ferry and began his shipping journey.
By 1817, he had a fortune of $9,000.
Vanderbilt
However, he did not stop there, and when the steamship appeared, he sold the ferry and learned from Gibbons about the steamship.
Later he owned his own steamship and built his own fleet.
It took him 40 years to build the world's largest shipping empire.
02 From the shipping kingdom to the rail transport, it is a kind of courage to do everything to change tracks
If he had merely stayed here and been satisfied with his shipping kingdom, he would not have left a strong mark on American commerce.
In the 1850s, water transport was in decline, and land transport such as railways began to become popular.
Vanderbilt realized that this was a new business opportunity.
At the age of nearly 70, at the height of his career, he abandoned his shipping empire to organize the construction of the first railroad across the North American continent.
The railroad became profitable, making Vanderbilt the richest man in the United States at the end of the Civil War.
03 From dormancy to eruption, over seventy years old is not afraid of challenges, is a kind of king style
Vanderbilt appointed his son William as director of operations for the Hudson Railroad, allowing him to negotiate with rivals.
When William proposed that there must be $200,000 to give the other side a privilege, allowing their passengers to enter Manhattan by train.
Opponents say the privilege is not worth 200,000, even $1 will not be given.
And jokingly said, "Your father, the old man, should retire." ”
When competitors thought Vanderbilt was no longer strong, he woke up from his slumber and looked for new opportunities.
Vanderbilt, who was in control of the largest seaport to the United States, instructed his son to blockade the Albany Bridge, making it impossible for goods to reach their destinations and dealing a severe blow to competitors.
Competitors began to sell their shares, and when the stock price fell to a low, Vanderbilt began to buy at full strength.
In just a few days he took control of rival railroad companies and established the largest railroad company in the United States.
Shopping malls are like battlefields.
Throughout Vanderbilt's legendary life, there is a spiritual force running through it, that is, courage, excellence and king style.
This is like the famous Swiss watch brand, Ebony.
Ebony
With a long history of more than 100 years, Ebono has always adhered to the concept of craftsmanship of excellence and is a leader in the pursuit of excellence.
The brand chose the shield as its symbol, and the shield was revered in ancient Europe as the supreme god, which also meant king.
As the documentary says, "Always thinking about what to do next is what motivates many successful people." It's not about how much money you make, it's about maintaining an edge. It's about success, it's about winning a game, it's about improving your strength. ”
Wearing a piece of Ebony on your wrist, you have not only a watch, but the courage to face difficulties and dare to challenge, and the foresight to always improve your strength.