DON'T GIVE UP!

 Andrew Carnegie’s story is arguably the greatest “rags to riches” tale of all time, the story of 18th century American steel magnate Andrew Carnegie’s ascendancy begins on November 25, 1835, in a small one roomed home in Dunfermline, Scotland. Born into a family of destitute laborers, Carnegie received little schooling before his family emigrated to America in 1848. Arriving in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the 13-year-old soon got a job as a bobbin boy in a cotton factory, earning a mere $1.20 (less than 5,000 Uganda shillings) per week.

Carnegie went on to labor as a messenger boy and then a factory worker before eventually getting a job as a secretary and telegraph operator at the Pennsylvania Railroad. By 1859, the enterprising young worker had become superintendent of the railroad’s western division. Carnegie invested his newfound wealth in a variety of businesses including a bridgework company, a telegraph operation and most famously, a steel mill.

By the turn of the century, his Carnegie Steel Company had blossomed into an industrial empire, he later sold the steel company to financier J.P. Morgan for $480 million in 1901, making him one of the richest individuals of his time. The deal was instrumental in the creation of U.S. Steel, which became the first billion-dollar corporation.

After his retirement from the steel industry, Carnegie dedicated himself to philanthropy. He funded the establishment of numerous public libraries, educational institutions, and charitable organizations, leaving a lasting impact on society even after his death on August 11, 1919. Carnegie spent his later years donating his fortune to charitable causes, eventually giving away some $350 million.

I first heard about Andrew Carnegie and his revolutionary leadership credentials in Dale Carnegie's “How to win friends & influence people”.

How did Carnegie progress from working 12 hours a day, six days a week, for $4.80 a month to reigning as the preeminent figure in American industry?

At the turn of the 18th century, in the United States, poverty was a significant issue affecting a substantial portion of the population. During this time, the country was undergoing industrialization and rapid urbanization, which brought about both economic growth and social challenges. Poverty rates were as high as 25%, particularly in urban areas, where most of the population was concentrated. Many individuals and families struggled to meet their basic needs and faced harsh living conditions. Industrialization led to the growth of factories and the rise of the working class. However, wages were often low, and working conditions were often harsh and unsafe. Many workers faced long hours, limited job security, and inadequate compensation. This resulted in a significant portion of the population living in poverty or near the poverty line.

Andrew Carnegie's journey from poverty to immense wealth is an inspiration to generations. Poverty can sometimes be an incentive for hard work and pursuit for success.

But how would a poor emigrant boy become the world’s richest man? What kind of breakthrough is this? 

One thing he had in his mind, was not to give up, it doesn't matter what you are going through, the bottom line is that giving up should not be an option.