The Ledger
Every statement that passed quotation and attribution checks. Mix any filter with any other: certainty 1/5, debate potential 5/5, or both at once.
why aren't all 6 resolved? a statement only gets an assessment when the public record can support or contradict it. opinions and what-ifs never can, and 0 checkable ones are still open, waiting for their date. predictions held up or didn't; assertions are supported or contradicted. on every card: ▮▮▮▮▮ certainty · ▮▮▮▮▮ debate potential. speakers are clickable
Firestone realized his entire sales force was unnecessary during 1919's boom
“Harvey later realized they would have shown as startling an increase had we abolished our whole sales force, closed all our branches and dealers, and just sent out our tires and freight cars to be thrown off on sidings and taken away by clamoring buyers.”
Sustainable price cuts require manufacturing process improvements, not margin sacrifice
“There is no real profit in high prices because high prices automatically cut down volume. But the only possible way to lower prices and still keep business is to save in the cost of manufacturing by improved processes.”
Parrish: Solving customer issues at the source creates irreplaceable trust
“Solving problems at their source builds trust that advertising dollars can't buy. While the customer was wrong, Firestone sent solutions instead of arguments.”
Firestone Faced $43M in Debt and Collapsing Demand in 1920
“Forty-three million dollars in debt, no willing banks, factories producing tires nobody wanted, and contracted materials arriving they couldn't pay for.”
Firestone secured $10,000 initial investment from Will Christie over breakfast
“By the meal's end, Harvey had secured 10,000 dollars in investment, which eventually grew to 50,000 dollars with Christie becoming company president.”
By 1938, Firestone controlled 25% of US tire market with $156M+ sales
“Harvey stepped down as president in 1932, turning over operations to his son while remaining chairman until his death in 1938. By then, the company he'd started with 12 employees commanded 25% of the entire U.S. Tire market, with sales exceeding a hundred and …”