by Entrepreneurs are born, not made, but thirst for freedom is the spark that ignites.”
— Wilson Harrell
What does it take to become a successful entrepreneur in today’s business world? Well, there are many giants of business you could ask, but you would be hard pressed to find anyone better than Wilson Harrell. Read about a country boy who became a marketing guru and entrepreneur. He is quite simply a business legend.
Born in Georgia, 1919, Wilson Harrell, world renowned entrepreneur and marketing guru was a man of strong conviction. In his great business journey, he lived a glamorous life all through. Not all know that Wilson was a fighter pilot in World War II and received Purple heart, Air medal with 4 oak leaves and also the President Citation.
It all began with Wilson Harrell & Company started by Wilson himself after the war. The company distributed Kraft products to huge military PX market and in very less time the company sales reached $200 million. But Wilson had other ideas, he sold the distribution company. Then he bought Formula 409, a household cleaner product company for $30,000 and turned it around. He later sold the company for $7 million and bought 60 food brokerage companies whose total sale exceeded $500 million.
All in all, Wilson started over 100 companies and turned around a few. He was voted America’s no.1 columnist for the year 1995 and 1996 by the American society of Business for his monthly contribution to the Success Magazine. Wilson was also the past publisher of INC. magazine.
Along with being the Founder/Chairman of council of growing companies, nationwide organization, Wilson was also the leader and voice of entrepreneur’s movement in America. His book “For Entrepreneurs Only” was a bestseller and still one of the most admired in this genre.
In his book, he discussed the hunters and farmers of cave man age. He reasoned from science and a variety of studies that genes are passed down and often entrepreneurs are the children of entrepreneurs. At some point thousands of years ago, entrepreneurs were the hunters of our world while the farmers tend to be employees.
He enjoyed great success in life and died in 1997 at the age of 78 from lung cancer.
“I’ve loved, I’ve laughed and cried
I’ve had my fill, my share of losing
And now the tears subside
I find it all so amusing
To think-I did it all that
And may I say
Not in a shy way
Oh no, oh no not me, I did it my way”
– Source-“For Entrepreneurs Only” from Wilson Harrell.
