Hero Worship

Few will argue that the 20th century was an era of unprecedented progress, growth and accomplishment. Where would we be today without the visionaries and dreamers, innovators and inventors, mavericks and rebels, trailblazers and pioneers? The world as we know it--and that which we will live in tomorrow--has been shaped in large part by men and women who knew how to use their talent, drive, ingenuity and desire to make dreams come true . . . and influence the course of history.

The four entrepreneurs to follow represent not only archetypes of 20th-century achievement, but also very human examples who faced--and overcame--the same kinds of obstacles we all do in life and business.

Thaddeus Wawro is a Los Angeles-based direct-marketing consultant, an author and an award-winning advertising copywriter.

This article was originally published in the March 2000 print edition of Entrepreneur with the headline: Hero Worship.