Reed Hastings started Netflix at 37 Sam Walton started Walmart at 44 Colonel Sanders started KFC at 65 If you think it’s too late to start, think again! For 11 years, I worked in corporate, ticking all the boxes: stable income, structured career growth, and predictability. But beneath the surface, there was always this question—Am I doing enough? There’s a point where many of us think, “Have I missed my chance?” I certainly did. I thought the startup world was for the younger crowd. But I’ve realized something valuable: it’s not about the age at which you start—it’s about your readiness to make it happen. We often underestimate how experience, maturity, and perspective can be our strongest assets when starting later in life. Look around—some of the most successful founders didn’t begin in their 20s. They waited until they had the clarity, the focus, and the experience to make their mark. And when they did, they built legacies. Starting a company, especially later in your career, helps you align your goals with what you know and how you execute. So, if you're sitting there wondering if it's too late—don’t. Focus instead on where you want to be and how you’re going to get there. Because success is how you finish, not when you start. What do you think? #business #age #leadership
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Passion plays a crucial role in business success. It fuels innovation, drives perseverance, and inspires teams to overcome challenges. As for the quote “Passion led us here,” it encapsulates the journey of those who follow their hearts and pour their energy into their work. Here are four remarkable entrepreneurs who exemplified perseverance and overcame obstacles to achieve greatness: Steve Jobs: After being fired from Apple, Jobs turned adversity into opportunity. He later said it was the best thing that happened to him, allowing him to think more creatively. Walt Disney: Disney faced bankruptcy and rejection before creating an entertainment empire that continues to inspire generations. Colonel Sanders: At age 65, Sanders founded KFC after facing multiple business failures. His secret recipe and determination made KFC a worldwide phenomenon. Jeff Bezos: Bezos started Amazon as an online bookstore. His relentless focus on customer satisfaction and innovation turned it into a global e-commerce giant. #perseverance #motivation
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📖 Just finished reading "Onward" by Howard Schultz. While I don't care about Starbucks's lawsuits and issues, one thing really struck a chord: the power of investing in your #team. Let's be clear: a team isn't a family. And will never be. I'd spit in the face of anyone who tries to romanticize it that way. So building a strong team isn't just about to hire smart people and let them work. You need to create a place where they can feel appreciated. When your team is #happy and motivated, they’ll work harder and achieve more in long-term. How to do it when you're just a #startup? From my working experience, there are some easy ways: 👦 Publicly acknowledge their #achievements (and not forget to reward them). 🧒 Keep an open #communication. 👧 Flexible work hours or #remote work options. And now about the #book. I was hooked on the first half. But the second half dragged on with too much detail and some unnecessary pomp, as for me 😎
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𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿 𝗼𝗳 𝗙𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀: 𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗥𝗲𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗢𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗩𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗥𝗲𝘃𝗶𝘃𝗲𝘀 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗲𝘀 Throughout history, some of the most successful companies have faced significant struggles, particularly when their founders were removed or stepped away. These periods often led to a loss of direction, with companies straying from the original vision that made them successful in the first place. However, in several notable instances, the return of a founder has restored these companies to their former glory, proving the power of vision and leadership. One of the most well-known examples is Steve Jobs and Apple. After being ousted in 1985, Jobs left a company that quickly found itself floundering without clear direction. By the mid-90s, Apple was on the brink of bankruptcy. In 1997, Jobs returned, bringing with him a renewed focus on innovation, design, and user experience. Products like the iMac, iPod, and iPhone soon followed, transforming Apple into one of the world’s most valuable companies. His return was a reminder of how important a founder’s original vision can be in a company’s long-term success. Howard Schultz’s return to Starbucks is another striking example. Having stepped down as CEO in 2000, Schultz watched as the company over-expanded at the cost of quality. By 2008, Starbucks was struggling, but Schultz’s return shifted the focus back to customer experience and product quality, reigniting the brand’s growth and reputation. Walt Disney also returned to his company during a time of difficulty. After facing financial struggles in the early 1940s, The Walt Disney Company refocused on creativity and innovation, leading to the creation of Disneyland and a new era of success for the company. What these stories teach us is that a founder’s vision is often intertwined with a company’s DNA. When that vision is lost, the company can falter, but when restored, it can lead to renewed growth and innovation. These examples show that success is not always linear. A company may struggle, but with the right leadership and a return to core values, it can recover and thrive once more. It’s a powerful reminder of the impact a founder’s vision can have on shaping the future of a business. #Leadership #Founders #Vision #Innovation #BusinessSuccess #Apple #SteveJobs #Starbucks #HowardSchultz #WaltDisney #BusinessLeadership #CompanyGrowth #Entrepreneurship #BusinessTransformation
