Delivering Happiness

Learning to Walk

Tony Hsieh grew up in Marin County, which lies across the Golden Gate Bridge to the north of San Francisco. His Taiwanese parents had high expectations that their three sons would excel at academics and music. To them, the ultimate prize was an Ivy League education and a Ph.D. Tony, the eldest son, was a high achiever in school, but he dreamed of get-rich schemes as well. He launched his first business venture, an earthworm farm, at the ripe age of nine. Backed by his parents, he purchased some 100 worms for $33.45. He envisioned a multiplying inventory, but, alas, the mud-filled worm box he built in his backyard allowed his entire stock to wiggle away. A few years later, Tony saw an ad in Boys’ Life magazine for a button-making machine. He wrote to the publishers of the book Free Stuff for Kids, asking to be included in their next edition. The editors posted his notice and his parents bought him the $50 machine. Kids who sent a photo, a stamped return envelope and $1 received a picture button. Parts cost 25 cents, so Tony made 75 cents each. He made $200 the first month, great money for a kid. When he burned out on buttons, he gave the...