The story of Milton Snavely Hershey comprises the classic mathematical formula of the American dream: Adversity + Hard Work + Resilience + Giving Back to Your Community = Successful Life and Legacy. Today’s story will also include two small doses of “borrowing”.

Hershey failed twice in business before opening the Lancaster Caramel Company in 1886. Miserably. Though the third try did end up being the proverbial charm, the company came close to completely failing. Hershey was plagued with bad credit after these prior failures. A bank cashier came to the rescue by co-signing the loan himself, giving Hershey the liquidity, he needed for a batch of raw ingredients that would keep the company going.

Perspiration also needs a bit of inspiration. In 1893, Hershey had gone to the World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago and attended a demonstration of a German chocolatier. This demo included machinery that streamlined the entire chocolate-making process....