Square’s Co-Founder on What Entrepreneurs Can Learn from Dr. Seuss
‘The Sneetches’ teaches you the value of not fitting in
This is the first installment of the Marker series “Read Like a Boss,” where founders, CEOs, and leaders in business reflect on books that revolutionized their thinking, framed their career, or aided them in a crucial business decision. Square co-founder Jim McKelvey inaugurates the column with this unexpected title.
The best business text, which I’ve put to great use, is a wonderful guide: The Sneetches, by Seuss.
If you are unfamiliar with the story, visit any children’s bookstore. If you are really pressed for time, treat it like any other business book and listen to the audiobook at 2x speed — it’s hilarious. The basic premise of the book is that Sneetches with stars were cooler than their unstarred brethren. The poor starless Sneetches just moped on the beaches ’til meeting McBean and his “star on” machine. I won’t ruin the rest.
Sylvester McMonkey McBean, the story’s protagonist, is quite an entrepreneur. McBean proves his business savvy by taking all the Sneetches’ money and then driving…
