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Article: Bring IT ON!
- Article from:
- Entrepreneur
- Article date:
- April 1, 2000
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2000 Entrepreneur Media, Inc. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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THERE'S NOTHING WRONG WITH A LITTLE HEALTHY COMPETITION. IN FACT, IT'S WHAT SOME ENTREPRENEURS LIVE FOR.
THE FRESH-FACED TEENAGER IN THE MCDONALD'S COMMERCIAL MIGHT BE SMILING AND SEEM FRIENDLY, BUT FAST-FOOD LEGEND RAY KROC ONCE SAID, "IF I EVER SAW A COMPETITOR DROWNING, I'D PUT A LIVE FIRE HOSE IN HIS MOUTH."
DON'T JUDGE THE LATE RAY KROC TOO HARSHLY. HE WAS SPEAKING OF AN AGE-OLD TRADITION. ENTREPRENEURS HAVE ALWAYS TROUNCED THE COMPETITION, AND IT HASN'T ALWAYS BEEN PRETTY. IN THE 1800S, JOHN D. ROCKEFELLER MADE STANDARD OIL COMPANY INTO A MONOPOLY, CONTROLLING 90 PERCENT OF THE OIL MARKET, BY NEGOTIATING SECRET REBATES WITH RAILROADS, BRIBING ...