Reflections on Rockefeller's story

John D Rockefeller changed from a poor boy with nothing to an American oil giant. His legendary life is beyond the reach of many people. There are countless studies on him and the standard oil kingdom he founded. With the deepening of his research, people are more and more confused. What kind of man is Rockefeller, an angel or a devil? No one can give a definite answer. To get this answer, we can only pursue his life track, pull out the weeds and look for the rut of history.

1723, the Rockefeller family immigrated from Sagandoff to Philadelphia, USA. John D Rockefeller was born in Richford, new york on 1839. Thanks to his father William, he likes to wander around? Avery. Thanks to Rockefeller, john D Rockefeller spent his childhood in constant migration. 1855, two months before graduating from high school, john D Rockefeller left school and studied in folsom Business School in Cleveland for three months. In August of the same year, he found a job as a bookkeeper with a daily salary of 50 cents. At this point, john D Rockefeller has become a wage earner who can support himself. Even in this position, he has done a brilliant job, and his salary has begun to be calculated by annual salary, even though he is still a young man under the age of 18. 1858, john D Rockefeller, who just came of age, wanted to own his own company instead of working for others. So, john D Rockefeller and his partner Clark established Clark Rockefeller Company, mainly engaged in agricultural products trade, with all their savings and a loan of $65,438+0,000 borrowed from his father. Later, the outbreak of civil war (186 1- 1865) made the agricultural trade profitable. 1862, the company's annual profit reached 17000 dollars, which was not a small sum at that time. 1863, at the beginning of the oil industry, two young partners, persuaded by Samuel Andrews, an oil refining expert, began to invest in an oil refinery and named it Druce-Clark Company. But soon, john D Rockefeller began to get tired of arguing with his partner Clark. Clark's luxurious lifestyle is the main target of john rockefeller's attack, because his mother Eliza? Under the guidance of the devout Baptist Davidson, john D Rockefeller also became a devout Baptist. Their earnest, simple and simple attitude towards life is what they should have. Finally, in 1865, due to disagreement among partners, the company dissolved the auction, and Rockefeller won the company for $72,500 and changed its name to Rockefeller-Andrews Company. In the same year, Rockefeller also opened a second refinery, becoming the largest refinery in Cleveland. At this point, the growth path of a giant company opened, under the leadership of Rockefeller.

Everyone is familiar with the story behind, and even deduced many versions. It is neither necessary nor possible to explain the growth history of the turbulent oil kingdom in a few words. However, in order to fully show the life of Rockefeller, the protagonist of this article, it is necessary to list several important things. From 65438 to 0867, Henry Morrison flagler joined the company and became one of the important founders of the company. 1868, the company forced the railway company along the lake to reach a secret freight discount transaction, which caused an uproar in the oil industry. 1870, Standard Oil Company was formally established, with Rockefeller as the president and assets of 1 10,000 USD. 1872, the battle of Cleveland started. In less than two months, Standard Oil Company quickly annexed 22 of Cleveland's 26 competitors through threats and temptations, which is known as the "Cleveland Massacre". At the same time, the plan of Southern Transformation Company is also quietly going on, but this plan has also brought indelible stains to Standard Oil Company, which has become a battleground for various lawsuits against Standard Oil in the future. 1874, the battles of Standard Oil in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh started. Two years later, Pittsburgh, which once owned 22 refineries, had only one independent operation, and Standard Oil once again won a total victory. At the same time, the laying of standard oil pipelines is also proceeding in an orderly way, which has become another trump card for railway companies. 1875 the Baltimore acquisition war was completed, and the last few competitors fell. Standard oil has become the dominant oil refining industry in the United States and monopolized the global kerosene market. But staying at the top of the mountain means being enemies with everyone, especially those who have been kicked off by themselves. Since 1879, Rockefeller has been harassed by a long lawsuit. Nevertheless, Standard Oil still occupies a monopoly position in the oil industry like an octagonal fish. 1885, the headquarters of new york Standard Oil Company at No.26 Broadway was completed, and the company committee system was established. Thus, Rockefeller changed from an entrepreneur to a manager. Subsequently, a new oil field was developed in Ma Le, northwest Ohio, where the crude oil contained too much sulfur. However, Fracci, the chemist of Standard Oil, solved this problem in 1887, so Standard Oil accelerated its pace and took control of most oil fields in Ma Le in 189 1. However, the powerful Standard Oil is facing more and more challenges, not only the domestic anti-monopoly lawsuits against it, but also the pure oil company formed by the merger of 30 refiners during the poor health of Rockefeller 1895, as well as the cheap Russian kerosene and Royal Dutch Oil Company appearing in overseas markets. Finally, on May 19 1 1, the Supreme People's Court announced the decision to dissolve Standard Oil Company. This is a day worthy of celebration. They just defeated a terrible octagonal fish, but for Standard Oil, they just hid their tentacles to make themselves look less aggressive. Of course, this ruling still played a role, but it was decades later. 1937, Rockefeller, who had already retired from the mountains, died at the age of 98, two years less than his expected 100.

