Registered: Nov 2001
Location: Rio de los Brazos de Dios
Posts: 3876

I have heard many people say that the opportunities to do great things and amass a fortune no longer exists in America. I say that is balderdash. Bill Gates is too big a success to use as a model but let me point to three other entrepreneurs who have in a short time built up mighty empires in the face of stiff competition and all of the difficulties that existed. The founders of all three companies had a plan for success and never deviated from that plan in the implementation and all three were stunning successes. They are:

Southwest Airlines--I don't know who the founder of Southwest Airlines was but he had a plan. He offered a "no-frills" airline, that served only coke and peanuts for food, took off from a single airport inside the city of Dallas (Love Field--to avoid high landing fees at DFW airport), originally charged $13 one way on a flight to Houston while American Airlines charged $36 for the same flight). They started out with only one flight, Dallas to Houston in only one type of aircraft (727) with pilots paid 30% less than American. They now have a huge fleet of aircraft, fly all over the country and are profitable while most other airlines are looking at losses and American announced probable bankruptcy next week. Southwest has good corporate management. I also do not remember them ever having a crash but there may have been one. I also do not remember them ever having a strike.

UPS and FED-EX-- Both of these companies although with a different approach took the parcel post business away from the Post Office because they guaranteed on-time delivery and allowed you to click on a way-bill and see where your package was. They also were both experts at labor relations and policy.
Both companies are profitable and are truly BIG business including a large international trade.They both built their companies on reliability which the Post Office couldn't match.

Half-Price Books and Records--A Dallas company started by a Lebanese immigrant in a little cubby-hole on Elm Street next to the Majestic Theatre. He had noticed that the people waiting in line for events at the theatre would buy a newspaper from a wandering boy and read it while they stood in line. He started a used book store in the cubby hole and sold only used paper backs and later sold records, tapes, Dvd, videos, books any form of communication used. He said that he would give something for any communication . He made no bones about his pricing He would give ten to twenty cents a book and sell it for half the price
listed in Books in Print He has withstood the competition of Borders, Barnes & Noble, Bookstop and every one else that has come down the pike. He now has 74 stores in 10 states and is growing. The originator of this used book empire was Ken Jimeni.
I have met him and he is a very intense person and also very rich.

The opportunity to create an industrial empire is by no means gone. It is still there if any one wants it.

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oxsan


Don't kick until yer spurred.

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Registered: Oct 2001
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Posts: 18142

And then there is Mugtoe of Spread Eagle Ranch fame. We all know his rags to riches story. When in doubt, ask yourself, "What would Mugtoe do?"

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Registered: Jan 2001
Location: library
Posts: 19584

Drink Weller? Smoke pot? Seduce boys?

-m

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Registered: Oct 2001
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Seduce? I have to fight them off, dammit! Admit it. It was all you could do to control yerself around me. I saw that nervous tic you were developing by the end of the weekend. God, it must've been hell. You poor boy.

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Registered: Jul 2000
Location: Beyond Mason-Dixon Line
Posts: 16327

quote:

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Originally posted by Mordecai
Drink Weller? . . . .

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Registered: Oct 2001
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You, obviously, are unschooled in the finer things of life, if you would choose Dickel over a Weller or a Maker's Mark and have the termerity to call it blasphemy, suh! Son, I say son.

Of course you know, suh, this means wah.


Amen, and Amen.

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Registered: Jan 2001
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Fuck the Weller, Dickel, Makers or any bourbon. A glass of Sams finest cognac a day is the definition of heaven.

-m

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Registered: Feb 2001
Location: Boston
Posts: 6971

Of course there are more big companies that will surface. Mine, for example.

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Registered: Oct 2001
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Not all of us are so advantageously positioned for such access to 150 year-old cognac that blows Louis away. Don't gloat, bitch.

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Registered: Jan 2001
Location: library
Posts: 19584

Jealousy is an ugly thing dear Muggie.

-m

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