With the messenger job, Carnegie not only was able to "network" with most everyone, but he kind of knew how to manipulate or pursued people; he learned how to say what people wanted to hear. Carnegie was making steps toward becoming successful in whatever he did. From the factory to office boy, messenger, part and full time telegrapher, Carnegie seemed to be destined for greatness. Because of Andrew's abilities and understanding of the telegraph system, he was offered a job by one of Pennsylvania Railroad's superintendent of its western division, Tom Scott. He hired Carnegie to be his personal telegrapher and to assist him in dispatching trains over the western division's mountainous main line. Here Andrew was able to really maximize the opportunity set before him. He did public relations work, observations into how shipments were made and received, and mastered the controlling of the division's operations. In 1859, Scott was promoted to vice-president and appointed Carnegie superintendent of the western division. This was Andrew's big break. His knowledge of operations and innovative thinking pushed him to the top of his field. From the years1859-1865, Carnegie expanded the road and increased traffic to an all time high. By doing this, cost per ton-mile fell. This process was his calling. The ability to lower costs. From there Carnegie learned how to make money without lifting a finger: investing. He also learned that it didn't matter whose money was being used for the transactions as long as the return exceeded the cost. It was this type of mentality that led him into investing in sleeping cars, oil companies, and bridge companies at that time. All of these business adventures were not all successes, though. The bottom line for him at this time was to invest no matter what. Carnegie also learned that he could make money off of selling bonds and shares of stock. He had an amazing ability to understand the working structures of the bu...