Now, I just want to talk about Rockefeller personally. Where did his success come from?

One: ambition. Rockefeller has long seen the future of the oil industry. As early as 1870, when Standard Oil Company was founded, Rockefeller declared that "one day, all oil refining and barrel making businesses will be owned by Standard Oil Company". The Cleveland Massacre and the battles in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh proved this point. In fact, Cleveland is only the starting point of life for Rockefeller, and his eyes are on the oil industry in the United States and even the world.

Second: low-key and calm. Anyone familiar with Rockefeller knows that he is a low-key and even shy person. He comes to his office quietly every day, and even passes by the company lobby without anyone noticing. No matter how difficult the problem is, Rockefeller always looks calm and even comforts the executives who come to communicate. This character allowed Rockefeller to solve the company's problems in an orderly way.

Third: be cautious and suspicious. Rockefeller is really a suspicious man. In order not to leave clues about railway kickbacks and bribery of government officials, he frequently uses argot, vagueness or vagueness in his letters with the company and the outside world. But paranoia is also synonymous with caution, which made Rockefeller confidently stand in the dock in the long lawsuit and laid the foundation for his "innocent" reputation.

Fourth: kindness. Aside from the cruelty of business, Rockefeller was a devout Baptist all his life, with a compassionate heart, and thought that God made some selected people (including Rockefeller, of course) have wealth just to help others. Rockefeller got into the habit of donating money to the church when he was very young, although it was only a few tens of cents. Later, the University of Chicago, Rockefeller Medical Research Institute (now Rockefeller University) and even Peking Union Medical College were all established with donations from Rockefeller. Of course, other charitable activities are even more difficult to count, and Rockefeller himself may not remember the specific number of donations. At the same time, charity built a high wall for Rockefeller, where he could temporarily shelter from the wind and rain in the face of all kinds of unbearable attacks of standard oil.

Fifth: conservative. Rockefeller is an extremely conservative person in company management and family education. Standard oil company always has a lot of cash in its account for a rainy day. When the company was questioned or even vilified by the outside world because of its continuous growth, Rockefeller insisted on silence because he believed that God would judge everything fairly. In family relations, Rockefeller is a obedient son, a decent husband and a dignified father. Especially in family education, Rockefeller insisted that his children receive the most traditional baptist education, no dancing, absolute prohibition of smoking and alcohol, modesty and low-key, frugality and simplicity. Even the child's mate selection criteria should be based on this. Although the conservative style makes Rockefeller look like an antique, it is this style that makes Standard Oil escape the crisis several times, and move forward slowly step by step like a slow giant.

Rockefeller is a legendary figure. The description of his deeds and the analysis of his personality can only outline him. The truer Rockefeller is only hidden under his humble smile. People all over the world have praised and criticized him, but people forget that many contradictory words of praise and criticism are completely compatible with Rockefeller. In my understanding, it may be because Rockefeller has been living in two worlds and moving forward in parallel. In business, Rockefeller is a vicious, suspicious and resourceful careerist, carefully leading the giant Standard Oil step by step. In life, Rockefeller is a devout Baptist, kind to people, frugal and simple, and never quarrels with others. He is a decent husband and dignified father at home, and a humble and friendly friend in the mouth of his neighbors. Finally, Rockefeller found a balance between the two, that is charity. Rockefeller, who has great wealth, also has great controversy. After retirement, Rockefeller felt inspired by God's instructions and determined to attribute his wealth to human charity. Later, the University of Chicago, Rockefeller Institute of Medicine and even Peking Union Medical College were established with the donation of Rockefeller. Rockefeller's soul was redeemed. He thought he might live 100 years, but in 1937, Rockefeller died at the age of 98. Maybe God thinks Rockefeller did something less, who knows? ?

Fly by the sea

August 27, 1965 438+07