Sir Samuel Cunard: From Steamships to Ocean Liners

Sir Samuel Cunard was a British businessman who became known throughout UK as a shipping magnate. He was born on November 21, 1787 in Halifax, Nova Scotia. He founded the Cunard Line.

Cunard started to show his business skills as a boy. When he was 17, he owned a general store. He joined his father’s timber business which later diversified into iron, cola, whaling and shipping.

With his many business ventures, Cunard was especially successful in shipping. In fact, he was one of the twelve people who dominated the businesses in Nova Scotia. Cunard was one of the earliest investors in the steam ferry business in Halifax. He was also a pioneer investor in the steamship Royal William.

Cunard moved to UK and collaborated with other businessmen to bud for the transatlantic mail service between US and the UK. The bid was successful and the company was later known as Cunard Steamships Limited.

The Cunard steamships were successful with their trips and earned the reputation for speed and safety. Later, Cunard also embarked on cruise with the opening of its ocean lines.

Nike Executive Davide Grasso: Connecting With the Savvy Consumer Through Creative Marketing

As a lead advertising executive at Nike, Inc. for the past 20 years, Davide Grasso has helped the multinational corporation develop and implement some of its most effective and provocative campaigns including the 2008 Beijing Olympics “Just Do It” tribute, the more recent action sports effort “The Chosen,” and Nike’s 2012 sponsorship of the Chinese Olympic Team featuring star hurdler Liu Xiang. After joining the company in the early 1990s as a Europe-based Product Line Manager, Grasso moved on to gain comprehensive experience at the helm of every major global division and brand category, a feat he accomplished in part due to his extensive understanding of business management and fashion merchandising. Having set the stage for his career as an M.B.A student at SDA Bocconi University Graduate School of Management in Milan, Grasso subsequently leveraged his academic background to promote Nike’s diverse product line with a clear eye for aesthetics, but also with the knowledge that consumers ultimately respond when they feel engaged, valued, and proactively challenged.

Headquartered in Beaverton, Oregon, Nike consistently sets the standard for brand promotion in an industry where competition is fierce and mediocrity is not an option. Far more than an athletic gear manufacturer at its current pinnacle, the distributing outfit that Founder Phil Knight launched in his garage has grown to become a global lifestyle enterprise unmatched in power and distinction. Thanks to the vision of individuals like Davide Grasso, Nike is able to continually innovate a simple foundational mindset - the idea that an athlete’s performance, drive, and focus matter more than anything else.

Davide Grasso maintains responsibility for the complete breadth of Nike’s international advertising endeavors in his present role as Vice President of Global Brand Marketing. Targeting a vast demographic swath, Grasso mines the tried and true “Just Do It” motto that built an empire while concurrently positioning Nike as a forward thinking fitness culture leader, a proven formula that can also be re-imagined to achieve even greater creative heights.

Thomas Cook’s Campaign for Temperance Made Him a Great Travel Businessman

Thomas Cook was born on November 22, 1808 in Melbourne, South Derbyshire. His father, John, a laborer, died when Thomas was just four. His mother remarried. The family had a difficult financial circumstance so Thomas was forced to work as a boy.

When he was 13, his mother introduced him to the Baptist faith. At that time, Thomas also started an apprenticeship as cabinet maker and wood turner with his strong Baptist uncle John Pegg. Thomas became a Sunday School superintendent and an active member of the local Temperance Society. He strongly campaigned against alcoholism.

Thomas ended his apprenticeship in 1827 to become an itinerant missionary, he went from one village to another throughout the counties of south midland, preaching God’s Word, planting Sunday schools, and distributing Gospel tracts. His work as a missionary was the beginning of his career in travel.

When his salary as missionary became insufficient to support his family, Thomas started a wood turning business. At the same time, as a member of the Temperance Society, he published pamphlets containing his speeches against alcoholism. Later, his temperance beliefs led him to a new business: the Children’s Temperance Magazine.

Using the Midland Railway, Thomas started a rail excursion from Leicester leading to Loughborough where the Temperance Society meets. Each passenger pays one shilling, which includes the fare and food while on the journey. When the venture looked successful, Thomas made the rail excursion as his new business. He had a large scale mission of benevolence and goodwill while earning income.

Soon, Thomas was able to set up a printer and bookseller that focus on temperance literature. He also established a few temperance hotels located in Leicester and Derby. His rail excursion business continued and earned the reputation as the businessman who can provide the cheapest railway rates. He was described as the “Napoleon of Excursions” for taking the tours up to Europe.

Thomas moved to London with his businesses and incorporated his company under the name Thomas Cook & Son. Thomas Cook & Son offered world tours later.

Thomas retired and his son John took over the business. He died on July 18, 1892 at Knighton, Leicester.

The Story of the City of Cudahy in California

Michael Cudahy was the American industrialist who founded the Cudahy Packing Company together with his two siblings. Born in Ireland on December 7, 1841, Cudahy moved with his family to Milwaukee, Wisconsin in 1849.

Cudahy was forced to work early. At 14, he worked in a meat packing plant. He performed well in his job and rose to the ranks and became the meat inspector. In 1869, Cudahy was manager-in-charge of the packing plant in Plankinton Armour. In 1873, he became a partner in Armour & Company.

In 1890, Cudahy and his brothers Edward and Patrick, established the Cudahy Packing Company in South Omaha, Nebraska. By the end of the 9th century, he lived a very comfortable life and became a very wealthy man.

