When we are young, we have the proclivity to take risks — big or small…to test our limits, to analyze our abilities and to definitely break the rules and make new ones. This is the similar zesty scenario that still turns the youngest of the men into heroes and icons especially in arena of business. The Business Pundit is out again with its list of business icons that have tuned their businesses into their alter-egos — daring, risking and winning.
On the top is the Chairman/CEO of General Electric (GE), Jack Welch, particularly known as the ‘Manager of the Century‘ by the Fortune Magazine. Welch is famously recognized for his sharp business acumen and propensity to risk big and come out as the best. Regarded as the sole streamliner of the GE business group, he reduced the 29 operating levels of the company to only six in number, downsized the personnel and motivated the remaining to be more productive. The GE group climbed heights under his leadership, the business growing to $280 Billion from $12 Billion. Also referred to as ‘Neutron jack‘ (for his downsizing practices), he is considered to be the topmost businessman to have dared and win.
The second place in this list is adorned with the name of Steve Jobs, the co-founder/Chairman/CEO of Apple and the ex-chairman of Pixar. Referred to as the ‘Global Cultural Guru‘, he is the second best when it comes to daring the world for his business practices and erratic behaviour. Having a net worth of $20 billion, he is also termed as the ‘Silicon Valley’s Leading Egomaniac‘, pretty evident with this quote of his,
What can I say? I hired the wrong guy. He destroyed everything I spent 10 years working for.
The third place is reserved for Sir Richard Branson, the much venerated businessman for his Virgin brand of more than 360 companies. He is one businessman who knows how to be young at heart as well as zippy and he has proved this right by acting in various television shows including Baywatch. From a record store to where he is now, he has been awarded with knighthood for his ’services to entrepreneurship’. From social causes to business causes, Sir Branson has mastered it all.
The fourth place is kept for Sam Wilton, of the Wal-Mart chain of retail stores fame. A true business icon, his statements promised success, as he once quoted,
Each Wal-Mart store should reflect the values of its customers and support the vision they hold for their community.
The fifth place is reserved for Bill Gates, the richest man on earth. From taking a risk of leaving education for his small business ‘Microsoft’, Gates is the leader of the software business.
These were the famous five champions and the young go-getters who have achieved what they set out for, with the list still entailing names like Donald trump, Henry Ford, Ray Krot, Jim Buckmaster, Rupert Murdoch and so on. So if you want to be like them, try living for today and become a daredevil. These people have a history of risking and winning. Try yourself!
Via: youngentrepreneur
