The conversation began with an introduction of Rick Harrison as a successful entrepreneur and well known figure in American television.

He built his career without completing college and without finishing high school, which makes his achievements a powerful example of self made success.

During the interview he explained that he left school after the ninth grade.

His path forward did not rely on formal education but instead on curiosity, independent study, and practical experience.

He described how he began buying and selling items at a young age, slowly learning the value of objects and the fundamentals of business.

His father owned a small coin shop and this environment opened the door for Rick to explore trading and collecting.

At a young age he realized he wanted to open a pawn shop in Las Vegas.

However, when he went to City Hall to request a license he was told he could not have one due to an old city ordinance created in 1955.

That law stated that when the population of the city reached a quarter of a million, one more pawn license would be issued.

When the law was written the population was only twenty five thousand and city leaders assumed the required number would never be reached.

Rick could not afford to buy an existing license, which would have cost several hundred thousand dollars at the time.

Instead he began calling the city statistician regularly to find out when the population would reach the required level.

In April of 1988 he learned that the milestone was finally close.

He went to the licensing office when he was twenty three years old to claim his opportunity.

The city rejected his request but months later a judge ruled that he was the first to apply and thus deserved the new license.

This decision allowed him to open the now famous Gold and Silver Pawn Shop.

Rick explained that his life changed long before business success arrived.

As a child he suffered from severe epilepsy that left him bedridden for long periods of time.

He could not always walk and had to miss many normal childhood activities.

His family was not wealthy and in the early 1970s there was little entertainment for children at home.

His mother went to the library and borrowed a set of books that would shape his future.

They were stories about a clever child who created small money making schemes in the late nineteenth century.

Rick loved the books and devoured all of them within a short time.

These early reading experiences developed his passion for learning.

By the age of twelve he was reading books on physics from the library.

His education became self directed and untraditional, driven by curiosity rather than classrooms.

Over the years he continued to build knowledge through reading nonfiction books on science, history, technology, and many other subjects.

He explained that this broad reading helps him identify items that come into his pawn shop.

Facts stored in his memory connect with what he sees, allowing him to understand unusual objects.

He rarely reads fiction, preferring to study subjects that expand his general knowledge.

He even joked that he once read the history of batteries twice because he found it fascinating.

The conversation turned toward his family, which plays a significant role in his life story.

His father, known to fans of the show as Old Man, passed away not long ago.

Rick described him as a hardworking, disciplined, and loving father who served twenty years in the Navy and spent time in Vietnam.

Despite Rick health challenges as a child, his father never treated him differently or allowed him to feel weak.

He taught his children responsibility from a young age.

Rick recalled how at age twelve he was taken to help remodel dilapidated apartments his father purchased for cheap prices.

These experiences built his work ethic and shaped his understanding of investment and business.

The Harrison family moved to Las Vegas in 1981 after experiencing financial hardship.

Rick father opened a small coin shop and Rick worked alongside him.

Their partnership continued for decades and Rick described his father as his best friend throughout his adult life.

When the pawn shop opened Rick learned the trade with help from an older pawn broker in town.

He called the broker almost every day during the first year to understand the details of paperwork and valuation.

He realized early that he needed to differentiate himself from big pawn shop chains that dominated the market.

He believed he could not compete with large companies by imitating them.

Instead he wanted to create a high quality environment where customers would feel comfortable and valued.

He maintained a clean shop, hired strong employees, and displayed interesting and artistic items such as Picasso prints.

This approach helped his shop gain a reputation that later contributed to the success of the television show.

Rick discussed how starting a business was easier in the 1980s than today.

He said that at that time a business license could be obtained quickly.

He believes that now government regulations have expanded dramatically.

New laws, new taxes, and complex processes make it harder for young entrepreneurs to follow their ambitions.

He noted that the difficulty of firing ineffective employees and the long waiting periods for licenses create additional obstacles.

He feels that layers of regulations discourage people from opening new businesses.

The interviewer pointed out that the Supreme Court ruled that states can tax online commerce.

This means small online sellers may have to file taxes in multiple states, which adds financial and administrative burdens.

Rick responded by criticizing the excessive number of jurisdictions and tax rates, especially in states like California where dozens of counties have different rules.

He explained that these complexities are unnecessary and harmful to small businesses.

He argued that government should not attempt to force equality by trying to make online business and physical retail operate under the same tax system.

Rick shifted into a broader discussion of capitalism.

He argued that a free market is naturally dynamic and innovative.

Competition encourages better products, better services, and more opportunities for consumers and entrepreneurs.

He provided historical examples to support his view.

He described how London was once the global center of watchmaking.

However, by the late nineteenth century American watch companies surpassed European manufacturing because they adopted modern machine tools and efficient production methods.

He explained that London watchmaking was controlled by many guilds that slowed progress through heavy restrictions.

Guild members could make certain parts but were forbidden from making others.

This excessive control prevented innovation and reflected what he sees as the problem with large bureaucratic systems.

He argued that capitalism encourages improvement while systems with strict government control tend to stagnate.

He believes that socialist policies fail because they limit competition and remove the incentives that drive growth.

The conversation connected these historical examples to modern political debates.

Rick expressed concern about the rise of policies described as democratic socialism.

He stated that such ideas ignore the lessons of history and the failures of government controlled economies.

He emphasized that big government does not improve efficiency and rarely provides better outcomes for citizens.

He also shared his views on modern political leadership.

Rick praised President Donald Trump, saying that he believed the administration was doing important work in several areas.

He noted that, like with any leader, he did not agree with everything, but he appreciated many of the policies being implemented.

He warned against attacking successful online businesses or interfering too heavily in economic competition.

In his view, businesses succeed because consumers choose them, not because government allows or forbids them to exist.

Throughout the interview Rick maintained a strong message.

He emphasized self reliance, personal responsibility, and the value of learning through curiosity and hard work.

His life story demonstrates that success does not require a college degree but does require determination, resilience, and creativity.

He remains a committed advocate of free market principles and believes that too much government involvement limits opportunity.

His perspective reflects his own journey from a ninth grade dropout to a nationally recognized businessman and television personality.

Rick Harrison story highlights the power of self education, the importance of family support, and the opportunities available in a society that rewards innovation.

The interview offered insight into his philosophy, his work ethic, and his belief in the potential of individuals who refuse to give up.

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