A few years ago a friend of ours visited with hotel entrepreneur Conrad Hilton. As they separated an exchange of calling cards took place. Our friend shares Mr. Hilton’s quote, “Food for Thought,” which appears on the card: “In 1923, a very important meeting was held at the Edgewater Beach Hotel in Chicago. Attending this meeting were nine of the world’s most successful financiers. Those present were:

The president of the largest independent steel company; the president of the largest utility company; the president of the largest gas company; the greatest wheat speculator; the president of the New York Stock Exchange; a member of the president’s cabinet; the greatest “bear” in Wall Street; head of the world’s greatest monopoly; president of the Bank of International Settlements.

Certainly we must admit that here were gathered a group of the world’s most successful men. At least, men who had found the secret of “making money.” Twenty-five years later let’s see where these men are:

The president of the largest independent steel company – Charles Schwab – died bankrupt and lived on borrowed money for five years before his death; the president of the largest utility company – Samual Insull – died a fugitive from justice and penniless in a foreign land; the president of the largest gas company – Howard Hospson – is now insane; the greatest wheat speculator – Arthur Cutten – died abroad – insolvent; the president of the New York Stock Exchange – Richard Whitney – was recently released from Sing Sing Penitentiary; the member of the president’s cabinet – Albert Fall – suicide; the president of the Bank of International Settlements – Leon Fraser – died of suicide.”

“All of these men learned well the art of making money but not one of them learned how to live.”

-Shirl K Evans, Jr.