Kansas City News Blog

Esquire's "What I've learned" feature asks prominent people about the lessons they've learned in their lives.  The latest batch includes one for every state. Esquire chose Wichita billionaire Charles Koch to represent Kansas and actor John Goodman for Missouri.

Koch, a $17-billion man, leads Koch Industries, America's largest private company. So what's he know?

Every company wants smart people. Well, Hitler was smart. Stalin was smart. Mao was smart. If somebody's evil, the smarter they are, the more damage they're going to do.

So be really afraid of evil smart people. Got it.

My father said, "Son, never sue. The lawyers get a third, the government gets a third, and you get your business destroyed."

Uh, after searching through court records, it doesn't look like the son listened. But I'm guessing Koch's business is far from "destroyed."

Affton, Missouri-native Goodman recalled his childhood home.

I went back to the house where I grew up the other day. I didn't want to go inside. It would be like going back to grade school and going to the urinal.

Not exactly a fond memory. Goodman was more reflective on growing up in St. Louis

St. Louis was a world of kids. All playing. Playing in the rain. Playing till after the sun went down and you got called. "John-nnnnnny!" And then you listened to the Cards at night. Jack Buck and Harry Caray. "Ba-da-da-da-dum. St. Louis baseball Cardinals are on the air! Brought to you by Anheuser-Busch!"

But Goodman would have liked to meet a Kansas City icon.

I would've liked to have met Hemingway. We probably would've gotten into a fight or something.

I'd love to see that fight.