From 600+ conversations with the world’s leading thinkers.
You need to work like someone's trying to take it all away from you, because they are.
One of the most effective flip-floppers in American history was Abraham Lincoln. How lucky are we that he was willing to change that particular opinion? He stayed true to his values and adjusted his policies to advance those values.
I learned zooming from Steve Jobs, it was something he practices all the time. Steve zoomed out to look beyond how industries are defined presently to see what the possibilities might be... You need to go beyond the defined description of an industry today, and look at it from all angles, and all contexts. Don't forget... entrepreneurship is about finding a better way.
Our approach is this: diversity is an invitation to the party, inclusion means being asked to dance, and belonging implies having the chance to choose a song on the playlist. This metaphor speaks to making a difference and feeling truly part of something.
We are held back by our deep, underlying fears. Fears of rejection, fears of being the imposter. We need to reframe these fears and work on regret minimisation. If you didn't take that action, spark up that conversation, or try that idea, would you regret it?
Without truthfulness I would never have been able to grow anything of any significance, I would have been 'found out.' Having truthfulness and ethics within a business creates trust among employees at all levels and is critical. I led the company with an approach of complete honesty.
Today's world has very mediocre leadership. Heads of state and government do not call each other out! You rarely- if ever- hear world leaders calling out Xi Jinping on the treatment of the Uighur people, for example.
I was only 9 years old, but I loved ski racing. I loved skiing in general, and was lucky enough to meet my idol, Picabo Street. I met her at an autograph signing at a ski shop in Minnesota, and I said that's it… that's what I want to do… and this is who I want to be like. From then on, I made ski racing my focus, and my dad helped me create a ten-year plan to make the next Olympics.
Don't aspire to be an entrepreneur. Aspire to create something that solves a problem. My message to young people with an idea is build a prototype and test it. Test it again and again, making the changes, learning from failure.
You have to go into a very quiet place in your mind, away from the noise of the world, the noise of doubters, insecurities and your own self. You have to quiet your disbelief and create open mindedness to your own ability to succeed and overcome.
Every failure has lessons it can give us- and knowing failure is possible and monitoring where you expect it to occur, allows you to divert your attention to the necessary observations and actions to carry out the positive.
If you're loosening the controls you've established simply because this person's exceptional skills or accomplishments bring you pleasure, you're encountering your first significant red flag. It's a major one that shouldn't be ignored.