My First Million 3 Wild Stories to Get You Hyped This Week
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Aug 18, 2025 Explore the inspiring journey of Amadeo Giannini, whose dedication to the underserved revolutionized banking after the San Francisco earthquake. Discover the tale of a banking pioneer who valued service over wealth, merging his bank into Bank of America without personal gain. Dive into the resilience of a self-taught software engineer who turned his life around after incarceration and learn about the comical plight of a man unable to access $400 million in Bitcoin due to a forgotten password. It's a wild ride through finance, redemption, and the unpredictable world of cryptocurrency!
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Bank Built For The Little Guy
- Amadeo Giannini founded the Bank of Italy to serve everyday people shut out by traditional banks.
- After the 1906 quake he rescued cash, reopened immediately, pioneered branches, and never owned stock in Bank of America.
Branch Model As A Growth Engine
- Giannini realized banking could scale with branches and a central ledger, not remain strictly local.
- That branch model let him fund agriculture, infrastructure, and Disney when others refused.
Use Crisis To Be Contrarian
- When crisis hits, look for contrarian moves that build trust and differentiation.
- Doing the opposite of competitors can create reputation and durable advantage.
