#324 John D. Rockefeller 38 Letters Rockefeller Wrote to His Son

In this episode, the host reflects on the transformative impact of Readwise, a product he became a super user of after being introduced to it by co-founder Tristan. Over the years, he's used Readwise to store and revisit highlights and notes from over 300 books, particularly biographies of historical entrepreneurs, which he dubs "the world's most valuable notebook for founders." Recognizing the unique value of his meticulously curated collection, the host collaborated with Readwise's Tristan and Daniel to launch FoundersNotes.com, a platform allowing subscribers to access his extensive repository of insights. Emphasizing the site's utility for committed founders seeking to reference and apply the wisdom of history's greatest business minds, the host invites listeners to subscribe and benefit from his knowledge compilation, which he personally uses and endorses as a daily reference tool.

• Tristan, a cofounder of Readwise, reached out to express his appreciation for the podcast and introduced the Readwise product.
• The host responded positively and became a super user of Readwise, integrating it into his daily routine for reading and researching.
• The host's extensive use of Readwise for note-taking and highlighting across numerous books has made it a crucial tool for him.

"All the way back in 2019, I received a message that changed the direction of this podcast forever. It was from Tristan, who is one of the cofounders of Readwise."

The quote indicates the significant impact Tristan's message had on the host's podcast and the introduction of Readwise as a pivotal tool for the host's work.

• The host has meticulously taken notes on a vast number of biographies about great entrepreneurs.
• Recognizing the value of his notes, he approached Tristan and Daniel to create a product allowing subscribers to access his curated content.
• Foundersnotes.com was developed for founders to reference thoughts and ideas of history's greatest founders.
• The service is subscription-based, with an annual commitment, aimed at already successful and committed company founders.

"So a few months ago, I went to the founders of Readwise, Tristan and Daniel, and I asked, hey, is there a way we can build a product together that actually mirrors what I see?"

This quote explains the host's initiative to create a product that shares his valuable notes and highlights with others who can benefit from his research.

• Mr. Benson, a respected rival of Rockefeller, passed away, leaving a significant impression on Rockefeller for his talent and will.
• Rockefeller reminisces about their alliance and the respectful competition between them.
• The host is 27 pages into a book about Rockefeller and draws parallels between historical conquerors and business magnates.

"Dear John, I have bad news to tell you. Mr. Benson passed away last night."

This quote introduces the topic of Mr. Benson's death and the impact it had on Rockefeller, setting the stage for the host to delve into Rockefeller's history and strategies.

• Rockefeller describes his multifaceted approach to defeating Mr. Benson, who challenged his dominance in the oil industry.
• The host admires Rockefeller's relentless and strategic approach to competition, likening it to military conquest.
• Rockefeller's tactics included land acquisition, leveraging railroad alliances, and manipulating market forces to outmaneuver Benson.

"And when Rockefeller attacks you, it is always, always a multi-pronged attack."

This quote underscores Rockefeller's strategic and comprehensive approach to competition, which the host finds noteworthy and analogous to historical military campaigns.

• The host discusses a book containing 38 letters from John D. Rockefeller to his son, which provides unfiltered insights into Rockefeller's beliefs and strategies.
• The letters cover various topics, including the importance of self-belief, the influence of one's origins, and the value of hard work and perseverance.
• Rockefeller emphasizes the importance of creating one's own success rather than relying on family wealth.

"This is the first book ever where I read it... and then decided to take another week rereading it."

The quote reflects the host's profound interest in the book's content, suggesting its value and depth in understanding Rockefeller's mindset.

• Rockefeller's letters to his son reveal a deep concern for ensuring his son's independent success, despite the family's wealth.
• He stresses the importance of personal struggle and effort in achieving success and warns against complacency.
• Rockefeller's advice to his son is to build something to be proud of, not just to consume what the family has already achieved.

"The glory and success of the family cannot guarantee the future of its children and grandchildren."

This quote encapsulates Rockefeller's belief that each generation must earn its own success, and family wealth does not ensure future prosperity. The relevance lies in the context of parenting and the transmission of values from one generation to the next.

• Cyrus McCormick invented the reaping machine, transforming agriculture and becoming wealthy.
• McCormick's success is admired for improving lives and becoming one of the richest in the U.S.
• McCormick's quote "Luck is the remnant of design" implies that luck is created through deliberate actions.
• Rockefeller interprets McCormick's quote as meaning that we create our own luck and it cannot be eliminated by any action.
• This philosophy is significant to Rockefeller's explanation of his own success to his son.

"Luck is the remnant of design. That is Cyrus McCormick on Luck is going to sound a lot like Napoleon if you have listened to episode 302, the mind of Napoleon."

This quote reflects McCormick's belief that luck results from careful planning and design, not chance. It aligns with Rockefeller's own views on success.

• Rockefeller emphasizes the importance of planning and creating one's own luck.
• He contrasts his belief with the common perception that luck is innate and a matter of chance.
• Rockefeller asserts that success is not a product of luck but of being the architect of one's own destiny.
• He shares his interpretation of luck with his son in the context of explaining his rise in the oil industry at a young age.

