My First Million The man who made a billion off blueberries
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Sep 12, 2025 Discover the astonishing rise of a blueberry billionaire who transformed a childhood passion into a billion-dollar empire. Dive into the intense mental challenges of competitive running with insights on resilience in the 'pain cave.' Enjoy the surprising connections between Broadway and business, as well as unique investment strategies like strategic overpayment. Explore the evolving world of storytelling, marketing, and how the journey toward success often involves navigating emotional ups and downs. Perfect listening for aspiring entrepreneurs!
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From Teen Picker To Blueberry Billionaire
- John Bragg started picking blueberries as a teen and turned it into Oxford Frozen Foods controlling ~40–50% of global supply.
- He built freezing/packing, pivoted to make onion rings during a frost, and expanded into cable TV and telecom.
Turn Idle Capacity Into Cash Quickly
- When capacity sits empty because of market shocks, find any paying use to survive and learn the new business fast.
- Borrow, partner with peers, and pivot output to tide over until demand returns.
Grow The Pond, Not Just Your Share
- Sharing inventions that grow the whole industry can expand total market size and benefit you more than hoarding advantage.
- Bragg freely shared a blueberry picker invention to make the pond bigger, not to be the biggest fish in the smallest pond.
