I commonly get asked why bother to learn so much of a business's history? What can it possible have to do with the present day? One example. I would venture to say that Copart's $5 billion in cash is a vestige of their founder having grown up poor. He observed farmers go broke who went into debt, so no surprise, they don't have debt. Despite the fact that Willis Johnson stepped down as CEO in 2010 and they now generate ~$1.5 billion in free cash flow, the conservatism from childhood persist.