Cudahy ventured into real estate. He bought 150 acres of land in Mackinac Island in 1904 making him one of the largest real estate owners in Mackinac. Cudahy later sold his stakes in Cudahy packing Company and purchased the 2,800-acre Rancho San Antonio in LA. He subdivided the land into 1-acre lots. This area was later incorporated and known today as the City of Cudahy in California.

Stephen Chow: Good Blend of Action and Comedy

Stephen Chow is a Chinese actor who became popular for his comedic role in the movie “All for the Winner”, a 1990 spoof of Chow Yun-Fat. Chow is the only Hong Kong-based artist that did not join Hollywood in spite of several offers from movie producers.

Chow was born as Chow Sing-Chi on June 22, 1962. He was the only boy in a family of four children. He grew up in Shanghai, China with his three sisters. He was an avid fan of Bruce Lee and his interest in Bruce Lee’s specialty Wing Chun became an integral part of his movies later on.

Chow’s first exposure to acting happened in 1982 when he auditioned for the acting school of the Hong Kong TV station TVB. The school rejected him but his friend Lee Chi-Hung helped him. He attended the evening classes. He graduated in 1983.

After graduation, Chow’s first assignment was to host “Space Shuttle 430”, a children’s TV show. The show lasted for five years. Towards the show’s final run, Chow starred in several drama shows and was featured in the film “Final Justice”. He won the Best Supporting Actor award in the 25^th Annual Taiwanese Film Awards for that movie.

In 1990, Chow got the breakthrough in his acting career when he co-starred in the Chow Yun-Fat movie “All for the Winner” and its sequel “God of Gamblers 2”. He combined his martial arts skills with comedy to create the acting style known as “Mo Lei Tau”.

In 2002, Chow added a new flavor to his style by adding sports in the movie “Shaolin Soccer”. This movie contained action sequences that were enhanced by digital effects taken under the tutelage of legendary fight choreographer Ching Siu-Tung. “Shaolin Soccer” hit gold and ranked as one of the highest grossing films of all time in Hong Kong.

Hollywood finally noticed Chow’s acting skills. The movie outfit Miramax purchased the rights to distribute “Shaolin Soccer” for its international release in 2003. Movie producer Columbia Tristar also released its own action-comedy movie “Kung Fu Hustle” following the success of “Shaolin Soccer”.

Chow’s creativity in combining action and comedy still finds a good share of audience and will continue to provide valuable entertainment options for generations to come.

Peter Cooper: His Faith Carried Him to Success

Peter Cooper is an American industrialist, inventor and philanthropist. Along with two friends, Cooper founded the Canton Iron Works in 1829. Canton assembled the Tom Thumb, one of the earliest versions of locomotives in the US. Canton almost went bankrupt at one point but Cooper’s experience working with Baltimore and Ohio RR helped him save Canton from collapse.

In the next two decades, Cooper’s holdings began to expand. He became one of the leading entrepreneurs in the iron industry. He received the Bessemer gold medal in 1870 for being the first to use iron to erect a fire proof building. Several patents for processes and devices can be credited to Cooper.

But Cooper’s greatest contribution was his unwavering faith in Atlantic cable industry. When local banks refused to fund the New York, Newfoundland, and London Telegraph Company, Cooper was forced to place heavy investments. Cooper made an excellent decision and became the company’s president for two decades. He also led the North American Telegraph Company which controlled half of the telegraph lines in the US.

As a philanthropist, Cooper was active in civic affairs in New York City. He helped sustain the public schools and contributed much to improve a few municipal departments. He established the Cooper Union which provided education to local residents of New York.

The Story of a Great Business Partnership Between William Colgate and God

William Colgate is an English businessman who founded the manufacturing company that would produce the Colgate toothpaste in 1806.

William was born on January 25, 1783 in Kent, England. His father, Robert, had republican inclinations which compelled him to move his family in Baltimore, Maryland in March 1798. Robert and his friend Ralph Maher formed a partnership that produces soap and candles. William helped the business until it was dissolved two years after its founding.

William first arrived in New York City in 1804 as an apprentice to a soap manufacturer. He learned the business very quick. He noted some mismanagement practices done by his employer. When his apprenticeship was over, he has already developed a correspondence network with local dealers that would assure his success in business.

Soon, William established the William Colgate and Company. Within the company’s first six years of operations, it has diversified into a multi-faceted manufacturing company that produces hand soap, shaving soap, toilet products and starch.

William was a devout Christian. He was committed to make God as a partner in his business. He was faithful in giving back ten percent of his profits as his tithe, on top of offerings and first fruits. In just a few years, William became one of the most successful entrepreneurs in New York City.

William was actively involved in civic affairs. He gave large contributions of money to educational institutions including what was known then as Madison College. Today, this school is known as Colgate University.

Because of his passion to share God’s Word, William helped to organize the American Bible Society and the American and Foreign Bible Society. He was also a member of the board of the American Tract Society aside from his active support to the work of missions. His colleagues in the ministry called him “Deacon Colgate”.

As his business kept growing, his giving to the work of God continued to enlarge as well. From giving back the tithe, his giving later increased to 20%, then 30%.

Today, Colgate-Palmolive is listed in the Fortune 500 and remains as one of the largest companies in the world. Its annual worldwide sales are reported at $9 billion. Its operations are spread to 221 countries around the world.