Five Business Lessons From The Banana Man

And as a follow up to Friday's entry I offer wisdom from the Banana Man, Samuel Zemurray. He made his fortune in "ripes," bananas deemed too mature to be sell-able by the time they reach the market. Starting in 1895, by 1903 he had $100,000 in the bank and by the time he died in 1961, he had been a hauler and a cowboy, a farmer, a trader, a political battler, a revolutionary, a philanthropist,a CEO and he lived in the grandest house in New Orleans.

Here are his rules for success.......

1. Go see for yourself.
2. Don't try to be smarter than the problem.
3. Don't trust the experts.
4. Money can be made again, but a lost reputation is gone forever.
5. When in doubt, do something!

If you have any doubts or need these simple rules explained, read the entire WSJ article on Mr. Zemurry. You just might learn something.