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Forbes® Greatest Business Stories of All Time, 20 Inspiring Tales of Entrepreneurs Who Changed the Way We Live and Do Business (Paperback)
by Daniel Gross
| Category:
Entrepreneurship, Business, Corporate history |
| Market price: ¥ 218.00
MSL price:
¥ 208.00
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MSL rating:
 Good for Gifts |
| MSL Pointer Review:
Insightful and inspiring stories of 20 entrepreneurs and how they changed their and our lives. |
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Author: Daniel Gross
Publisher: John Wiley
Pub. in: August, 1997
ISBN: 0471196533
Pages: 368
Measurements: 9.0 x 6.1 x 1.0 inches
Origin of product: USA
Order code: BA00021
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- Awards & Credential -
National Bestseller (in North America). |
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- MSL Picks -
This is an insightful and inspiring book about 20 great business stories including those about Henry Ford, Walt Disney, David Ogilvy, American Express, Sam Walton, Ray Kroc (McDonalds), Mary Kay, Bill Gates, John Rockefeller, Intel and Xerox.
Each chapter offers a profile of a major contributor to the evolution of American business history, beginning with one of my ancestors, Robert Morris (America's "first real businessman"), and concluding with Bill Gates ("Microsoft's cofounder and guiding spirit"). In between, Gross and his associates also examine other great leaders such as McCormick, Rockefeller, Morgan, Ford, Merrill, Sarnoff, Disney, Johnson, Ogilvy, Kroc, Wilson, Ash, Walton, and McGowan as well as major corporations such as American Express, Intel, Harley-Davidson, and Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. The reader is told, "This book is about heroes" and it really is.
Using the most effective strategies and devices of a storyteller, the authors examine biographical information within an historical context, sustaining interest with anecdotes while providing insights as to the causes and effects of each subject's accomplishments. For Morris, essentially the economic survival of thirteen colonies during their struggle for independence. For McCormick, the industrialization of agriculture. For Rockefeller, the creation and development of the modern corporation. For Morgan, saving a nation's financial system. For Ford, mass-producing affordable personal transportation. For Merrill, broadening the base of stock ownership to include those, among others, for whom the Ford Motor Company manufactured automobiles. Each of the other "heroes" discussed made equally important contributions.
A brief review such as this can only suggest (albeit inadequately) the wealth of information to be found in Greatest Business Stories of All Time. The prose has snap, crackle, and pop. The focus is crystal clear. The lessons to be learned from the careers examined are of incalculable value. Although this book will be of interest to almost anyone, it will have special importance for school, college, and university students who may sometimes wonder if there are any "secrets to success." The answer is yes. The specifics are to be found in the lives of those who are discussed in Greatest Business Stories of All Time. (From quoting Robert Morris, USA)
Target readers:
Managers, entrepreneurs, professionals, MBAs and people longing to change their life by starting up their own business.
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Daniel Gross is a Harvard-trained historian and journalist.
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From the Publisher:
What do Bill Gates, Henry Ford, J. P. Morgan, Mary Kay Ash, and Wait Disney have in common? Uncompromising vision, a willingness to take risks, and exceptional business acumen. Not only did these individuals amass great fortunes, they revolutionized the business world and helped shape society as we know it. While most of us have a general knowledge of these and other legendary figures, few know the details of their exceptional careers. Daniel Gross and the Editors of Forbes magazine, one of the world's foremost business publications, present twenty fascinating stories. You'll meet the personalities behind some of the best-known name brands in history, including McDonald's, Harley- Davidson, RCA, Merrill Lynch, Xerox, Wal-Mart, and Standard Oil, among others. Forbes Greatest Business Stories of All Time draws on a wealth of sources to offer this priceless collection. The book brings to life extraordinary achievements, many of them forgotten or little known: how Robert Morris, the preeminent merchant of the eighteenth century, financed the American Revolution with his personal credit; how Ray Kroc used a shrewd real estate strategy to turn a faltering hamburger franchise operation into a fast-food Empire; and how Mary Kay Ash built a billion-dollar direct sales cosmetics company by preaching a message of economic empowerment to women. Covering industries ranging from oil to cosmetics, from the eighteenth century up to the present, Forbes Greatest Business Stories of All Time celebrates larger-than-life ambition, inspired leadership, wheeling and dealing, and hard work.
