#96 James J. Hill (Empire Builder of the Northwest)

**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.
Like most dynamic individuals of any generation, James J. Hill displayed what Alan Nevins once called a sort of lunar dualism.
His positive traits were quite remarkable. A quick intelligence, a power of analysis, an incredible power of will and personality, and an unparalleled work ethic and commitment. His negative attributes were mirror images of the positive. An extreme irascibility that sometimes exploded into rage. A willfulness that could turn into outright ruthlessness. And such a preoccupation with the purpose at hand that he sometimes lost sight of the broader perspective.
What does one conclude in the final analysis about this remarkable man? It is entirely appropriate that the passenger train from Chicago to Seattle is called the Empire Builder in his memory. For his hand reached into every aspect of building the regional economy and social order, from transportation to agriculture, mining, lumbering, maritime trade, and town and city building. His larger-than-life stature is well attested by the persistence nearly 80 years after his death of his memory and legend.
The various determinists no doubt are correct that events shape people more than people shape events.
But the life of James J. Hill certainly demonstrates the impact one willful individual can have on the course of history.
We shall never see his like again, and that simple fact adds yet another dimension to the fascination his life will afford to each new generation. Alright, so that's an excerpt from the book that I read this week and the one I'm going to talk to you about today, which is James J. Hill, Empire Builder of the Northwest, and it was written by Michael P. Malone.
So I found out about, apparently James J. Hill is really famous, really well known. I had never heard of him until I was reading, I think it was Poor Charlie's Almanac, and Charlie in a Speech listed the kind of business operators that him and Warren admired, and James J. Hill was on that list. I started doing some research into books and stuff, and then I also found that if you took all the great American fortunes that have ever been built and adjusted for inflation, Hill would be one of the 50 richest entrepreneurs to ever live in America. So before I jump into the rest of the book, I just want to pull up some quotes.
And it's quotes from James J. Hill that I think give us an insight into his personality and kind of makes understanding who he was as a person easier to do, and then as a result of that, then becomes easier to see why he made certain decisions in how he built his company and his business. So here's one. He says, Give me snuff, whiskey, and Swedes, and I will build a railroad to hell.
He was asked later in his life what is responsible for his success. This was his answer. Work, hard work, intelligent work, and then more work.
I really like this idea about thinking about life as an adventure and then running a business as a tool to use in that adventure. So he says, Most men who have really lived have had, in some share, their great adventure. This railway is mine.
And then the last quote, which I found really interesting because a lot of the, I would say, opinions of a lot of people I've covered on the podcast kind of share what he's about to say here and the importance of being frugal and not wasteful in your resources. So it says, If you want to know whether you're destined to be a success or failure in life, you can easily find out. The test is simple and it is infallible. Are you able to save money? If not, drop out. You will lose. You may think not, but you will lose as sure as you live. The seed of success is not in you.