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To get Anthony Robbins and Richard Branson at the one event is a unique experience, let alone a pile of other inspirational people. This event is being held in Sydney in September and I think it is well worth attending. Tickets are reasonably priced. Just click on the banner below for more information.
Here is an interesting take on the concept of innovation. Enjoy, it is quite thought provoking.
Whatever you may think about the Harry Potter series, there is no doubt at all that JK Rowling is one of the most financially successful authors of all time. Here is a presentation done by JK Rowling at Harvard. As an author myself, she is certainly an inspiration to me. JK Rowling is someone who really has shown the importance of perseverance to all aspiring authors – and to anyone who wants to achieve anything in life. Her talk is honest, humble and sincere. Thank you.
J.K. Rowling Speaks at Harvard Commencement from Harvard Magazine on Vimeo.
Many enormously successful entrepreneurs have got to where they are simply because they were bold enough to put a proposal to someone. This is the one that made them and started their career. Interestingly, these opportunities were generally created by the foresight of the aspiring entrepreneur and their ability to put a proposal forward, regardless of who the person was receiving it.
They weren’t daunted by the differences in the relationship – they had a good idea and they wanted someone to work with them to make it a reality.
I have discussed this with a number of entrepreneurs and they all agreed, they wouldn’t hesitate to put a proposal to anyone, no matter who they are or how big the proposal may be. If money can be made, odds on someone will run with it, its just a matter of finding the right person.
The classic example of this is Colonel Sanders. He had to take the Kentucky Fried Chicken concept to hundreds of banks and potential investors until he found someone who wanted to work with him – and he was in his fifties when he did it.
If you think you can solve a problem or help a business to make more money (often the two are related) what have you got to lose by putting a proposal to them? Sure you face the risk of them doing it themselves, but you also face the opportunity of them being impressed enough with you to get you involved.
There are ways you can protect yourself, confidentiality agreements are common in business but often they can be hard to enforce and the person you are submitting the proposal to may not want to sign it.
WHAT CAN YOU DO TODAY? The moral to this story is to think big and aim high. Never be afraid of asking the question and be big enough and bold enough to handle the outcome.
One of the most impressive characteristics that I have noticed amongst exceptionally successful business entrepreneurs is their very honest and genuine desire to share their own knowledge and experiences. I think that this is something that we should all be prepared to do. Most successful people will be the first to tell you that they have made every mistake imaginable (and generally they have made them a number of times over). But the fact that they make these mistakes, which are sometimes quite devastating and they manage to pick themselves up, brush the dust off and then give it another go, is an incredible testimony to their fortitude and conviction.
There is nothing more inspirational and motivational than hearing how someone has managed to overcome diversity and turned it into success, but for the person telling the story, it is often not that remarkable. From my own experience I am constantly surprised by people who want to know my story and background. I grew up as an orphan, had a very unusual life, did a range of jobs as diverse as commercial diving and selling encyclopaedias door to door, owned and operated many businesses, but I certainly don’t feel that my life was extraordinary – but other people do. And even more importantly, they use it to motivate them. So I am happy to tell my story and hope that it helps other people to achieve their dreams and aspirations, but most importantly, I feel that we all have a very interesting story to get out. We have all had a diverse array of experiences that have made us who we are today and these should be exchanged. Pass on your own experiences and knowledge of business and life and you will enjoy the satisfaction of helping other people.
Andrew Griffiths