If you’re not familiar with John Galt or who he is, you really ought to pick up the novel, Atlas Shrugged. To find out why it’s one of my all-time favorites (and why it should be one of yours) and what its message has to do with us (MCC) as a commercial real estate lender, watch the short video clip below. I even managed to get some of our staff involved in this one. I promise, this video is worth a few minutes of your time today . . . plus I’ll tell you about our invite to a complimentary private screening . . . watch and you’ll see:
Here’s a sneak peek of the Atlas Shrugged movie – the trailer:
Let me know what you think about this proposed new movie version of Atlas Shrugged, anything Ayn Rand-related, or anything else regarding wealth creation through Smarter commercial property financing for small businesses. Call me at 1-866-622-4504, email me at ChrisHurn@mercantilecc.com, or leave a comment below. And if you’re in the Orlando area, let us know if we’ll be seeing you “at the movies” next week – there are some specific things instructions to get your tickets, by the way.
Dedicated to Your Continued Success,
John Galt (Chris)
P.S. If you know of someone who ought to create wealth through commercial real estate ownership (instead of throwing their money away renting), introduce me to them right away. Call me at 1-866-622-4504 or email me at ChrisHurn@MercantileCC.com today!
P.P.S. If you haven’t connected with us on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn or YouTube, you should probably do that soon, too. We have LOTS more to come.
Tags: Atlas Shrugged, Chris Hurn, commercial financing, Entertainment_Culture, John Galt, Mercantile Capital Corporation, real estate ownership, SBA 504 Expert, SBA 504 Loan, Who is John Galt
James Cappelmann says:
Hi Chris – Great review. I wish I was closer, I’d love to come watch it with you guys. If anyone hasn’t read Atlas Shrugged, it is a must read.
John Roeser says:
I have read the book twice. One of my favorites along with The Foutainhead.
Chris Hurn says:
Mine, too, John. Thanks.
Barbara Benson says:
Atlas Shrugged was required reading for one of my first bosses at the old Barnett Bank in Florida. Great book and oh so applicable to our current political situation.
Chris Hurn says:
That’s a great idea, Barbara — another reason we liked the old Barnett Bank so much (and see them as a good model for us at Old Florida). And yes, it’s rather startling the foresight Ms. Rand had 54 years ago — predicting today’s environment. I hope you’ll go see the movie in Atlanta this weekend (and encourage others to go as well) — opening weekend box office numbers often dictate wider distribution (whether it spreads to more screens or not).
Joe Casparriello says:
I know exactly who John Galt is. It is a shame the rest of the world doesn’t. Maybe one day. Are you and Ayn Rand fan?
Chris Hurn says:
Glad to hear, Joe! Yes, I’m a bit of a fan!
Darren says:
Awesome. We are looking at our expansion to get startred this summer.
Beverly Sullivan says:
I have read the book three times, and am a great fan. I have tickets for the opening in Sarasota Florida Sunday. WHO IS JOHN GALT.
Chris Hurn says:
Thanks Beverly. Enjoy and bring others to the showing! And remember: WE are John Galt.
Mitch says:
Your not John Galt, he’s a lot taller than you!
Chris Hurn says:
How would you know, Mitch?
Mitch says:
I’m really John Galt!
Jim DeGennaro says:
Hello Chris: Enjoyed your video clip on Atlas Shrugged, my second favorite book after The Fountainhead. Hopefully, I can get Merita to watch Atlas Shrugged with me this Sunday at the Cobb in Lakeland. We appreciate your continued interest in assisting small businesses through the 504 program. Please take care.
Chris Hurn says:
Thanks Dege! Be sure to take others to see it as well.
Kathleen Downs says:
I have read it and I loved it!
Chris Hurn says:
Thanks, Kathleen!
Gregory Baitzel says:
It’s the best book ever written.
Chris Hurn says:
Thanks, Greg!
Wendell Stockdale says:
John Galt is one of my favorites – and my son’s and my grandson’s. Read it first YEARS ago, when it first came out in paperback. That lead to a library of, I think, all of Ayn Rand’s books and my 21 year old grandson is in the process of reading through it. Everyone in the country should read it , also
Virtue of Selfishness, and The Fountainhead.
Chris Hurn says:
Wow! Thanks Wendell. Good to pass it down through the generations — as all good stories should.
Jesus Rodriguez says:
Thanks. Chris
Kevin Boudreaux says:
I loved Atlas Shrugged and The Fountainhead. I read them back in college years ago.
Tina Holden says:
Thank you for including us and look forward to what appears to be a great movie, if Chris Likes It, it must be good:)
Have a great day!!
Chad Eaves says:
This is a great idea and I look forward to participating next Thursday!
Colleen Sharkey says:
YES, thank you, Chris!!
