Jack C. Taylor was the founder of Enterprise Rent A Car, one of the most successful privately held companies in the United States. His story is a case study in disciplined leadership, customer service, and long term thinking. For Americans looking to understand how business success is built in the real world, Taylor’s life offers practical lessons that align closely with the principles found in many books on money, entrepreneurship, and personal finance.
Early Life and Military Service
Jack Taylor was born in 1922 in St. Louis, Missouri. Before entering business, he served as a Navy fighter pilot during World War II. His Naval experience shaped his philosophy about responsibility, performance under pressure, and putting the team first. After returning home, he worked in a Cadillac dealership, where he learned the fundamentals of sales and customer relationships. This foundation became essential when he later launched his rental car venture.
Building Enterprise Rent A Car
Taylor founded Executive Leasing Company in 1957 with a handful of cars and a commitment to service. The company started by renting cars to dealership customers whose vehicles were being repaired. It was humble, local, and focused on solving real problems for everyday people. This customer first model became central to the firm’s culture.
Over time, Taylor expanded the business beyond leasing, and the company became Enterprise Rent A Car, named after the USS Enterprise on which he had served. Enterprise grew by targeting neighborhoods rather than airports, a strategy that was unusual at the time but ultimately became a competitive advantage. By focusing on convenience, affordability, and service, Enterprise became a dominant force in the car rental industry.
Taylor also kept Enterprise privately held, allowing the company to grow without the short term pressures that public companies face. This long view is something readers often encounter when studying business leaders whose success spans decades.
A Business Model Built on Culture
Enterprise’s success was not driven by technology or financial engineering. It was powered by people. Taylor created a management training program that emphasized responsibility, financial literacy, and customer service. Employees were encouraged to learn how the business worked, track profits and losses, and think like owners. This approach resembles advice often found in books on money and personal development: learn the fundamentals, avoid lifestyle creep, and stay focused on what you can control.
Taylor also insisted that customer satisfaction scores be measured and shared. The company grew because it earned the trust of individuals and businesses in thousands of communities. This slow, steady, consistent growth model is the same kind of long term thinking that many investors appreciate when evaluating a business.
Warren Buffett on Jack Taylor
Warren Buffett, who often speaks highly of business leaders he respects, consistently praised Jack Taylor for his integrity, discipline, and customer first mindset. Buffett admired the way Taylor built Enterprise without relying on debt, aggressive expansion, or flashy strategies. Instead, Taylor focused on service, team development, and long term value creation.
Buffett once described Taylor as someone who built a remarkable business by doing ordinary things extraordinarily well. That philosophy mirrors Buffett’s broader views on investing and leadership: avoid complexity, focus on fundamentals, and operate with integrity.
Buffett also admired how Taylor successfully involved his family in the company without compromising its principles. Enterprise remained stable over generations because Taylor built a culture, not simply a business. For readers who value financial independence, this illustrates how durable wealth is often created: slowly, thoughtfully, and with an eye toward future generations.
A Legacy of Long Term Thinking
Jack C. Taylor passed away in 2016, leaving behind a business that continues to shape the rental car industry. His story is a reminder that financial success does not require shortcuts or trends. It requires clarity, discipline, and a willingness to focus on value rather than appearance.
For people learning about money, Taylor’s approach aligns with many core ideas found in personal finance: keep expenses under control, prioritize long term thinking, understand what you own, and treat others well. His disciplined approach resembles the mindset used by effective investors, from everyday savers contributing to an S&P 500 index fund to entrepreneurs building something that lasts.
Taylor built a multibillion dollar company from a single office and seven cars. He did it through consistency, service, and principles that anyone can study and apply.
Winchell House 
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