The will of Henry Ford that astonished the world
When Henry Ford passed away in 1947, America learned of a secret that he had kept hidden his entire life. It was not something that had been revealed in newspaper articles or interviews, but rather a silent truth that was locked away in the company's accounts.
When their family opened the accounts of Ford Motor Company, they did not just find a kingdom of factories and machines, but a "treasure" that astonished everyone. The company had $700 million in cash, which was money with no debt, no claims from any bank, and no investor's rights. In today's terms, this amount would be billions of dollars.
The entire business world paused for a moment. Because Henry Ford had built the greatest industrial empire in history without borrowing a penny from anyone. While other automakers were kneeling before Wall Street, Ford had kept his doors closed to them.
No debts, no stocks, no interference from banks in boardrooms.
Banks and investors made him immense offers, but Ford rejected them all. His philosophy was simple yet rebellious:
"If you have to give the bank $100, that is your problem. If you have to give the bank $100 million, that is the bank's problem."
Ford did not want to be part of either situation. He chose the path of "internal development." Raw iron entered his factory from one side, and finished cars came out from the other side. No middleman, no debtor.
When the Great Depression hit and major companies in America collapsed under the burden of loans, Ford was at peace. He had no fear of a bank call because his future was in his own hands. When the world looked at his bank balance, it was not just money, but proof of his freedom and independence.$XRP
Behind Henry Ford's success are several aspects that deepen this story:
Vertical Integration: Ford did not just make cars; he bought forests in Brazil for rubber trees, took coal mines, and built his own ships and railcars for freight. His goal was to ensure that he was not dependent on anyone in the supply chain.
Five Dollar Daily Wage: In 1914, Ford doubled his workers' wages to $5 a day. This was not merely sympathy but a strategy to make his employees so prosperous that they could buy Ford’s cars themselves (creating a market).$BNB
Hatred for Wall Street: In 1919, when he felt that other shareholders were interfering in his decisions, he bought back all the shares of the company with all his might and made Ford completely a "family business" so no outsider could give him orders.
In today's era, where we are dependent on loans and credit cards even for small things, Ford's philosophy teaches us a lesson: "Debt not only charges interest, it also takes away your freedom."$BTC
If you want to determine your own destination, first learn to break your shackled chains. Believe in yourself, for no storm can topple an empire that stands on its own.
