The 10 Greatest Entrepreneurs

There is a tough truth that any small business owner has to face. Even in the best of times, the vast majority of small businesses fail. In this article, we'll look at ten entrepreneurs who not only succeeded, but built vast business empires.

John D. Rockefeller
John D. Rockefeller was the richest man in history by most measures. He made his fortune by squeezing out efficiencies through horizontal and vertical integrations that made Standard Oil synonymous with monopoly - but also dropped the price of fuel drastically for the everyday consumer. The government broke up Standard Oil for good in 1911. Rockefeller's hand can still be seen in the companies like Exxon (NYSE:XOM) and Conoco that profited from the R&D and infrastructure they received as their piece of the breakup. Rockefeller retired at the turn of the century and devoted the rest of his life to philanthropy.

Andrew Carnegie
Andrew Carnegie loved efficiency. From his start in Steel, Carnegie's mills were always on the leading edge of technology. Carnegie combined his superior processes with an excellent sense of timing, snapping up steel assets in every market downturn. Like Rockefeller, Carnegie spent his golden years giving away the fortune he spent most of his life building.

Thomas Edison
There is no doubt that Edison was brilliant, but it's his business sense, not his talent as an inventor, that clearly shows his intelligence. Edison took innovation and made it the process now known as research and development. He sold his services to many other companies before striking out on his own to create most of the electrical power infrastructure of the United States. While Edison is a founder of General Electric (NYSE:GE), many companies today owe their existence to him – Edison Electric, Con Edison and so on. Although Edison had far more patents than he did corporate ties, it is the companies that will carry his legacy into the future.

Henry Ford
Henry Ford did not invent the automobile. He was one of a group working on motorcars and, arguably, not even the best of them. However, these competitors were selling their cars for a price that made the car a luxury of the rich. Ford put America - not just the rich - on wheels, and unleashed the power of mass production in the bargain. His Ford Model T was the first car to cater to most Americans - as long as they liked black. Ford's progressive labor policies and his constant drive to make each car better, faster and cheaper made certain that his workers and everyday Americans would think Ford (NYSE:F) when they shopped for a car.

Charles Merrill
Charles E. Merrill brought high finance to the middle class. After the 1929 crash, the general public had sworn off stocks and anything more financial than a savings account. Merrill changed that by using a supermarket approach - he sacrificed the high commissions to serve more people, making up his money on the larger volume. Merrill worked hard to "bring Wall Street to Main Street," educating his clients through free classes, publishing rules of conduct for his firm and always looking out for the interests of his customers first.

Sam Walton
Sam Walton picked a market no one wanted and then instituted a distribution system no one had tried in retail. By building warehouses between several of his Wal-Mart (NYSE:WMT) stores, Walton was able to save on shipping and deliver goods to busy stores much faster. Add a state-of-the-art inventory control system, and Walton was lowering his cost margins well below his direct competitors. Rather than booking all of the savings as profits, Walton passed them on to the consumer. By offering consistently low prices, Walton attracted more and more business to where he chose to set up shop. Eventually, Walton took Wal-Mart to the big city to match margins with the big boys - and the beast of Bentonville has never looked back.

Charles Schwab
Charles Schwab, usually known as "Chuck," took Merrill's love of the little guy and belief in volume over price into the internet age. When May Day opened the doors for negotiated fees, Schwab was among the first to offer a discount brokerage for the individual investor. To do this, he trimmed the research staff, analysts and advisors, and excepted investors to empower themselves when making an order. From a bare-bones base, Schwab then added services that mattered to his customers, like 24-hour service and more branch locations. Merrill brought the individual investor back to the market, but Chuck Schwab made it cheap enough for him to stay.

Walt Disney
The 1920s found Walt Disney on the verge of creating a cultural juggernaut. A gifted animator for an advertising company, Disney began creating his own animated shorts in a studio garage. Disney created a character inspired by the mice that roamed his office, Mickey Mouse, and made him the hero of "Steamboat Willie" in 1928. The commercial success of Mickey Mouse allowed Disney to create a cartoon factory with teams of animators, musicians and artists. Disney turned that mouse into several amusement parks, feature-length animations and a merchandising bonanza. After his death, the growth has continued making Disney (NYSE:DIS), and his mouse, the founders of the largest media company on earth.