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(A story of Ogilvy T Mather) After a few years in the quiet Pennsylvania countryside, Ogilvy was eager to return to the excitement of a big city like New York. At the age of 38, however, he was no longer a bright young whip just off the ship from Britain. He wanted to get back into advertising, and initially thought about seeking a job with Young & Rubicam. "But I never thought that Y & R would hire me – I didn't think I had any credentials," he said in a 1976 interview. "So the only thing I could do was start up on my own." It was an audacious act: he had only $6,000, no clients, no ads to show to perspective clients, and no experience working in American advertising. But he felt he had something that really mattered: the appropriate theoretical training. "Dr Gallup had taught me what he had discovered about the factors which make advertisements succeed or fail… And I had read all the books about advertising, such as they were."
In an industry that values hands-on experience over book learning, Ogilvy did have one concrete asset: his brother. While David was in America, Francis had risen to managing director at Mather & Crowther. Eager to help his brilliant younger brother, Francis persuaded his partners to finance David with $45,000 and let him use their name. he also enlisted another British advertising firm, S. H. Benson Ltd., to contribute $45,000 to form a joint venture that would, they hoped, establish a British beachhead in North America. As a condition for their investments, the British firms demanded that Ogilvy find an American to run the new venture. "They did not believe that one of their fellow countrymen could persuade American manufacturers to give him any business," he wrote. So he hired Anderson Hewitt, a well-connected J. Walter Thompson executive, and made him a partner.
In 1948 the firm of Hewitt, Ogilvy, Bemson & Mather opened its doors. The proprietor of the new shop had no intention of building slowly. On the second day of business Ogilvy made a list of the 5 clients he most desired: General Foods, Bristol-Myers, Campbell Soup, Lever Brothers, and Shell Oil. "To pick such blue-chip targets was an act of mad presumption, " he later conceded…
Hewitt saved the day when, after 5 months, the partners had run through 3/4 of their capital. Hewitt's uncle, the chairman of J. P. Morgan & Co., arranged to lend the fledgling business $100,000 with no security. More importantly, Hewitt lassoed the Sun Oil Company, a $3 million account. Upon landing this blue-chip client, the tiny firm was in business.
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| View all 6 comments |
Leng Hon Keat, Singapore
<2006-12-25 00:00>
I found the stories in the book very interesting. They covered a wide spectrum of industries and spanned over a long time frame. The stories clearly illustrated the most important business figures of the particular time and industry.
However, I thought the stories were lacking in detail to make it truly a great read. After reading the book, I felt that I was introduced to the great figures in business. But to know them better, I have to read another book.
For example, I knew something about Henry Ford before reading the book. In the story about Henry Ford, I found it superficial. However, in other stories that I was not familiar with the protagonist, like McGowan, I found the story illuminating. I never knew the telecommunications business could be so interesting.
As such, I recommend this book to people who want to know some of the greatest people in business. But to those who want to find out about the secrets to their success, the answer will lie in other more detailed books. |
Jim, USA
<2006-12-25 00:00>
This is a quick read of 20 different stories that have historically and tremendously impacted all of us. This book is inspirational and instructional in content, and although I had heard many of these stories before I gleaned many ideas for my own business. The other issue I noticed is that these stories impacted the world and they all took place right here in the US, yet they continue to influence globalization today. |
Zilda, USA
<2006-12-25 00:00>
I'm not a business-minded person, but after reading so many reviews here that complained about how "boring" this book is, I picked it up and read thru one story - about Ray Kroc and the founding of the McDonald's restaurants.
And what a great read! Such a quirky story, to follow the progress of the first guy to figure out the concepts behind assembly line fast food. Did you ever wonder how and why the food at McDonalds tastes the same everywhere? Or why every facility looks familiar?
Nowadays, factory-assembly line food production is old news to our jaded modern palates. But in the 1950s and earlier, it was innovative. And Ray Kroc was a pioneer in the development of the franchise restaurant. He made his millions scouting real estate locations for franchisees. And then he made their leases dependent upon their adherence to his ideas about what a McDonald's restaurant should be.
This was definitely a great story and an interesting read. I recommend this book. |
An American reader, USA
<2006-12-25 00:00>
A great book about the people who made a real difference in shaping the present that we live in and influencing the future as it will become.
From Robert Morris to Bill Gates; the books take you on a promenade into their kingdoms. Explaining to the reader many valuable information about each "tycoon's" personality, enterprise, industry, and the general business environment in his particular era.
I personally enjoyed the chapters on David Ogilvy, Ray Croc, Sam Walton, Walt Disney, Joseph Wilson, Henry Ford and Harley Davidson.
The book portrays many successful personalities and companies that will be of interest to people in varying specializations within Business.
An enjoyable read and a good reference.
Also read Lessons from the Top and Radical Marketing.
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