Dale Deaton says:
Thanks so much! I really want to meet you. I watched some of your youtube videos. I really like your spirit and your how easy going and practical your teaching is.
Alan Salerno says:
Thank you for the invite.
Frank Rowell says:
My Wife and I would greatly appreciate joining you to view what looks like a movie that is long overdue. Thank you so much for inviting us. I must admit, I didn’t even know about it prior to your email.
Scott Dennison says:
I first read the book in my 20′s and intend to re-read this summer, after seeing the movie. I’d love to join the MCC crew for the big event.
Peter Struzzi says:
Read and re-read many times. Your right, it’s THAT good and pretty timely today.
Chris Hurn says:
Thanks, Peter.
Craig Francis says:
Welsey Mooch is alive and well in DC. I am waiting for the lights to go out in NY City. John Galts homely brother in Incline Village.
Chris Hurn says:
Mr. Mooch DOES stalk the halls of Congress and anywhere the Executive branch meets, that’s for sure.
Charles Hall says:
John Galt, huh??? . . . You must be something special!
Seriously, ATLAS SHRUGGED is one of the best books of all time and very timely to suggest a read. Every American should read it NOW!!! You can bet our President failed to get the message, as did most of Congress.
Chris Hurn says:
Thanks, Charles.
Sarah Castor says:
I JUST finished the book….whew!! I loved it.
Thanks for your invite for next Thursday to see it. I have a group of women all going on Wednesday next week. I’m excited. Reading that book was like watching liberals in action!
Chris Hurn says:
Thanks Sarah. The important thing is to go and see it . . . and take others, too.
Kay Warren says:
Like you, I think it is the all time best book I’ve ever read! A true parallel to what is happening today, which is sad and quite frankly unnecessary. She was brilliant. That book should be mandatory reading for every student.
Chris Hurn says:
I agree, Kay. Thanks for your comments!
Steve says:
Hey Chris – just wanted to express my appreciation for your blog information, and the educational knowledge that you’re putting out there for people. Thank you very much for that!
Chris Hurn says:
Thanks Steve, that’s very kind of you to say.
Steven Fisher says:
Thank you, Chris, for such a generous offer and the opportunity to meet people in your circle.
Unfortunately, I’ll be out of town on business Thurs and Fri.
Clearly it will be my loss:(
Stephen Dillman says:
I am Steve Dillman . . .
Pat Vlasis says:
Love the story. However you are competing with my husband for the John Galt title!
Chris Hurn says:
I’m happy to confer the title to him in your household.
Paul Diamond says:
I received your marketing piece. You bet I have read the book, seen the movie release and we are living it today.
Chris Hurn says:
Thanks for your comments, Paul.
Sharon Haney says:
OMG!!!
Every time a new intrusive regulation comes out I think of Atlas Shrugged. I can’t help you with referrals as I work for a commercial bank in a small town but I can commiserate with you with regard to the tenets expressed in this book.
Chris Hurn says:
We actually work with several dozen banks, Sharon, so I’ll have one of my team members reach out to you to see what we can do. And thank you for your comments.
LISHMAR@aol.com says:
My friend and I saw it on Saturday and loved it. She read the book and was very curious as to how it would be depicted in the movie. It is a must see for everyone.
Chris Hurn says:
Thanks for your comments. I’m glad you liked it – I’m still “saving” it for tonight.
Tammy Costas says:
OK Chris, but where are your steel mills and railroads?
Seriously, I am a big Ayn Rand fan too. Not enough people understand the true source of prosperity. I shudder whenever the administration creates another of thier “programs” to help the consumers, because I know the consumers will be hammered again. Until the public opens their eyes we will continue on this path.
Thank you for the little eye-opener.
And there is a movie, seriously? Great!
Have a good day.
Chris Hurn says:
Thanks for your kind words, Tammy. Do a Google search to see where it’s playing near you. Take care.
Linda Hubbard-Slicer says:
Thank you for your email and the link to the Atlas Shrugged Trailer.
Chris Hurn says:
Thanks Linda, for the kind words.
Waine Kirby says:
Chris, If the movie was not so close to the truth I could enjoy it more. Unfortunately, it portrays the way the American business life is going. The gov’t will continue to pass legislation until we are GONE!!
I only hope that every caring Americam citizen will see this movie. I also hope they make part 2. Thanks,
Chris Hurn says:
Thanks Waine. I appreciate the comments.
Robert Schwartz says:
Chris,
I’ve not seen the movie, and don’t intend to, having plowed my way through all 1500 or so pages of Atlas Shrugged. And candidly, find it to be an absurd, immature, not remotely realistic piece of work.
Ms Rand’s point is painfully obvious from virtually page one, and character development and plot lines notwithstanding, the book could have easily been 1400 pages shorter and still made the point equally clear.