Bill Gates
When people describe Bill Gates, the usually come up with "rich", "competitive" and "smart." Of the three traits, it's Gates' competitive nature that has carved out his fortune. Not only did he fight and win the OS and browser wars, but Gates stored up the profits that came with the victories – and Microsoft's dominance – to fund future fights and ventures. The Xbox is just one of the many sideline businesses that the massive war chest has funded. The fact is that Microsoft's cash and Gates' reluctance to pay it out is a big part of what saw the company through hard times and funded expansion in good times.

Steve Jobs
Unlike most of the others on this list, it's possible that Steve Jobs' greatest achievements are yet unwritten. Jobs co-founded Apple (NYSE:AAPL), one of the only tech companies to offer a significant challenge to Microsoft's dominance. In contrast to Gates' methodical expansion, Jobs' influence on Apple has been one of creative bursts. Apple was a computer company when Jobs returned to it. Now, the iPod, the iPhone and the iPad are the engines of growth that have pushed Apple past the once unassailable Microsoft. When Apple surpassed Microsoft's market cap in 2010, it became clear that investors that, with Jobs, the best is yet to come.

Conclusion
These 10 succeeded by giving the customer something better, faster and cheaper than their nearest competitors. No doubt, some like Rockefeller will always be on these lists, but there is plenty of room for the right person to find their place among the entrepreneur's pantheon.

All related to faith living

By definition, faith in God means to believe in God and His power. Doubting that God can do the impossible is contrary to true faith. When you pray, pray with complete confidence in God, and He will do incredible things in your life. - Even if certain promises are not fulfilled during our earthly life, God will fulfill every promise in the afterlife, so we have no reason to give up hope while we are living on earth.

Father in heaven, my hope is in You. Open my eyes to Your wonderful promises, and help me to see how sure and certain they are. I confess that I struggle with doubt at times, so I ask for more faith to overcome my doubts. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

Job 33:19 (New Living Translation)
19 “Or God disciplines people with pain on their sickbeds,
with ceaseless aching in their bones.

Job 33:19 (New King James Version)
19 “Man is also chastened with pain on his bed,
And with strong pain in many of his bones,

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The Sovereign LORD will wipe away the tears from all faces; he will remove the disgrace of his people from all the earth. The LORD has spoken. [Isaiah 25:8 ]
Those who sow in tears will reap with songs of joy. [Psalms 126:5]

走一步，看一步。恩典就是靠着主引导的方向走。

You understand, O LORD; remember me and care for me. Avenge me on my persecutors. You are long-suffering—do not take me away; think of how I suffer reproach for your sake. [Jeremiah 15:15]
The end of a matter is better than its beginning, and patience is better than pride.
[Ecclesiastes 7:8]

This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. [Psalm 118:24]
- Let me touch by your holy presence during Praise & Worship and feed my spirit man by your Word, Oh Lord!
Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere...[Psalm 84:10]

看破红尘，生死离别。身不带来，死不带去。荣耀我主，万王之王，万主之主。

"My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me.
[2 Corinthians 12:9]

Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it. [Hebrews 11:10-11]

[Psalm 37:9]
For evil men will be cut off, but those who hope in the LORD will inherit the land.
[Psalm 62:5]
Find rest, O my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from him.
[Jeremiah 29:11]
For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

"Do not grieve, for the joy of the LORD is your strength."[Nehemiah 8:10]

Belief in the fourth dimension

"Then God spoke to my heart, "Son, as the second dimension includes and controls the first dimension, and the third dimension includes and controls the second dimension, so the fourth dimension includes and controls the third dimension, producing a creation of order and beauty. The spirit is the fourth dimension. Every human being is a spiritual being as well as a physical being. They have the fourth dimension as well as the third dimension in their hearts." So men, by exploring their spiritual sphere of the fourth dimension through the development of concentrated visions and dreams in their imaginations, can brood over and incubate the third dimension, influencing and changing it. This is what the Holy Spirit taught me" (Cho, The Fourth Dimension 1979:p40).

痛了.. 就会放手了..

