Sagas of Five Who Made It

A delivery man, a running man, a calculating man—and more

Not all of the successful new risk takers made their fortunes in electronic esoterica. Others have earned megabucks by putting an alluring gloss-on mundane products or performing commonplace services in newer, more efficient ways. In many of the cases, they nursed their creative ideas for years before venturing into the chancy world of profit-and-loss statements. Profiles of five who made it:

Overnight Wonder

Like the iodine content of kelp, air freight is something most Americans have never pondered. But Frederick W. Smith, 37,...

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