"Everyone is a designer and architect of his own destiny."

Rockefeller stresses the role of individual agency in shaping one's future, challenging the notion that luck is purely a matter of chance.

• Rockefeller describes his strategic approach to dominating the oil industry, known as the Cleveland Massacre.
• He explains the importance of planning and controlling the industry to ensure profitability and rational behavior.
• Rockefeller's strategy involved buying out competitors, especially during times of falling oil prices and bankruptcy.
• He emphasizes the need for a thorough plan, significant capital, and seizing opportunities in times of disaster.

"Before my plan began, the oil refiners fought for their own interests, which led to devastating competition between them."

This quote illustrates the chaotic state of the oil industry before Rockefeller implemented his plan to consolidate and control it.

• Rockefeller advises his son on the necessity of taking action and not waiting for perfect conditions.
• He stresses that action is critical to success and that planning alone cannot predict outcomes.
• Rockefeller acknowledges the fear of failure but insists on the importance of perseverance and learning from mistakes.
• He promotes the idea that habits of action are essential and should be cultivated.

"Action solves everything."

Rockefeller encapsulates his belief in the power of taking decisive steps towards one's goals, rather than being paralyzed by over-planning or fear.

• Rockefeller expresses his philosophy that work should be a source of happiness, not just a duty.
• He reflects on his own career, emphasizing the joy and satisfaction he derived from his work.
• Rockefeller encourages his son to find meaning and pleasure in his work, which will lead to success and fulfillment.

"Work is the foundation of all businesses, the source of prosperity and the shaper of genius."

Rockefeller conveys the significance of work in achieving prosperity and developing one's talents.

• Rockefeller discusses the use of debt as a strategic tool for business expansion.
• He shares his personal experience with borrowing money for business opportunities, despite the associated fears.
• Rockefeller advises his son to view borrowing as a means to seize opportunities rather than a last resort in a crisis.

"Ingeniously, borrowing money is not a bad thing. As long as you don't treat it as a life buoy, only be used in time of crisis, but instead treat it as a powerful tool that you can use to create opportunities."

Rockefeller highlights the strategic use of debt as a proactive measure to create business opportunities and achieve success.

• Debt is viewed by Rockefeller as a means to seize opportunities.
• Honesty is considered both a tool and a strategic advantage.
• Rockefeller's transparency with bankers and stakeholders built trust and aligned interests.
• His honesty helped him secure support from financial backers during crises.

"I always insist on telling the truth. The rewards of being honest are enormous."

This quote emphasizes Rockefeller's belief in the power of honesty to build trust and ensure support from others, which was crucial in his success.

• Rockefeller treats failures as opportunities to gain vitality and innovate.
• He encourages his son to learn from failures and not be deterred by them.
• Problems are seen as hidden opportunities that can be transformed into success.
• Maintaining strength and persistence is key to overcoming setbacks.

"Unlike some people, I take failure as a glass of spirits. It is bitter when you drink it, yet it gives you plenty of vitality."

Rockefeller compares failure to a bitter drink that, despite its taste, invigorates and strengthens one's resolve, highlighting his positive outlook on setbacks.

• Lincoln's perseverance is admired and used as an example for overcoming adversity.
• Rockefeller emphasizes the importance of not giving up and learning from each failure.
• He believes that most people underestimate their capabilities and overestimate their deficiencies.

"Unless you give up, you will not be defeated."

This quote from Rockefeller, inspired by Lincoln's life, conveys the message that persistence is the key to success, and giving up is the only true failure.

• Strong self-confidence is crucial for success.
• Rockefeller attributes his achievements to his unwavering belief in his eventual success.
• He advises his son to replace thoughts of failure with beliefs of success.
• Self-perception influences how others perceive and treat you.

"The level of confidence determines the level of achievement."

Rockefeller stresses that confidence is a determining factor in what one can achieve, reinforcing the importance of self-belief in the pursuit of success.

• Rockefeller views personal interest as a driving force in human nature.
• He advises caution and self-protection in business dealings due to the prevalence of deceit.
• Past experiences of betrayal have taught him the importance of being self-reliant.

"We are slaves of interest rather than masters of our own souls."

This quote reflects Rockefeller's somewhat cynical view of human nature, suggesting that personal gain often dictates actions more than moral or spiritual considerations.

• Rockefeller's competitive nature is likened to that of a sportsman.
• He recounts the strategic defeat of Mr. Potts, a business adversary.
• His approach to competition is ruthless and calculated, aimed at ensuring victory.

"Whenever I encounter a strong opponent, the competitiveness in my heart will burn. And when it is extinguished, what I gain is victory and happiness."

Rockefeller's quote reveals his intense competitive spirit and the satisfaction he derives from overcoming formidable opponents in business.

• Excuses are seen as a characteristic of losers.
• Winners are described as those who take responsibility and do not rationalize their failures.
• Rockefeller detests the mentality of making excuses and views it as a barrier to success.

"Only a loser finds a good excuse."

