Lessons From The Dragon’s Den’s Robert Herjavec Part 24

December 29, 2010

At one point I had a question for one of the Rangers conducting the training … “How is it,”, I asked,” that you are so successful at creating leadership skills here, yet so few Rangers become business leaders?  Why can’t everyone who achieves Ranger status in the army transfer those same skills to the corporate world and become outstanding CEOs?”

The answer had nothing to do with leadership training, and everything to do with personal motivation.  Military professionals, I was told, do not focus on personal achievements the way business people do.  Instead, they have a need to contribute beyond themselves.  Army leadership is all about making sacrifices for the greater good, which means whatever objective their country is aiming towards …

Much military training is based on self-sacrifice at various levels.  You sacrifice your civilian freedom for military discipline, you give up a normal family life to be posted overseas, and you risk your own life to carry out orders in combat situations … That’s hardly the way with sales, or becoming a successful entrepreneur.  Both are based not on self-sacrifice but on self-interest” – from Driven

It’s thought that school teachers can make great real estate sales people because ultimately they teach and offer information to their clients in the form of expertise on their local real estate market.  The problem with this theory is teachers will not necessarily have the ability to prospect.  If they are unable or unwilling to devise ways of getting in front of prospects then all the teaching ability in the world won’t matter.

“I happen to believe that all first-time entrepreneurs should be a little naïve, because if they were truly aware of all the dangers facing them, they might forget the whole idea.  You simply cannot anticipate every source of danger and every hidden trap between here and whatever goal you set for yourself when launching a business.  The best thing you can do is underestimate the dangers they represent and remain convinced you can handle them” – from Driven

Filed under: Inspiration

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