Operating Visuals: Faster But Not Different
A Comparative Productivity & Wealth Accumulation Analysis of the First and Fourth Industrial Revolutions
Hello, Substack! I’m experimenting with a new format: long-form visuals built around economic history, data storytelling, and strategic insight to articulate the perspective I usually write within as an article. Instead of publishing this traditionally, I’ve visualized the core arguments to make the ideas more accessible and hopefully memorable. My goal is to help visualize the patterns shaping the future of operating in a manner that saves time and allows easy screenshot shareability. High-resolution PDF versions of these are freely available to my paid subscribers.
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Wealth creation peaks show Carnegie's Industrial Revolution fortune vastly exceeds modern tech billionaires when adjusted for inflation
Modern digital revolution achieving comparable productivity gains to Industrial Revolution in 3.2x less time
Technology layering shows exponential growth with each foundation enabling more powerful innovations, culminating in AI's $2T impact
(Modern innovations achieve mass adoption 3-6x faster than Industrial Revolution technologies, with greater job market impact)
Early Industrial Revolution technology adopters achieved ROI multiples ranging from 10x to 800x
5 Hidden Relationships
Show Me The Money
Andrew Carnegie's inflation-adjusted wealth exceeds all modern tech billionaires, demonstrating unprecedented Industrial Revolution wealth creation
John Brewton documents the history and future of operating companies at Operating by John Brewton. He is a graduate of Harvard University and began his career as a Phd. student in economics at the University of Chicago. After selling his family’s B2B industrial distribution company in 2021, he has been helping business owners, founders and investors optimize their operations ever since. He is the founder of 6A East Partners, a research and advisory firm asking the question: What is the future of companies? He still cringes at his early LinkedIn posts and loves making content each and everyday, despite the protestations of his beloved wife, Fabiola, at times.
This is an absolutely fascinating analysis, John. The inflation adjusted numbers compared to today are staggering. And the lessons you point out are enlightening. I love your point about systems and foundations. It’s funny how it always comes back to the basics, isn’t it? Also, I love the visual approach. Well done!
Love the concept of what you're doing. A+ grade. Fascinating to learn of Andrew Carnegie's success in contrast to the powers of modern society.