Tony Hsieh was a visionary. From his first attempt at business–a worm farm at age 9–to Harvard to an online shoe empire worth over $1 billion, Hsieh was the embodiment of the American Dream. But, what Hsieh is best known for is his unique take on corporate culture and his business philosophy centering on the belief that by focusing on the happiness of those around you, you increase your own happiness as well. Unlike his more profit-minded competitors, Hsieh’s philosophy for his company Zappos extended to both his customers and staff. This focus on happiness and corporate culture as well as his sometimes unorthodox company policies landed Zappos on Fortune magazine’s annual “Best Companies to Work For” list in their first year making them the highest-ranking newcomer in the magazine’s history. It also set Zappos apart as a business pioneer and made Tony Hsieh one of the most inspirational and innovative CEOs and entrepreneurs in the world.
Tragically, Hsieh died this year, but his message and words live on in his memoir Delivering Happiness: A Path to Profits, Passion, and Purpose. In his book, we learn where he started as a young entrepreneur and the journey that led him to creating Zappos, which was acquired by Amazon by $1.2 billion.