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Succeeding Against the Odds
Succeeding Against the Odds: The Autobiography of a Great American Businessman

1992

Autobiography

by

John H. Johnson

How John H. Johnson bootstrapped Ebony and Jet magazines to over $200 million in annual revenue in the 1980's and became the publisher of choice for Black Americans. He shares his journey from Arkansas poverty to Chicago titan. He shares his strategies and lessons learned along the way, along with his personal tragedies.

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Jermaine's Notes
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July 2024

Full of wisdom and lessons. Ingenious distribution strategy. Quantifies power of media in niches. Read 1992 paperback.

Connected Posts
John H. Johnson Part 1: An Arkansas Boy with Something to Prove
How John H. Johnson, creator of JET and Ebony magazines, overcame poverty and adversity in his early life to pursue education and success in Chicago.
John H. Johnson Part 2: From College Dropout to Publishing Solopreneur
How John H. Johnson, creator of JET and Ebony magazines, got the idea for his first magazine and started it with only $500.
John H. Johnson Part 3: The Brink of Financial Ruin
How John H. Johnson battled financial crises and skepticism to turn Ebony magazine into a success, becoming a millionaire by age 31.
John H. Johnson Part 4: Professional Success and Personal Tragedy
How John H. Johnson, creator of Ebony and JET magazines, overcame financial challenges, recessions, and personal tragedy to highlight the Black consumer market and grow Johnson Publishing to nearly $200 million in annual sales.
John H. Johnson Part 5: My Takeaways from a Stellar Journey
Key takeaways from John H. Johnson's autobiography, showcasing what led to his successes with Ebony and JET magazines and the growth of Johnson Publishing Company to almost $200 million in annual revenue.
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The Billion Dollar BET
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May 2024

The story of how Black Entertainment Television (BET) went from an idea to being sold for $2.3 billion. This book describes how Robert "Bob" Johnson founded, built, and sold the company. The book describes internal struggles and Johnson’s personal missteps, while detailing the impact of the channel on the Black community.
BET mentioned in Cable Cowboy(John Malone). Leveraged cable/satellites to serve black niche. Read 2004 hardcover.
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