Last Update: Friday July 25, 2008

Take a business from $0 to a $Billion in less than a lifetime

How to become the 9th largest gas company

Fort Worth, Texas: Bob Simpson and Steve Palko founded Cross Timbers Oil & Gas in Fort Worth at the same time many others were getting out of the business. These two are visionaries with a long range plan and they teach us all what it means to take calculated risks.

Today, know as XTO Energy, this business quickly grew out of the ranks of a small business. Yet, the spirit of small business will permeate this business forever because these people dream the impossible dreams then turn them into multi-faceted realities with deep-seated values.

Learn how in the beginning, Robert Rubin (once US Secretary of Treasury) raised their seed money -- $35 million in three hours. Bob and Steve knew that by the time that seed group was ready to harvest (cash-in or get liquid), they would have taken their business into its sixth or seventh round of funding. Learn how their geologists use and develop advanced technologies to determine where to drill for oil (hitting over 95% of the time!) and how money is raised to pay for it all.

These two applied their years of experience working in big companies to grow their own business. Founded in 1986, incorporated in 1990, went public in 1993, this business is now one of the top ten gas producers in the USA. This is The All-American Dream come true. When you watch the show, you'll feel their confidence. That only comes from going through a lot of pain and learning strategic lessons. More...

Go to all the Key Ideas & Video...

* A segment called "The sliver of genius"

...was part of the earliest broadcasts back in 1994. We slowly began to realize virtually every successful business is built on that special focus. And, yes, all these people are recommended by their community for their integrity and by their industry for their creativity and courage. Our national sponsors from IBM, USPS, Verizon, Microsoft, D&B, and others have paid for everything.

Nobody can pay or has every paid to be on this television show.

So you want to become one of the billionaires? What is your new insight? Do you have deep thoughts and a special love for those ideas? With that, can you create something most everybody wants or needs? Of course, that will require a little bit of genius.* It is not impossible.

How about love? Meet Neil Clark Warren (below). A home? Meet Frank Jao and Ebby Halliday. Energy? See what Steve Palko and Bob Simpson have done (right column). No matter what what you do, be like every one of these people; they work everyday to make this world a better place.

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There are always four paths to walk and eight steps to climb:

	In the opening of every episode of the show you will hear, "Everybody has an idea for a business but how do you take that idea from mind to market. This is the place to learn." Key Question: How do I start a business?
	Meet Frank Jao. He came to the USA with $0. Within a day he was selling vacuum cleaners. Within a year he was selling houses. Within four years he was developing commercial property. Today, he is the father of Little Saigon, a home for Vietnamese people who have come to the USA. Key Question: What is a path for growth?
	Meet Ebby Halliday, a pioneer in real estate. In 1949 she started selling homes; today she is an icon in her industry and one of the most generous people in Dallas. This is a remarkable story of an American legend who bought many businesses along her way to build a $6B empire.
	Meet Neil Clark Warren. He started working as a marriage counselor. Today, he is singularly responsible for more marriages than any other person in the world. The basic idea was simple: find a way for people to fall in love and stay in love. The result: he found paths into the deep interiority of the heart, mind and soul. Yet, to move this business into the fast lane, he had to sell equity within the business! Key Question: Who is the best buyer? Prior homepage (go back several seasons)