It really is a wild and risky story, isn’t it? Fred Smith’s decision to gamble away FedEx’s future in Las Vegas seems like an extreme long shot, but it worked in the end, which makes it even more fascinating. If he had lost that $5,000, FedEx might have never existed.

The context is interesting too — the oil crisis of the early ’70s hit businesses hard, and here’s Smith, desperate, with his back against the wall. His gamble wasn’t just random; he had a solid understanding of blackjack and some confidence that he could play the odds. It was, in a way, a calculated risk — but it’s still crazy to think about.

The fact that he even considered this route shows a different level of determination, don’t you think? He was willing to risk everything, trusting in his own skills and belief in his company’s vision, rather than letting external circumstances dictate his fate.

Imagine what that kind of pressure feels like — facing bankruptcy and then putting it all on the line in a casino. Would you ever do something that extreme, even for something you believed in deeply?