The Life and Times of “The Rock” John D. Rockefeller – Hour 1

Audio Transcription

Learn about the life of one of the most successful men of his time, John D. Rockefeller in hour 2 of this business coach radio show.

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Who was John D. Rockefeller? Clay and the team down the notable quotables from the world’s wealthiest man, John D. Rockefeller.

FUN FACT:

His father was a con artist and a bigamist.

John D. Rockefeller’s father, William Avery Rockefeller, was a terrible human who spent his life traveling around selling fake medicine to desperate people in search of a miracle cure. On occasion he was actually known for posing as a both deaf and mute seller of false miracle drugs and herbal cures. Known to most as “Devil Bill,” he actually father children with his wife, his mistress and a live-in housekeeper (he was three times busier than most people). He lived a life of duality and dishonesty. He remained married to John D. Rockefeller’s mother while also pursuing another woman who thought that he was a single and successful man named Dr. William Livingston. In fact, in 1855 he actually stooped so low that he secretly married another woman using his false name while still being married to another woman who knew nothing about his new marriage.

FUN FACT:

Each and every year on September 26th Rockefeller would celebrate the anniversary of getting his first job. Every year, Rockefeller celebrated the anniversary of landing his first job. He considered “Job Day” to much more important than his birthday.

NOTABLE QUOTABLE – “All my future seemed to hinge on that day,” he reminisced later in his life, “and I often tremble when I ask myself the question: ‘What if I had not got the job?’” John D. Rockefeller

FUN FACT: As a devout Christian Rockefeller gave (tithed) 10% of his earnings to his church from the time he received his very first paycheck. Throughout his life he donated over $500 million which would be over $12.5 billion dollars in today’s money.

10 NOTABLE QUOTABLES from “The Rock” John D. Rockefeller

1. “Good management consists in showing average people how to do the work of superior people.”
   1. AMPLE EXAMPLE:
      1. Checklists
      2. Motivation
      3. Accountability

1. “Every right implies a responsibility; Every opportunity, an obligation, Every possession, a duty.”
2. “Don’t be afraid to give up the good to go for the great.”
3. “Singleness of purpose is one of the chief essentials for success in life, no matter what may be one’s aim.”
4. “A friendship founded on business is better than a business founded on friendship.”
5. “I always tried to turn every disaster into an opportunity.”
6. “I would rather earn 1% off a 100 people’s efforts than 100% of my own efforts.”
7. “I do not think that there is any other quality so essential to success of any kind as the quality of perseverance. It overcomes almost everything, even nature.”