For successful entrepreneurs like Jose Hawilla, a sports marketing guru based in Brazil, the path to success is paved with ample breathlessness. When’s the last time you were breathless? I’m not talking about running a marathon, I’m asking about the last time you were absolutely awestruck by news, by accomplishment, by opportunity? In 1932, Albert Einstein cynically declared, “There is not the slightest indication that (nuclear) energy will ever be obtainable.”[1] A decade later, the physicist was shocked by the news that scientists in Chicago had created a functioning fission reactor. Breathless Einstein realized that a new era of energy innovation was underway.
Creativity and Flexibility
Entrepreneurs on the path toward long-term success know that breathlessness is part of the journey. In the business world, there are untold complexities and complications that can render even the most seasoned professional shocked and unprepared. As Jose Hawilla discovered long ago, a thriving entrepreneur recognizes how to manage the complexities with creativity and flexibility. “Building a billion-dollar company takes someone who can manage complexity and keep tabs on an ever-changing market and business environment,” adds Deep Patel, the author of A Paperboy’s Fable: The 11 Principles of Success. “This is called creative problem-solving, and it’s more important than money for the longevity of your company. You can throw all the cash and resources you have at a problem, but if you can’t find a solution, it will do you no good.”[2] Indeed, creativity also leads to innovation. From Facebook to General Electric, Toyota to Airbus, creative entrepreneurs cultivate the “next big thing.” Today’s “skunkworks” solution to a novel problem, can easily evolve to become the product or approach of the future.
Vision
Every great business and every breathless entrepreneur is equipped with vision, that is, aspirational statements that reach beyond current market conditions, revenue streams, product lines, and the like. An entrepreneur should always be able to articulate, “This is where I want to be in 3, 5, and 10 years.” For Jose Hawilla and others with horizons that reach far beyond real time, the vision isn’t altered when the bad weather approaches. While goals and objectives may change along the way, vision shouldn’t be touched unless a sea change is underway. Patel adds, “Behind every billion-dollar company is a well-defined vision and a plan to execute it. Long-term success isn’t something you happen into; you have to know what you want to accomplish.”[3] “Ask yourself what your overarching goal is. Then create a step-by-step outline of how you plan to get there. Without a crystal-clear vision, you are probably fated to be a flop.”[4]
Stubbornness
Another key entrepreneurial trait that separates success stories like Jose Hawilla from the rest of the pack, is a robust “stubborn streak.” Said another way, those without thick skin are ill-equipped to overcome and master the ebb and flow of the business cycle. As Deep Patel reminds us, “Wildly successful entrepreneurs are fiercely persistent in pursuing their dreams.” Referencing the starts and stops of Henry Ford’s career, Patel adds, “throughout history, mega-companies have often been built by those who are stubborn to the point of obstinacy.”[5] We could certainly add notables like Steve Jobs, Bill Gates, JK Rowling, and others to the expansive list of success stories attributed to those who hunkered-down and kept working toward the vision despite hearing No! along the way.
The Team
As Jose Hawilla learned while his business and wealth grew, entrepreneurs know how to attract the best talent and build the strongest teams. Indeed, having the right people in the right places is vitally important if the entrepreneur’s vision is going to move from the theoretical level to the implementation level. Deep Patel agrees. “Carefully cultivating a tenacious and diverse team is essential to creating a large and successful company. In fact, it’s sometimes said that hiring great employees is the single most important thing a founder can do. While skills and knowledge are important when looking to hire, keep in mind that you are crafting a team that must be able to both collaborate and work independently.”[6] Successful team members should be rewarded along the way, too, lest he/she step away from the employer’s vision and begin to cultivate one of his/her own.
No Fear
Nike founder Phil Knight once offered: “Play by the rules. But, be ferocious.” In other words, don’t be reckless, but when you decide to do something, go all in. It takes determined action to make something happen.”[7] He’s right, of course. If you are not breathless – rolling with unsettling seas of entrepreneurialism – you’re not much of an entrepreneur. What gives entrepreneurs like Jose Hawilla an extra edge in tight markets among discriminating entrepreneurs is a fearless streak. At the end of the day, the successful one is willing to take the left turns when everyone else is saying, “You should only turn right.”
[1] Extracted from: http://www.nytimes.com/1996/09/29/magazine/tomorrow-never-knows.html,
[2] Extracted from: https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/305418
[3] Ibid.
[4] Ibid.
[5] Ibid.
[6] Ibid.
[7] Ibid.
