Nov. 1/14 – Just like any other individual, I too have my own role models in business, people I really admire. Despite doing well being an entrepreneur and a single mom, I still find inspiration in these people more so through tough times in my businesses. Continually, I emulate them because I put premium in their core business values.
One of the most important persons who has influenced me the most, especially in my first ten years as an entrepreneur, and one who has taught me how to go about being a successful person, is none other than my mom. Being a successful entrepreneur herself, she taught me the importance of building credit and trust for yourself. Her word is her bond. I admire her aversion to being in debt. She has always conducted her business with the highest degree of integrity, up until she retired. She is an intuitive and a creative deal maker – converting negotiations to real deals. I admire her unwavering determination to be an inspiring mother and as well as a successful entrepreneur.
Steve Jobs is yet another person that has inspired me and pushed me to be creative, always thinking out of the box. For me, he was one who never compromised on quality and was always on the look out to produce the best products for his end users. His innovations have not only inspired me to take on many challenges, such as the Millionaire Chess initiative, but also have taught me to stand hard against all the odds and never give up till I reach my goals. His hard working nature, determination and his ‘never say die’ attitude have earned him millions of fans around the world. And I am proud to be one of them!
Apart from my mom, the only other person who has that great influence in me as an entrepreneur is Li Ka-Shing, Asia’s richest man and one of the world’s greatest empire builders. I’ve always admired him since I was young.
Li Ka-Shing is bold. He lives simply. He is down to earth. He maintains good relationship with his staff to the point of having dinner with him in his own home regularly. He has been able to invest in some of the best ventures, both established and as start ups alike. He is involved in a lot of charity endeavors especially in education in China. Even now, at 85, he still shows the same enthusiasm and puts in the same effort as he had when he was young. No wonder, he is still going strong!
All these leave great impact in me.
I can’t imagine how I would be if I didn’t have these people to look up to and inspire me in my journey through business.
Thats 2/3 fro my inspiration in life. My *mother and Steve Jobs would be on my list too.
It in Steve Jobs’ adverse moments that i find inspiration more so than his moments of success.
I have read a bit about Li Ka-Shing. Simple principle around budgeting but yet so powerful. I wish to implement some sooner rather than later.
While I was in Malaysia, I was really touched by the story of – Tan Sri Lim Goh Tong, Founder of Genting Highlands and Resort World. Captain Neil bought me his biography but I and not done reading it yet.
Anyone who has a leadership style where they stay in contact with the people below them and lead by example instead of by authoritarian rule is alright in my book. It’s much easier to lead and you generally have much happier people in your organization. It’s a lot more difficult with a large organization to accomplish but it can yield great results.
Yes, I agree Steve, while I don’t have any experience of leading large organizations I have always tried to lead by example and make sure everyone knows I have a “my door’s always open” style of communication.