This quote highlights Rockefeller's disdain for excuses and his belief that successful individuals own their failures and learn from them without rationalizing.

• Rockefeller advises a young man seeking wealth to believe in himself as his greatest capital.
• He emphasizes the importance of faith in oneself and the pursuit of one's goals.
• Doubt must be replaced with faith to achieve success.

"From poverty, the road to prosperity is always unobstructed."

Rockefeller encourages the young man by asserting that starting with nothing does not impede the path to wealth, as long as one has self-belief and determination.

• Rockefeller emphasizes the importance of self-belief and ambition in achieving success.
• He equates a lack of self-belief to self-theft, as it prevents full exertion of one's abilities.
• He admires Henry Ford's ambition, which transformed cars from a luxury to a necessity.
• Rockefeller believes wealth is directly proportional to one's goals.
• He motivated himself with the idea that anything less than first place is equivalent to last place.

"A person without ambition will not accomplish great things. This is what my friend, the automobile king, Mr. Henry Ford, confided in me when he came to see me yesterday."

This quote highlights the importance of ambition in achieving significant accomplishments, as shared by Henry Ford during his visit to Rockefeller.

"Wealth is proportional to the goal. Being the richest person in the world was the basis for my efforts and the strength to spur myself."

Rockefeller explains his philosophy that the magnitude of one's wealth is aligned with the scale of their goals, which drove his own efforts to become the richest person.

• Early life events can have a lasting impact, as demonstrated by James Dyson's lasting sadness over his father's death.
• Rockefeller, even at 96, reflects on the pivotal moments of his youth that shaped his life.
• He stresses that business ventures are life's greatest adventures, with his entry into the oil industry being the most decisive.

"A great life is the process of conquering excellence."

Rockefeller views life as a continuous journey of striving for and achieving excellence.

• Rockefeller entered the oil refining business, which quickly surpassed his agricultural business in profits.
• He recognized the potential of the oil industry and committed to it, leading to a falling out with his partner, Mr. Clark.
• He orchestrated the buyout of his partners' shares, a move that was risky but ultimately led to his freedom and a successful future.

"You must hold on to this tightly. It can bring you to the realm of your dreams."

Rockefeller reminds himself of the importance of grasping opportunities that align with one's dreams, which for him was the oil industry.

"Plan boldly and implement carefully."

He advises his son that careful execution of bold plans is key to success.

• Rockefeller places immense value on the relationship one has with themselves.
• He believes that self-esteem is the core of one's personality and determines the kind of person one becomes.
• Internal company cooperation was a gospel at Standard Oil, leading to its powerful position.

"A person's self esteem is the core of his personality. What kind of person you think you are will make you become that person?"

This quote underscores the belief that one's self-perception is a determining factor in their development and success.

• Rockefeller highlights the importance of patience and the ability to endure challenges.
• He practiced self-control and discipline, especially in dealing with his partner Mr. Clark, whom he found pretentious.
• He believes that enduring hardships allows one to accomplish what others cannot.

"Only by being able to endure what people cannot bear can you do what people cannot do."

Rockefeller emphasizes that the ability to withstand difficulties is essential to achieving extraordinary feats.

• Rockefeller appreciates Andrew Carnegie's tireless ambition and the idea that the end of one goal is the beginning of another.
• He believes success is a continuous process and that one should not rest on their laurels.

"The end is just the beginning. Success is a process of continuous reproduction."

Carnegie's philosophy resonates with Rockefeller, suggesting that each achievement is a stepping stone to further success.

• Rockefeller values friends who are persistent and avoid pessimism.
• He warns against negative people who attempt to hinder others' success out of jealousy or ridicule.
• He stresses the importance of not allowing others to diminish one's level of thinking.

"The biggest challenge for leaders is how to create an environment in which people feel that being open is more comfortable than hiding the truth."

Rockefeller advises on creating a workplace culture where transparency and openness are encouraged.

• Rockefeller believes the most value is created by those who are fully devoted to their passions.
• He applied this philosophy to his leadership style, matching employees with work they are enthusiastic about.
• He views self-satisfaction and passion for life as crucial for motivation and productivity.

"The most perfect person is the one who thoroughly devotes himself to the activity that he is best at."

Rockefeller advocates for focusing on one's strengths and passions as a route to personal and professional fulfillment.

• Respect is seen as an effective motivator for employees.
• Rockefeller practiced respect by providing warmth, equality, and tolerance in the workplace.
• He believed that employees value respect and recognition more than material rewards.

"Everyone aspires to be considered valuable, valued, and respected by others."

Rockefeller recognizes the universal desire for respect and its power to motivate and inspire hard work.

• Rockefeller learned from Carl Jung the value of maintaining a positive attitude, even in adverse situations.
• He advocates for a mindset that automatically responds positively to challenges.
• He concludes that a positive mental attitude is crucial for navigating life's complexities.

"Decide to adopt a positive attitude to deal with the complex ups and downs of this world."

Rockefeller endorses the idea of choosing optimism as a strategy for facing life's difficulties and turning them into opportunities.