有个苦者找到一个和尚倾诉他的心事。 他说：“我放不下一些事，放不下一些人。” 和尚说：“没有什么东西是放不下的。” 他说：“这些事和人我就偏偏放不下。” 和尚让他拿着一个茶杯，然后就往里面倒热水，一直倒到水溢出来。 苦者被烫到马上松开了手。 和尚说：“这个世界上没有什么事是放不下的，痛了，你自然就会放下。”

你可能觉得难过 因为无论你对他怎么好他都不领情 他不是看不到 他只是装作看不到 或者他根本不想看到 你觉得自己很喜欢他 甚至觉得再没有一个人可以像你那么喜欢他 你用尽全力对他好 把他看的比自己还重要 有什么事情第一个就想到他

联系不到他的时候你担心他担心的快疯了 然而你有没有想过 这并不在你的责任范围 而且很有可能他是在躲着你 他受不了你对他那么好 不要一直发短信给他 不要一直找他 你也许只是想找他说说话 你觉得那很正常不算苛求 但是也许他并不这么想

记住你的想法不代表他的想法 你是真的不求回报的在喜欢他吗 你扪心自问一下 你确定不用他回报什么吗 那为什么你会难过 若是真的一无所求 你又怎么会觉得难过呢 所以别觉得你那么爱他是伟大的 也许她根本不在乎你怎么为他付出 有时候你给他的爱或许是种负担

这种负担只会让他更加想远离你 因为他不想亏欠你 别事事为他担心为他张罗 你觉得他没有你不行 你觉得别人做不到你那么完善 但是你要清楚 你不是他要的那个人 你做的再完善也敌不过人家不做 自然会有人为他担心为他着急 不用你来费心

那个位置本来就不是你的 你何必硬要挤上去呢 也许曾经你们是相爱过的 但是请记住那是曾经 过去的就是过去了 如果大家真的适合在一起 那么当初就不会分开 无论是谁提的分手都一样
这段感情曾经就是存在破裂点的 不管是谁错结果都是一个你们分开了

分开以后 如果一方试图想挽回而另一方没有同意的话 那么这段感情就是过去了 他是理智的因为他已经明白了两个人不适合 而你还一遍一遍的告诉自己 你们当初如何如何相爱 不可能那么容易就分手的 这样只会让你更加难以放弃 却不会让对方再次回头选择你 除非大家都有意要和好

否则你一个巴掌是不可能拍响的 所以尽早打消这个念头吧 至于他是不是有意我想你自己心里比谁都明白 不要觉得自己有多可怜或者把自己弄的很可怜 这样做一点意思也没有 他不会因为你可怜而喜欢你 你说道理你都懂只是你做不好 不是你做不好是你不想做 你不是怕忘记他你是怕他忘了你吧 别说什么他离不开你的

其实分明就是你离不开他 他若是离不开你 他就不会不要你 整天死死巴着人家不放的人是你 不懂事的人是你 难道你没看出来吗 喜欢他不是你的错 想关心他不是你的错 控制不住自己不是你的错 但是那是你的方式 傻孩子． 忘了吧．所有你留恋的．你回忆的．你拥有过的． 那些．都已是记忆． 缺失并不可怕． 可怕的．是无法面对．

傻孩子． 勇敢看着镜子中的自己吧． 这个悲伤软弱满面憔悴的自己． 这也是你．成长中的你． 这个你．正在逐渐死去． 新的你．即将重生． 找寻你的路．你的未来． 你知道的．所有的浩劫．都是成长的祭奠． 做最好的自己．即使．一个人．

傻孩子． 你无法轻易忘记放弃．是因为你付出过． 付出了．她就会像柱子一样扎根在心． 不要刻意去逃避．刻意忘记．那只会让你更痛苦． 绕开这个柱子．寻找未来的幸福生活吧． 那里．有你的理想． 傻孩子． 开始新的习惯吧． 习惯．早上不再有人工闹铃． 习惯．每天一个人生活． 习惯．一个人过生日．一个人行走． 你逃不掉．逃不掉的． 那么．就勇敢面对．现实． 现实是．她已离开．一切．画上了句点．

傻孩子． 好．好．尽情发泄吧． 剥开自己的心．用文字．用声音．用所有能发泄的方式． 泄完了．就要振作． 看吧．你失去的．其实微不足道． 还有那么多人关心着你．以不同的方式． 所以．你并不孤独． 正是这样的失去．让你看清现在所拥有的幸福．

