Bill Marriott built the world's largest hotel company. But he didn’t open his first hotel until he was 55. In fact, the man who would go on to build the world’s largest hotel chain started with a nine-seat root beer stand in Washington, DC, and a simple goal: serve people well and build something that lasts. This short episode explores how Marriott turned that single stand into the airline catering industry and then a huge hotel empire. I explore the timeless principles that guided his success, including his obsession with downside risk, his practice of isolating variables, and his expansion during the Great Depression while his competitors folded. Learn more about his story: