Once upon a time in the fabulous land of Palo Alto, a company decided to take down brokers with their ingenious ads. E-Trade was the mastermind behind these ads that boldly proclaimed that “Your broker is now obsolete.” They were not one to shy away from controversy and their ads just got better and better. They even had one with a snarling dog that said, “Don’t let high commissions bite your assets.” Absolutely savage.

But who was the brilliant person behind E-Trade’s success? None other than Bernie Newcomb, a man who was legally blind but could code like a boss. He brought E-Trade to life with fellow co-founder William A. Porter. Together, they were like Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak. Porter, a genius businessman, was like Jobs, while Newcomb was the Wozniak of the programming world.

Is it just me or does it feel like Newcomb really should have been a superhero instead of a programmer? Even with congenital cataracts, he managed to code like a champion. He could even tell the difference between punch cards just by listening to them. That’s like superhero-level skills, folks.

Newcomb and Porter’s meeting was just like the beginning of a beautiful rom-com, except it was at a Halloween party in Palo Alto. With Porter’s Apple II computer, they set out to revolutionize the stock market through Trade Plus, catering to discount brokers like CD Anderson and Fidelity. Eventually, E-Trade was born as a head-on competitor against major players like Charles Schwab and Fidelity.

E-Trade charged a mere $12 per trade, which was a significant discount – no wonder the media was gushing about how they disrupted the industry. It was like having a broker in a box – which is hilarious if you imagine trying to pack a human-sized broker inside a tiny box.

Following E-Trade’s IPO, Newcomb struck it rich and went on to give away his fortune. Of course, he did support organizations that helped the blind, helped his alma mater (Oregon State University), and helped his hometown. But the best part? The guy who used to be the team’s water boy in high school went on to build them a new football stadium. Talk about coming full circle.

Ultimately, Bernie Newcomb’s story is one of perseverance and tenacity. He never let his blindness hold him back or stop him from achieving greatness. Mr. Newcomb once said, “My story is just absolute stick-to-it-ivness.” If that doesn’t inspire you to get out there and conquer the world, I don’t know what will.