Henry Knox’s story illustrates you don’t need wealth, family connections, or formal credentials to build an extraordinary career. What you do need is:

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• Relentless self-education

• Initiative and bold ideas

• Resilience in the face of setbacks

• Deep expertise in a valuable niche

• Strong character and relationships

Knox went from running a bookstore to becoming one of the most important military leaders of the American Revolution — not despite his humble beginnings, but largely because of how he responded to them.