傻孩子． 别哭．别再哭． 不值得．真的．不值得了． 把过去尘封吧．别委屈．别不甘心．别不接受． 开始新的旅程吧．去遇见新的风景．新的际遇． 做你该做的事吧．有很多事．等待着你完成呢．

傻孩子． 所有的人都对你有信心． 所以．你也要充满信心． 你是坚强的．积极的．乐观的．洒脱的． 以前是．以后也会是． 总有一天．那个活力无穷傻气无尽的女金刚会复活． 傻孩子． 生活褪去了曾有的颜色．暂时宁静． 别沉沦在这片宁静里．那会毁掉你． 你要明白．虽然残忍．但这个决定．足够正确．

现在的生活．不是你想要的． 为了你的理想．你必须学会适时放弃． 给对方最好的关怀．就是．变的更好．更强大．更幸福． 现在我对你很好、很好、很好, 你不需要、你无所谓、你不在乎，你不珍惜。。。。 当某天，你被伤害，想起我。 那时的我再也做不到像现在这样一如既往、不顾一切的

对你好了。。。 因为那时的我，已经将你放低。。。。 原来，放低一个人，最后是被对方逼出来的。。。。 其实这个世界，真的没有非要谁不可， 走自己的路，别回头

George Orwell Quotes

Here is a list of George Orwell Quotes that have been compiled by me. Some of these quotes have been submitted by other visitors, so if you see any mis-quotes, please let me know. Also, if you can think of any of Orwell's quotes that are not listed here, please submit them!

" Men can only be happy when they do not assume that the object of life is happiness. "

" If liberty means anything at all, it means the right to tell people what they do not want to hear."

" To see what is in front of one's nose needs a constant struggle. "

" Many people genuinely do not wish to be saints, and it is possible that some who achieve or aspire to sainthood have never had much temptation to be human beings. "

" Pacifism is objectively pro-fascist. This is elementary common sense. If you hamper the war effort of one side, you automatically help out that of the other. Nor is there any real way of remaining outside such a war as the present one. In practice, 'he that is not with me is against me. "

" Serious sport has nothing to do with fair play. It is bound up with hatred, jealousy, boastfulness, disregard of all rules and sadistic pleasure in witnessing violence. In other words: it is war minus the shooting. "

" Speaking the Truth in times of universal deceit is a revolutionary act. "
" The great enemy of clear language is insincerity "

" To see what is in front of one's nose requires a constant struggle. "

" For a creative writer possession of the truth is less important than emotional sincerity. "

" Every generation imagines itself to be more intelligent than the one that went before it, and wiser than the one that comes after it. "

" All animals are equal but some animals are more equal than others. "

" The quickest way of ending a war is to lose it. "

" An autobiography is only to be trusted when it reveals something disgraceful. A man who gives a good account of himself is probably lying, since any life when viewed from the inside is simply a series of defeats. "

" Political language. . . is designed to make lies sound truthful and murder respectable, and to give an appearance of solidity to pure wind. "

" Saints should always be judged guilty until they are proved innocent. "

" At age 50, every man has the face he deserves. "

" On the whole human beings want to be good, but not too good and not quite all the time. "

" Advertising is the rattling of a stick inside a swill bucket. "

" Liberal: a power worshipper without power. "

" Political language - and with variations this is true of all political parties, from Conservatives to Anarchists - is designed to make lies sound truthful and murder respectable, and to give an appearance of solidity to pure wind. "

" Who controls the past controls the future. Who controls the present controls the past. "

" If liberty means anything at all, it means the right to tell people what they do not want to hear."

" We sleep safe in our beds because rough men stand ready in the night to visit violence on those who would do us harm. "

" Power is not a means, it is an end. One does not establish a dictatorship in order to safeguard a revolution; one makes the revolution in order to establish the dictatorship. The object of persecution is persecution. The object of torture is torture. The object of power is power. "

" War is a way of shattering to pieces, or pouring into the stratosphere, or sinking in the depths of the sea, materials which might otherwise be used to make the masses too comfortable, and hence, in the long run, too intelligent. "