But while her ‘take no prisoners’ brand of capitalism perhaps represents an interesting theoretical construct – and rebuttal to the communism rampant at the time of its writing – as a practical approach to anything, its totally worthless.
I’m not suggesting that wholesale transfers of wealth are appropriate. I am suggesting that in a cohesive society it is not inappropriate to expect the more successful segments to pay more for the luxury of supporting the society that’s allowed them to accumulate the wealth. And, that a civilization is judged by how it treats its weakest members.
Rand’s grossly exaggerated version of this concept ends up being nothing more than an absurd ‘straw man’, one that to my mind borders on parody.
Not that I expect to change your mind on the topic – ideologues rarely do, and when they do its typically a total 180 sort of swing – but I will wish you the best of luck with your mortgage business and living by your Rand defined credo.
Best regards – Rob
Chris Hurn says:
Thanks for your email, Robert. I’ve received too many comments to take on each of your points (maybe others will), but I will make two and wish you the best of luck: I’m not an ideologue (there is plenty about Rand’s philosophy that I’m not comfortable supporting) – but that’s a bit of large presumption on your part; and secondarily, I believe her personal history (of escaping Bolshevik Russia) provided plenty of first-hand experience from which to write from. I think her fiction has come rather close to the reality of today, hence it’s continuing ability to influence and stay on best-seller lists.
Mike Bauer says:
Does John originate commercial loans? As a direct lender? What are the terms, fees loan types, etc.
Chris Hurn says:
Not sure if you’re being sarcastic or not, Mike. Humor doesn’t always translate real well over emails.
Please let us know and we’ll be happy to try to help. Thanks.
Mark Richards says:
Hi Chris;
It’s unfortunate I’m out in California; I would love to see this movie with like-minded business people. I’ve been an Objectivist since 1980 and have waited so many years for a movie version of this great book.
I will send you an email pursuant to your P.S. for I would like to get involved in commercial real estate. Here in California we are converting our mortgage company back toward listing and managing REO properties since we have not been able to sustain our former income strictly on our mortgage business.
Kathi Weber says:
I just had to respond because that is my favorite book of all times and I’m thrilled to see a fellow admirer. I’ve read all of Ayn Rands works and honestly, it kind of freaked me out to read your heading! Good job on getting someone’s attention. I will save your email and if I have a commercial I will send it your way, merely based on your excellent choice of reading!
Chris Hurn says:
Thanks, Kathi. I appreciate the comments.
Sharon Christensen says:
In my naïve uninformed youth, I too was taken in by Ayn Rand’s philosophy. I trust not anyone who still subscribes to any of this cultish philosophy.
Chris Hurn says:
How enlightening of a response from you, Sharon. So the 5,000 readers in the Book-of-the-Month-Club in 1992, when the Library of Congress sponsored their survey, who voted “Atlas Shrugged” as the second most influential book of all-time (behind the Bible), were just cultish acolytes? It’s certainly one thing to be influenced by the book (such as I have), but entirely another to disparage it and those who might have been influenced by it (claiming not to trust them). Not all admirers of the book have become non-thinking followers – that’s an awfully big presumption on your part. I always find it amusing how some allegedly support divergent (“multi-cultural,” as they call it at the college level) views . . . until others’ views are at such odds with their own . . . then they lash out against them and try to get them silenced. Very pleasant indeed.
Donald Brown says:
I’ve sent you an article of an example of the direct result of people taking Ayn Rand too seriously . . .
Chris Hurn says:
Thanks, Don, but I don’t think citing an article written by someone at The New Republic is terribly objective. Using “nut,” “creepy,” and “inspired a cult of acolytes . . . who deem her the greatest human being who ever lived,” seems to take the article in a rather biased direction. The underlying point (whether to Mr. Ryan’s budget or to Mrs. Rand’s philosophy) is that self-reliance has become a passé in this country, and we are all the worse for it. There are currently far too many near the “bottom of the pyramid,” to use your article’s language, that simply aren’t trying to better themselves. It has sadly become the cultural norm in this country lately, to demonize the wealthy and stake the moral high-ground for helping the poor. I would say it’s just as morally-reprehensible to try to “soak the rich,” as it is to ignore the poor. The “rub” comes in determining who truly can be productive and who truly cannot. Drug-testing and mandating approved educational classes (and mandating attendance) in order to collect unemployment and welfare checks would go a LONG way to turning this train-wreck around. Far too many are leeching off our system and it has to stop. Socialism works, as someone great once said, until you run out of other people’s money.
Al says:
Chris, thank u for being proactive. Indeed we need more people in our Nation & the World who care.
Happy Pascha!
Chris Hurn says:
Thanks, Al. I hope you had a good Easter, too!
