Rockefeller attributed failure to a lack of concentration. He relentlessly focused on his business to the exclusion of all else, believing that mastering the art of concentrating on a single objective at the proper time is the key to monumental achievements.
Rockefeller cultivated an unaggressive, patient exterior as a strategic mask. This incredible self-control concealed a massive ego and lethal business judgments, allowing him to disarm competitors and partners while planning his next move without revealing his true intentions or emotions.
Rockefeller created a refiners' association, predicting its failure due to the members' lack of discipline. As its president, he gained full access to his competitors' financials and operations. This allowed him to identify competent operators to acquire as partners and weaker ones to eliminate, all under the guise of cooperation.
Rockefeller didn't see himself as a ruthless monopolist but as a righteous 'up-builder' bringing order to a chaotic industry. He believed competition was destructive and that his consolidation was a force for progress and service. This moral conviction allowed him to pursue his audacious goals with unwavering and unapologetic resolve.
Instead of crushing competent rivals, Rockefeller transformed them into collaborators. He offered them willing partnerships, significant autonomy to run their divisions, and a voice in overall company policy. This created a "company of founders," aligning interests and ensuring that top talent would join him rather than fight him.
Rockefeller identified transportation as his largest expense and made it his obsession. Instead of just minimizing this cost, he transformed it into a strategic weapon, negotiating secret rebates that not only lowered his costs but also generated profit from competitors' shipments, effectively funding his monopolistic expansion.
Rockefeller used his company's stock as a strategic weapon beyond just fundraising. He granted cheap shares to influential bankers to secure favorable loan terms for himself while simultaneously blocking competitors' access to capital, transforming his cap table into a tool for building a network of secret, financially-aligned allies.