The Path To Greatness
The date is July 8th. The year is 1839. On a farm in Richmond Virginia, a baby boy is born. He has no idea what he's got in store for him.
Young Rockefeller was born under interesting conditions. His father, William Avery Rockefeller, was somewhat of a "scoundrel." A conman, his father, known as "Devil Bill," was hardly around. When he did come home, he brought lots of money with him. He taught his sons to be careful with money.
His mother was a strict Christian woman. She taught her children to work hard, save money, and give to charities. Although young John grew up in well, but modest conditions. Every Sunday at church, John put the little money he had in the collection plate. He would give away his money from then on.
Let's fast forward a few years. Rockefeller is dropping out of high school, in search of a job. But he's staying away from small things. He's after something big. He ends up finding a job as an assistant bookkeeper, and devotes himself entirely to it.
Rockefeller was no fool with money. He kept a ledger, in which he recorded every penny made, spent, given, or borrowed. At 18, he borrows a thousand dollars from his father, with interest. He enters the risky business of buying and selling meat and grain.
"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."
Time goes by, and Rockefeller sees a real opportunity in the oil business. He builds a refinery right next to a rail line. His factory produces kerosene, which was in very high demand. As time goes by, Rockefeller becomes a pro in the oil business, and by the time he's 25, his refinery was one of the largest in the world. 6 years later, he forms the Standard Oil Company of Ohio
Rockefeller never forgot about charity, though. He continued giving, his donations growing at the same rate as his riches. He spends more and more time in his church, volunteering his time and his money.
Rockefeller decides that the economy would do better with one company to rule them all. So, he takes out some bank loans, makes some secret alliances, and plots to bring other companies into his own. He was ending the age of individualism.
By the time he's 40, Rockefeller is in control of 90 percent of oil refining in the world. In the next couple years, he gains control 90 percent of oil marketing and a third of the oil wells. He's formed a monopoly.
Rockefeller gets married, buys a modest house, and has 3 kids. However, he's afraid of his wealth corrupting his children. So, they live like a middle class family. John spends time with his 3 kids, always having fun with them.
In 1883, the Rockefeller family moves to New York. Standard Oil's headquarters is on 26 Broadway. John D. Rockefeller forms the Standard Oil trust, transforming his monopoly, and making him millions.
With money comes fame. Or in Rockefeller's case, infamy. People always have hatred towards the rich man. However, he was very good at interrogations, cleverly twisting his words so he told the truth every time he was accused of something, even if the prosecutor didn't realize what Rockefeller really meant.
Rockefeller had a different view of charity. Rather than building things to help those in need, he would try to solve the problem at it's source. For instance, instead of building a hospital, he would fund a program to help find a cure for diseases.
As Rockefeller earned more and more money, he was advised to use it before it crushed him. He founds the University Of Chicago, and funds the education of African American women at Spelman College in Atlanta.
In his mid-50s, Rockefeller retires from Standard Oil. In 1910, his son retires. Together, they spend 100 million dollars and launch the Rockefeller Foundation, to promote the well-being of mankind around the world.
In his old age, Rockefeller didn't do much except have fun. He became famous for giving out dimes to people wherever he went. He dies in 1937, believing he was at peace with God, having gave much charity. The Rockefeller Foundation would go on to do great things in the future, from building skyscrapers to simply funding charities.
And that's how Rockefeller Plaza came to be. And every holiday season, when the giant tree is lit up, it stands as a reminder of the great things accomplished by John D. Rockefeller.