Response p. 115-231

Throughout this section of the autobiography, Mr. Carnegie begins to explain the inner works of manufacturing iron products. Specifcally, Carnegie explains to the reader the financial part of the business. In other words, for a good amount of this section he discusses the "housekeeping" of the industry and the amounts manufactured and processed that year and how much profit he received. A big reason why Carnegie talks about the banking and finance part of his business is because he experienced many downfalls because lack of knowledge of the financial processes. For example, Carnegie had left to go to London and had left 3 million shares from a company, Union Pacific, locked in his safe but allowed one of his collegues, Mr. Scott, access to them. When he returned, he discovered that the shares were sold and that Union Pacific had accused him and his company of speculating. In short, Carnegie expresses the importance of understanding where your company sits financially and to always watch what amount of shares you buy from a certain company. In addition, he stressess the value of watching your collegues closely if something doesn't seem right. One of his quotes, "Many men can be trusted, but few need watching."(146)

What was most interesting about this section was that the reader was able to notice how much of a student Carnegie was when it came to his profession. He was constantly trying to find new ways of manufacturing iron quickly and more efficiently. In the text he states that he needed to hire a chemist to analyze specific ores and what areas needed more mining and which needed to be disposed of. Other companies thought this foolish and expensive but Carnegie thought it was necessary because he soon learned that his company was throwing away valuable remains of iron ore that could be easily smelted again and made into more product. In all, Carnegie's versatile mind was most interesting because he specifically stated that one must master whatever profession they decide to pursue and that they must learn everything there needs to be known about it. Another of his quotes is, "How foolish we are not to recognize what we are best fitted for and can perform, not only with ease but with pleasure, as masters of the craft."(170)

In conclusion, it was a bit of a struggle to follow the financial and banking part of Carnegie's rise to wealth through his company but his statements on the importance of knowing one's profession are very clear and that it is imperative that we don't try and do things we really aren't able to do.