Have you ever noticed that society sees millionaires as being important? Not just because they have money and have been successful in their life, but because they seem unstoppable in some way. Think of how iconic Steve Jobs was before he passed. Think of how popular and influential Oprah Winfrey became in such a short time. Think of Donald Trump and how enigmatic he seems (well…let’s just forget about The Apprentice for now).
Like them or not, millionaires have somehow become icons to us. In some cases, they have become the face of our country—the face of success and industry.
But some millionaires fly under the radar. They don’t do TV appearances and they stay out of the tabloids. These are the quiet millionaires…the ones that don’t need the glamor and the headlines.
These are millionaires like Edward Slinin. And really, it’s a shame you haven’t heard about him because he has quite a story. After a string of jobs eventually landed him behind the wheel of a limo, Eddie knew that he wanted to one day own a transportation company. Not only did his dream eventually become true, but it became true in a big way. Is company, Corporate Transportation Group, is currently one of the most successful in New York City and surrounding areas….and 450 other countries as well.
If you take a look at some of the accomplishments he has garnered for his company, it becomes even harder to believe that he’s not taking up room in the spotlight. For instance, in 1997, Corporate Transportation Group was recognized as one of the top 10 job creators in New York City, receiving the coveted “Bridge of Success Award,” awarded by JP Morgan Chase.
He has also managed to receive a nod as “Best of the Best” by NY Magazine for the world class customer service his company offers. Additionally, Slinin was awarded the “American Business Millennium Addition Award” by Whos Who in 2006; he received this award for his innovations and contribution to the transportation industry of NYC.
As if all of this wasn’t enough, Slinin was also very prominent in rescue efforts following 9/11. Following the attacks on the World Trade Center, Corporate Transportation Group used its own cars to transport victims and their loves ones to and from the hospitals and other emergency centers. They were the only transportation company in New York to provide such a service free of charge.
Slinin has taken his company and very humbly built a successful business. There was no glitz and glamour…no overnight success story. From one car to a fleet of more than 1300, Slinin built his company from the ground up, starting with nothing more than a dream.
Maybe it’s millionaires like Edward Slinin that we should be aspiring to mimic. Think about that the next time you see an interview with a famous millionaire—that as they are speaking, there are many more just like them behind the scenes, working hard to achieve their goals without all of the fame.