Let him look out for the "dark horse" in the boy who begins by sweeping out the office.
Meaning
In his autobiography, Carnegie advises young strivers to fear not the boss's relatives but humble workers with hidden talent. Managers can use this by noticing effort in junior colleagues and giving them stretch assignments, instead of assuming talent only comes from obvious places.
Source: Autobiography of Andrew Carnegie (1920), Ch. III
About the author
(1835–1919) was a Scottish-American industrialist who led the expansion of the American steel industry in the late 19th century. One of the wealthiest individuals of his time, Carnegie later became a leading philanthropist, donating a significant portion of his fortune to education, libraries, and cultural institutions. He believed strongly in the ‘Gospel of Wealth,’ which argued that the rich have a responsibility to use their wealth for the greater good. His contributions led to the establishment of thousands of public libraries worldwide. Carnegie’s legacy reflects both industrial innovation and a lasting commitment to social progress and education.
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