The Key To Rockefeller’s Greatness Is Not What You’d Expect
I don’t usually read biographies, but, after binge listening to Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard, I couldn’t resist picking up a copy of Titan: The Life of John D. Rockefeller, Sr. by Ron Chernow, Dax’s all-time favorite book.
When I received the paperback in the mail, I was surprised by the weight of the box it came in. I was expecting multiple books at the time, so I assumed there were at least 3 other books in it. To my surprise, the box only contained Titan! The book is nearly 800 pages (400 pages short of the King James Bible) and weighs 2.5 pounds.
I have only read through a fourth of Rockefeller’s life so far, but one paragraph from the biography struck such a chord in me that I couldn’t help but share it. It is from page 122 and rebuts a common misconception about Rockefeller’s relationship with work.
“Rockefeller bridled at the notion that he was a business-obsessed drudge, a slave to the office. ‘I know of nothing more despicable and pathetic than a man who devotes all the waking hours of the day to making money for money’s sake,’ he recorded in his memoirs. He worked at a more leisurely pace than many other executives, napping daily after lunch and often dozing in a lounge chair after dinner. To explain his extraordinary longevity, he later said, doubtless overstating the matter, ‘I’m here because I shirked: did less work, lived more in the open air, enjoyed the open air, sunshine and exercise.’ By his mid thirties, he had installed a telegraph wire between home and office so that he could spend three or four afternoons each week at home, planting trees, gardening, and enjoying the sunshine. Rockefeller didn’t do this in a purely recreational spirit but mingled work and rest to pace himself and improve his productivity. In time, he became something of an evangelist on health-related issues. ‘It is remarkable how much we all could do if we avoid hustling, and go along at an even pace and keep from attempting too much.’”
Wow. To think, Rockefeller — arguably the richest man in world history — not only avoided workaholism but actually indulged in leisure to improve his work ethic. I think that’s what makes Rockefeller’s life so interesting. He didn’t go balls-to-the-wall like many of today’s business “gurus” suggest. Instead, he appreciated rest as being integral to progress.
Upon reflection, I’ve even seen Rockefeller’s wisdom in my own life before.
My first semester at university, I found myself with crippling anxiety over which clubs to join. At Georgetown, there is unique pressure to join clubs as a proxy for your social life because there is no official Greek life, and I felt overwhelmed by all the choices. I was determined to join at least one selective organization and spent hours just drafting the “perfect” application. Unfortunately, this didn’t help me one bit, and my anxiety finally boiled over into a full blown panic attack after I attended the semesterly club fair. In a fit of retaliation, I decided I would not apply to anything — which I later reneged on by applying to three clubs.
Nevertheless, with a semester of experience under my belt, my freshman spring semester looked quite different. I lowered the mental stakes of applying to the organizations I was interested in — took the “fuck it all pill” if you will — and was offered acceptance into three highly selective clubs.
It’s crazy to think that the harder I worked, the less I seem to achieved, and (most importantly) the worse I felt. However, when I let go of my self imposed pressure, opportunities opened up. But I guess that’s just life; it isn’t a sprint, so I’ve kept chipping away at my own workaholic obsessions.
I now know that fulfillment is mostly a game of self-perception and that when I lower my expectations and give myself space from my work that I can tackle it with newfound insight and vigor. The excerpt from Rockefeller’s biography further cemented that this approach isn’t just practical; it’s also crucial to noteworthy success.
I’ve still got a ways to go in Chernow’s book, but I just couldn’t let this paragraph slip from my consciousness. Special thanks to Dax for the indirect recommendation!
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