tructing each of the various trains to move ahead at his signalled command. As a youth of 21, Carnegie was shrewd enough to authorize these commands not with his own signature, but that of his boss. (Wall 121) Carnegie's risk kept the trains running. His superior was almost dumb struck by Carnegie's innovative and gutsy approach, but said nothing immediately, neither punishing, nor rewarding him on the spot. However, for the next few weeks, the superior did arrive at his job at a much earlier hour. A short time later, Carnegie was given a substantive promotion. Already confident, this pivotal experience increased his inner belief that he soon would be quite successful. (Wall 123)
Similarly, one of Gates' first applications for his computer talent was an attempt to offer an accurate hourly analysis which could predict Seattle's traffic flow. (Ichbiah 11) In partnership with Paul Allen, while both Gates and Allen were still high school students at Lakeland High, one of Seattle's most prestigious private prepatory schools, Gates labored to create a sequence of computer cards which could physically document traffic patterns at Seattle's busiest intersections. (Ichbiah 12) This effort resulted in the formation of Gates' first business venture, Traf-O-Data. This company was still in existence when Gates flew to Cambridge, Massachusetts to enroll in his freshman year at Harvard University. Although not completely successful in its earliest efforts to help solve Seattle's traffic problems, the formation of this company did allow Gates to accumulate practical business experience, accompanied by a high school student's satisfaction in successfully starting and maintaining his own independent company. Gates like Carnegie began with a strong sense of self, and his early experiences in fostering the growth of Traf-O-Data helped prepare him for later business challenges which were soon to follow. (Wallace 58) From his primitive invo...