事业 · 创业者自述
奥里森·斯威特·马登：向前进·摘录 25
奥里森·斯威特·马登《向前进》· Pushing to the Front · 领导
Cornelius Vanderbilt saw his opportunity in the steamboat, and determined to identify himself with steam navigation. To the surprise of all his friends, he abandoned his prosperous business and took command of one of the first steamboats launched, at a salary of one thousand dollars a year. Livingston and Fulton had acquired the sole right to navigate New York waters by steam, but Vanderbilt thought the law unconstitutional, and defied it until it was repealed. He soon became a steamboat owner. When the government was paying a large subsidy for carrying the European mails, he offered to carry them free and give better service. His offer was accepted, and in this way he soon built up an enormous freight and passenger traffic.
出处：
https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/21291
定位：Excerpt 25 · 核对日期：2026-10-19 · 核验：短摘录
白话
范德比尔特在蒸汽船上看准机会，决定投身航运。他放弃赚钱的生意，去当第一艘汽船的船长，年薪才一千美元，朋友都吃惊。当时利文斯顿和富尔顿垄断纽约水域的蒸汽航行权，他认为这法律违宪，硬顶着干，直到该法被废除。他很快成了船主。政府花大钱补贴运送欧洲邮件时，他提出免费承运、服务更好，被采纳后迅速做大货运和客运。核心是：看准趋势就敢换赛道，用低价和更好服务打破垄断。
上下文
范德比尔特是美国航运和铁路大亨，19世纪人物，马登用他说明如何抓住行业变革的机会。
今日一问
你所在的领域里，有没有一个“垄断”正等着被更好的服务打破？
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