Mike Richardson says:
Chris, just came across your blog and enjoyed your review of Atlas Shrugged. I’m a bit older than you and was actually an Objectivist back in the 60′s while in college. But I must tell you that Ayn Rand would turn over in her grave to hear you extol entrepreneurial business activity while at the same time take advantage of one of those seemingly benevolent government programs, you know, the 504 program. You should to be honest with yourself and realize that you & me are really working at complete odds of Ayn Rand’s message to the world. Sure it’s nice to close a 504 loan, but as far as society is concerned, are we really benefiting from the governments largess and the risk reward in assuming huge amounts of public debt to finance under capitalized business people in the acquisition of real estate or other SBA loan uses. I’m sure you realize that in excess of 6% of the 504 portfolio nationwide is in some type of a liquidation mode with banks and the SBA. This is currently, and will continue to cause massive losses for the American public.
John Galt would not think very highly of our commercial activities and how we are totally contributing to the growth and control that the government holds over our heads. So be thankful that we just push the money out of the faucet, and are not actively involved in loan liquidations, although we have to help contribute our share to the clean up via our taxes and Trillions in public debt.
Chris Hurn says:
Thanks for your email Mike, but I’m not so sure it’s quite that simple. The borrowers of 504 loans pay 50 basis points on their first mortgage/trust deed amount and another 73 basis points or so on their second mortgage/trust deed amount. Those user-fees are used to cover-off any “costs” to the American taxpayer. That’s why it’s called a “zero-subsidy” loan program. Yes, defaults have risen in the past few years (as they have across ALL sectors of real estate), but the user fees have risen as well… in other words, the “insurance pool” to cover past loses is increasing, nor shrinking as new 504 loans are made. While this may seem like we’re penalizing new borrowers for past borrowers’ mistakes, it is only in this way that the program can remain zero-subsidy, as I believe it absolutely MUST. And these are private sector entities making these loans (save for the government-guaranteed bond piece, which has a private sector entity purchasing it), so I don’t think this is contributing to growing government.
BTW, I don’t agree with ALL of Mrs. Rand’s teachings… I’m not about to stop driving on federal highways or refuse Social Security (should it ever be available to me), since I’ve contributed so much to those with my tax dollars. I think government still serves a limited role, but I don’t think providing a 504 loan crosses that line. Now, other, fully-subsidized loans, on the other-hand, that’s a very different story. I’ve also been disappointed by my Evangelical friends who refused to see the movie because of Mrs. Rand’s well-known atheism (despite their support of many of her limited government, self-reliant individuals positions). I’m a Christian, but I don’t let one issue dissuade me from learning new things or listening to another’s viewpoint – I think her messages were lost on some otherwise would-be supporters.
Again, thanks for your email, Mike. I really do appreciate the feedback.
Mike Richardson says:
Good points, we’ll see how it all works out over the long run. Looking forward to your future blogs. Have you read The Fountainhead? Great story, also made into a movie way back when . . .
Chris Hurn says:
I actually liked that movie better than Part One of Atlas.
Take care.
Ron says:
Economics 101: The 2 essential problems with Rand’s brand of capitalism is 1) imperfect information (when Goldman puts a bow on MBS deals on clients it knows are going to explode in their face, it hurts EVERYONE), and 2) public costs (don’t dump oil into the ocean and screw over the industries that depend on it). Those are big business examples, but it goes all the way down to the residential mortgage brokers convincing the applicants to lie about income and falsifying appraisals and other shenanigans. Yeah yeah “it’s the applicant’s fault too” – but look at the macro picture – when you allow fraud to persist on a large scale in the name of the “free market”, the economy, the society suffers.
We need regulation for the same reason you need referees at a football game. There is a economic cost of too much state intervention, and there is some regulation I think should be taken away (I am against the minimum wage, for instance) but on a macro-level it’s totally obvious which side we are on today with a toothless SEC, the effort to kill the CFPA, refusing to remove oil subsidies, etc. It’s also telling that you see other countries that aren’t afraid to set industrial policy eating our lunch economically.
I won’t deny definitely elements of the “left” in this country that need to calm down with the anti-business/victim mantra, but it pales to the ludicrousness of the right. I’ve heard conservatives rail the against “shake down” of BP and demonization of Wall Street and make references to John Galt – are you kidding me? The two industries that are the biggest fatties pigs at the trough of taxpayer support, and you say putting them in line is socialism? Get real.
America has become such a schizophrenic country with the me vs. you, government vs business mentality. If everyone just dropped ideology and focused on best solutions for problems our society confronts and not constantly flip out “OMG raising taxes on incremental dollars over 200,000 3%? SOCIALISM!” “Saving money on Medicare? DEATH PANELS!” we’d be able to dig out of the mess we’re in within a fairly reasonable amount of time. But we love sticking our heads in the sand in the name of our egos.