These 4 Entrepreneurs From The Past Give You Their Best Advice
Throughout history, there have been some amazing entrepreneurs who changed the world. And each of those entrepreneurs have lessons they can teach us, even if they are dead.
Maybe the fact that Halloween is coming up, I am getting a little on the morbid side. But this “haunting” can be beneficial to all of us.
So let’s get some advice from the grave. Let these entrepreneurs help you find success like they did.
#1 – Advice From The Grave – Andrew Carnegie 1835-1919
With investments in railroads, bridges and oil derricks, Carnegie is best known for founding Carnegie Steel Company in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Towards the end of his years, Andrew Carnegie gave away millions to causes he greatly believed in.
While Mr Carnegie has many lessons he could teach us, I find the top one to be… The Andrew Carnegie Dictum:
- The first 1/3rd of life should be massive education
- The second 1/3rd should be making all the money you can
- And the last 1/3rd should be about giving all that money away to causes that are worthy
“Think of yourself as on the threshold of unparalleled success. A whole, clear, glorious life lies before you. Achieve! Achieve!” Andrew Carnegie
#2 – Advice From The Grave – Steve Jobs 1955-2011
This great man was a co-founder of Apple as well as an investor in Pixar. Jobs brought Apple up into the limelight and when he was pushed away from the company, Apple took an abrupt turn away from success.
But because Jobs had business savvy, he was soon CEO of the company again and brought it out of potential bankruptcy.
What is the greatest lesson that Steve would teach us about entrepreneurship?
Surround yourself with the brightest and best!
Steve Jobs realized he could not do it all himself, even though it looked as if he did. Jobs surrounded himself with people who could cover his faults and because of this, he always had success with whatever he touched.
“Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life. Don’t be trapped by dogma, which is living with the results of other people’s thinking.” Steve Jobs
#3 – Advice From The Grave – George Eastman 1854-1932
He founded the Eastman Kodak Company and was the pioneer of roll film. Because of George Eastman, movie production became a reality.
Eastman was also an excellent boss as he instituted a profit sharing program for employees. This was unheard of in 1910.
When we look at the primary lesson George Eastman can provide, we discover he would say “Never cut quality for quantity.”
“The world is moving, and a company that contents itself with present accomplishments soon falls behind.” George Eastman
#4 – Advice From The Grave – Henry Ford 1863-1947
This entrepreneurial genius who founded the Ford Motor Company was the brains behind assembly line technology which brought on the mass production techniques that are used in factories all over the world.
While a controversial person, Henry Ford never settled for anything less than best. He paid the best wages and sold the lowest price cars.
So what would Mr Ford tell entrepreneurs today?
“Each time you fail at something, smile. Because you have just learned how to do it right the next time.”
“Thinking is the hardest work there is, which is probably the reason why so few engage in it.” Henry Ford
Conclusion
In a later post, we will look at lessons from other entrepreneurs from the past. They have taught us a lot if we just ponder on their lives and the messages they left us.
I hope this motivated you and as an added benefit, I want to offer you this free training course: 7 Days To Unstoppable Motivation. Just click here to get yours.
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