Opportunity and innovation are the central hallmarks of every entrepreneur. Being able to see untapped potential and having a vision for that potential that, perhaps, no one else sees are the tentpoles of entrepreneurship that have been central to my life and of those I admire and am inspired by.
This is especially true right now as the world is gripped by a worldwide pandemic. Companies both large and small have closed their doors in a race to stem the tide. Hardly an industry has been left untouched by this devastation. The need to persevere and maintain clear vision has never been greater — to persevere with the knowledge that we will emerge stronger than before and to look for hidden opportunity.
Within our BG family of companies we are utilizing this time to reflect and shed light on new opportunities and creative strategies for us and those in our world.
My attitude and confidence in this way of thinking — especially during such uncertainty — began long ago. From my earliest days I was inspired by watching others and seeing how they handled adversity as much as opportunity: One does to exist without the other, and being good at both is essential.
I observed that people with successful businesses seemed to have an “X” factor: an amplified and unique way of seeing the world, both in the way they solved problems as well as capitalized on opportunities. I was fascinated and excited by watching how they built and operated their companies despite the obstacles that they encountered on a daily basis.
In each case — and regardless of the industry — the difference maker was that the more successful ones demonstrated a way of being and thinking that set them apart from others. It was more intuitive than learned, as if they were relying on an inner guidance system that coexisted within a larger would of expertise and proven business skills.
“Listen to the experts, gain as much knowledge as you can, and then listen to what your gut is telling you,” advised one of my earliest mentors.
By the time I started my own company at age 25, I was able to use these tenets to grow the company to a team of more than 40 people with dozens of accounts. I eventually sold that company and used that success to fund my present day company: BG Capital Group.
The learning I received from watching these men and women was invaluable, and I noticed key elements they each shared in common. In short, they maintained a core vision and core values that, like sails on ship, kept them on course despite disruptions and unanticipated problems.
Never before has such clear vision been needed, and never before have the stakes been higher. But I trust that adversity builds strength and can, ultimately, be the springboard to even greater opportunity.
Wise Words from Top Mentors
1. “Success is never owned. It’s rented every day.”
2. “Consistency is key. Trust the process”
3. “Hard work outworks talent when talent doesn’t show up.”
4. “Champions believe in themselves even when no one else does.”
5. “When you learn how to turn a negative into a learning experience you learn how to overcome the next adversity.”