#254 John D. Rockefeller: The Founding Father of the Rockefellers

**David Senra** (0:00)
I want to tell you about a one-time only limited event that I don't think you're going to want to miss. I am doing a live show with Patrick O'Shaughnessy from the Invest Like the Best podcast in New York City on October 19th. Patrick has interviewed over 300 of the world's best investors and founders for his podcast. I've read over 300 biographies of history's greatest entrepreneurs for my podcast. We'll be talking about what we learned from seven years of podcasting, sharing our favorite ideas and stories and doing a live Q&A. There will also be special event-only swag. If you live in New York City, I think it's a no-brainer, but if not, I think it's a great excuse to fly in. I've already heard from a bunch of people that bought tickets, they're flying in from other cities. Some people are flying in from other countries. That's setting the bar really high, so I will have at least four shots of espresso or four energy drinks before or during the show so we can make it a night that you'll never forget. If you're interested in attending this unique live event, I will leave a link down below. I highly recommend you get your tickets today and I hope I get to see you in New York on October 19th. To Rockefeller, business resembled a form of war. It seemed natural for him to open a letter with the words, I'm in the midst of a hard battle today.
He transmitted messages in code and secrecy covered all of his operations.
That's all too true, he admitted, but I wonder what general ever sends out a brass band in advance with orders to notify the enemy that on a certain day he will begin an attack, he said. Rockefeller, the field marshal, laid down strategy and relied on his general staff to carry it out. When tactics for a battle had been set, orders went out to quote, fight it out on this line.
It surprised none who knew him well that in old age Rockefeller compared himself to Napoleon. The revelation came while vacationing in France, not far from a spot where Napoleon had won a great victory. A casual remark from a companion led to an extraordinary soliloquy. Rockefeller's longest on record.
This is what he said.
It is hard to imagine Napoleon as a businessman, but I have thought that if he had applied himself to commerce, he would have been the greatest businessman the world has ever known. My, what a genius for organization.
He also had what I always regarded as a prime necessity for large success in any enterprise. That is a thoughtful understanding of men and ability to inspire in them confidence confidence in him and confidence in themselves.
See the men he picked as marshals and the heights to which they rose under his inspiration and leadership.
It is by such traits as these that men get the work of the world done.
It is all a battlefield.
Napoleon without the able marshals that he had about him would not have been the master of his age. He went into a battle with the knowledge that his marshals could be dependent on. That in a given situation, they could be relied upon to do the necessary thing.
Their devotion to him coupled with their enthusiasm, that's another great attribute, and the qualities with which his influence upon them brought out won the fight.
Another thing about Napoleon was his virility. He was virile because he came direct from the ranks of the people. There was none of that stagnant blood of nobility or royalty in his veins. That's where he had the advantage over the monarchs of Europe to begin with. He could think quicker and along more individual and original lines than any of them. The men whom he had to combat didn't understand either him or the people.
And it is always hard to successfully control what you don't understand. Napoleon didn't play that game.
And then coming direct from the people, he had their sympathy. He appealed to their imaginations.
Europe had not yet been educated to the fact that it could get along without any kings at all.
Leaders of their own kind were few. And that made it easier for Napoleon to rise to the heights with which he attained.
A Napoleon would be impossible in our day.
There are too many able and ambitious rivals to hold in check one who aimed too high.
That is an excerpt from the book I'm gonna talk to you about today, which is John D. The Founding Father of the Rockefellers and it was written by David Freeman Hawke.
Okay, before I jump into the book, I need to tell you how this fits into everything else that you and I have been talking about. About a month ago, I reread, I spent an insane amount of time rereading the most popular biography of Rockefeller that's ever been made. It was episode 248, it was Titan. I found the book that I hold in my hand in the bibliography of Titan.