One of the books that I’ve recently read is The First Tycoon by T.J. Stiles.
In this book, Cornelius Vanderbilt’s life is told. Let me share with you a little bit about the courage that it takes to change for the better.
In 1794, Vanderbilt was born. Back then, transportation was a huge issue. Steamboats were the main solution in the early 19th century. A steamboat was much more efficient than a schooner of the same time period because of its steam engine.
New Opportunities....
Upon becoming aware of the new technology, Vanderbilt switched from schooners to steamboats.
With his steamboat business, Vanderbilt built his fortune over the following few decades.
Eventually, he dominated both the California and Atlantic lines: the one connecting the East Coast to California, the other connecting the East Coast to Europe.
However, railroads emerged later in the 19th century as a new trend.
Railroads became the main means of transportation because of their speed and efficiency. Due to the ease of transporting goods and people from distant places, it boosted the economy like never before.
It was 1863 when railroads started booming, and Vanderbilt was sixty-nine years old. Steamboats were already a successful business for him. A wealthy man, he was. It soon became apparent to him that railroads were the next big thing.
How did he react? Did he just keep doing what he had always done?
There was a good reason for him to do so. He was already 69 years old. It is not uncommon for people to retire at that age. Life expectancy at the time was only 40 years, which makes his case even more compelling.
The opposite happened; he jumped into the railroad business head first! In order to devote his resources to railroads, he sold his steamboats rather than being complacent with his existing business. Despite his reputation as ‘Commodore,’ he was willing to leave the steamboat business behind. It was not his intention to attach his identity to the title ‘Commodore’.
It is not easy to leave your comfort zone after achieving success. You can’t easily change who you are. In spite of that, Vanderbilt managed to do it. Although he was 69 years old, he had the courage to change himself.
He Taught us...
A valuable lesson through his actions.
Keep your eyes open for opportunities. Embrace change without fear. You shouldn’t assume that what you currently have is already good enough. Always keep an open mind.
Whenever the opportunity arises, be willing to step outside your comfort zone.
You should be willing to change your identity if you need to.
Despite the difficulty of applying these lessons, we should keep them in mind. Courage and determination are required to make a positive change. It is never too late to make a change. Make sure you have an accurate eye for opportunities. Change is something you should embrace if you are passionate enough about it. My friend, the sky is the limit.