Akron’s Acorn—Jim Oelschlager

Posted By Randy Jones on
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May 19, 2009

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It’s always nice to get a word of encouragement, and today I was reminded that I might not offer words of encouragement or gratitude to those I love and admire often enough. I have Jim Oelschlager, the richest man in Akron, Ohio, to thank for this reminder. In a letter thanking me for writing The Richest Man in Town, he wrote, “Wow! What a spectacular book! My prediction is that it will be on the best-seller list soon.” Every writer loves to hear those words, and as they say, from Jim’s lips to God’s ears. He went on to say the book should be a textbook for graduate schools of business. That was a big wow for me. Oelschlager, who is unquestionably one of the most inspirational men I have ever interviewed, brought so much power to my book because of his extraordinary personal story. He is the chairman and chief investment officer of Oak Associates, an investment-management and mutual fund company far from the canyons of Wall Street—perhaps that distance is one of the things that has made him one of the greatest investors of all time. Or perhaps it’s just that he truly understands people and the human condition on such a deep personal level: Oelschlager was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis early in his career. He told me, “I would like to say to those people with multiple sclerosis: Don’t let MS be an excuse.” And despite the challenges the disease presents, Oelschlager certainly hasn’t. Not surprisingly, he also said, “There is no one I would want to change places with. I want to be me.” That’s what makes his words of encouragement particularly powerful. Thanks, Jim, for that reminder.

Categories: Money and Meaning, RMIT Profiles, The Richest Man in Town book
Tags: Jim Oelschlager, Oak Associates

About The Author

Randy Jones

W. Randall Jones is the author of The Richest Man in Town. Visit the About W. Randall Jones and About The Richest Man in Town pages to learn more.

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