Colonel Cargill was a notoriously ineffective marketing executive, so much so that businesses looking to incur losses strategically sought his expertise to optimize their tax situations. His reputation for generating financial failures made him a well-known figure in various markets, particularly in places like Battery Park and Fulton Street, where companies turned to him for reliable tax deductions.

Despite his lack of success, Cargill's services came at a premium, as his unique ability to create failures was not always straightforward. His high fees reflected the fact that while many aimed to write off losses, achieving failure in business could prove to be a complex and challenging endeavor.