#66 Henry Kaiser: Builder in the Modern American West

What I learned from reading Henry J. Kaiser: Builder in the Modern American West by Mark Foster. 

He built giant businesses in roads, bridges, dams, housing, cement, aluminum, chemicals, steel, health care, and tourism. (0:01) 

starting a joint venture with Howard Hughes (6:40)

learning how not to run a business (12:00)

how Kaiser was able to start his own business with no money (18:00)

I decided to pick one fellow I wanted most to work for and concentrate on him. (23:15)

how Henry Kaiser used passion and enthusiasm to start a construction company in Vancouver (30:00)

using the leverage that technology provides or how to make big jobs small (44:00)

very difficult work + fewer people willing to do it = opportunity (50:40) 

how Kaiser goes from never building ships to having 200,000 employees building ships (1:00:00), Kaiser promoted himself as an industrialist populist (1:13:00)

Kaiser's managerial style (1:15:00)

----

Founders Notes gives you the ability to tap into the collective knowledge of history's greatest entrepreneurs on demand. Use it to supplement the decisions you make in your work.  Get access to Founders Notes here. 

----

“I have listened to every episode released and look forward to every episode that comes out. The only criticism I would have is that after each podcast I usually want to buy the book because I am interested so my poor wallet suffers. ” — Gareth

Be like Gareth. Buy a book: All the books featured on Founders Podcast