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This is the one thing we founders should master. The grit mindset. Warren Buffett has been investing for 70+ years. Steve Jobs took 20+ years before Apple became a major success. Melanie Perkins was rejected by 100s of VCs and took several years to make Canva succeed. Colonel Sanders took 1,009 attempts to find a franchisee for KFC - was 65 before KFC became widespread. Founders who can become great leaders have this in common: > 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗱𝗼𝗻'𝘁 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗳𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝗾𝘂𝗶𝘁𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗴𝘆. 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝘁𝗼 𝗽𝗶𝘃𝗼𝘁, 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗽𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝘂𝗽 > 𝗙𝘂𝗲𝗹 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝗳𝗶𝗿𝗲 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻. 𝗣𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻, 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗳𝗶𝘁, 𝗱𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗺 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗽. > 𝗧𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁 𝘀𝗲𝘁𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸𝘀 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗽𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗻𝗲𝘀. 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻, 𝗮𝗱𝗮𝗽𝘁, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗯𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗿. It's not about instant gratification, it's about enduring dedication. What are your thoughts? Let me know in the comments. #𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 #𝗘𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗲𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 #𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗽𝗦𝘂𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀 #𝗙𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝗗𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗽𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 #𝗚𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗠𝗶𝗻𝗱𝘀𝗲𝘁 #𝗝𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗻𝗲𝘆 #𝗙𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝗠𝗶𝗻𝗱𝘀𝗲𝘁
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From Layoff to CEO: How I Turned Adversity into Business Success Discover how I transformed losing my job into a thriving CEO mindset. Learn the strategies I used to launch, grow, and scale my own business, working with major brands like Coca-Cola and BET. Get inspired to overcome setbacks and unlock your full potential. #FromLayoffToCEO #BusinessSuccessStory #EntrepreneurMotivation #CareerTransition #BusinessAdvice #SmallBusinessHelp #SuccessMindset #OvercomingAdversity #EntrepreneurJourney #BusinessGrowth
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If:👇 ✨Jeff Bezos founded Amazon at 30. ✨Howard Schultz founded Starbucks at 32. ✨Henry Ford founded Ford at 40. ✨Ray Kroc founded McDonald's at 52. ✨Colonel Sanders founded KFC at 62. Why not me and you? Success has no age limit....✍️ #lifeadvice #work #hardworkpaysoff #hardskills #life #successjourney #successtips #successmindset #personalgrowthtips #selfdetermination #businessadvisors #lifecoaching
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Ever heard of the adage “Business is War”? As a war history aficionado, I could not help thinking about the surprising parallels between Business and Wars. They are like unexpected Allies in Strategy. A well-defined business strategy is like a meticulously crafted battle plan, designed to outmanoeuvre competition. Remember how the German war machine’s ‘Blitzkrieg’ swept through most of Europe in the early part of the war? Consider the strategic foresight of Jeff Bezos, who revolutionized e-commerce with Amazon. Planning isn't just about the next move; it's about seeing the entire battlefield. In both war and business, decisive leadership in the heat of the battle can turn the tide. During World War II, Winston Churchill’s steadfast leadership inspired an entire nation to keep fighting against all odds. Echoing this very similar resolve, Howard Schultz’s tenacious leadership revitalized Starbucks and turned it into a global powerhouse, steering it to victory. Adaptability is crucial on both fronts. Think of how Netflix pivoted from DVD rentals to streaming, responding to a shift in consumer preferences, much like an army adjusts its tactics based on the changing landscape of the battlefield and enemy movements. Why does this matter? Because the principles that drive wars can also drive business success. So, the next time you’re drafting a business strategy, think like a General! Anticipate challenges, plan thoroughly, lead decisively, and adapt continuously. Your battlefield is the marketplace. Go out there to Win! #BusinessStrategy #StrategicThinking #Leadership #Adaptability #LessonsFromWar
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Knowing when to move on be it success or failure! One of the best pieces of advice I've received from a mentor is this: True champions know when to move on – like Warren Buffett shifting investments, Sachin Tendulkar retiring at his peak, and everyday heroes embracing new ventures. Now, it's Virat Kohli's turn to shine beyond the cricket field. His passion, dedication, and relentless pursuit of excellence have inspired millions. As he steps into new realms, his intensity and heart will leave an indelible mark, crafting a legacy that transcends the game. Now let’s explore the flip side where individuals not only recognized the importance of pivoting from failure but also seized new opportunities that propelled them to remarkable success: Steve Jobs' departure from Apple didn't deter him. He founded NeXT and Pixar, demonstrating that recognizing when to move on from setbacks is crucial for paving the way to groundbreaking achievements. Howard Schultz's decision to leave Starbucks and launch his own coffee venture was pivotal. Returning later, he transformed Starbucks into a global powerhouse, underscoring the significance of embracing new beginnings after setbacks. These examples highlight the pivotal moments when these individuals chose to pivot from failure, showing resilience and foresight in pursuing ventures that ultimately reshaped industries and achieved extraordinary success. #FidelityAssociate
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Founders becoming CEOs.. Is it always right? I've talked with countless brilliant innovators who feel trapped in their own success. Here's the hard truth: Starting a company requires different skills than scaling one. The person who birthed an idea might not be the best person to lead its growth. Think about it. You hire expert CMOs, CFOs and CTOs. But when it comes to the CEO role, many founders assume they're the best fit. This creates a paradox. You recognize the need for specialized talent, but cap the potential of these hires by insisting on remaining at the top. Ask yourself: Would you rather be the CEO of a good company or the founder of a great one? Gymshark founder, Ben Francis MBE, stepped aside and brought in experienced retail executive Steve Hewitt as CEO in 2017. During this time, Ben focused on product development and brand building. In 2021, he returned as CEO when Gymshark crossed £1B. Sometimes, the most visionary act is knowing when to hand over the reins.
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Netflix Co-Founder, Reed Hastings, on the evolving role of a CEO. He also shares a personal experience of what could happen if you don’t adapt to your company’s growth. _______________________________ Get up to speed on the latest developments in tech with our newsletter: https://lnkd.in/dgR5-YPx #techbuzz #techbuzzventures #innovation #technology #leadership #leadershipdevelopment #ceo #ceoinsights #startupfounder #startuplessons #startupstrategies #founderstories #founderjourney
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