My List of Famous Entrepreneurs that Changed the World

What does it take to become a famous entrepreneur? Well, it’s one thing to be successful; but it is a different ball game to be famous. There are a lot of successful entrepreneurs around the globe but there are only a handful of famous entrepreneurs; I mean entrepreneurs that changed the world with their businesses.

Today, I decided to compile my list of famous entrepreneurs that have impacted my life and thousands of others. I am listing famous entrepreneurs that have revolutionized the way we think and act. If you are ready to be inspired, then below is my list of famous entrepreneurs in no particular order.

My List of Famous Entrepreneurs that Changed the World

1. John D. Rockefeller: – He started from scratch and built Standard oil to become one of the largest oil and gas distribution companies worldwide. John D. Rockefeller during his time was the richest man in the world and he still remains one of the richest men in history. The foundation he founded “Rockefeller foundation” is one of the largest foundations in terms of funds distributed.

“The person who starts simply with the idea of getting rich won’t succeed; you must have a larger ambition.” – John D. Rockefeller

2. Henry Ford: – After experiencing two business failures, Henry Ford went on to become the richest man in the world in his time. But that is not his greatest achievement; Henry Ford will forever be remembered for democratizing the automobile by making it available for the masses.

“Thinking is the hardest work to do, that’s why so few people are engaged in it.” – Henry Ford

3. Andrew Carnegie: – After experiencing extreme poverty in his early life, Andrew Carnegie went on to build Carnegie Steel; one of the largest steel companies of its time. But what stands Andrew Carnegie out was that he gave away everything he had before his death.

“I began to learn what poverty meant. It was burnt in my heart then that my father had to beg for work and there came the resolve that I would cure that when I got to be a man.” – Andrew Carnegie

4. Steve Jobs: – When computers were bulky and expensive, with IBM stating clearly that a small computer was impractical; Steve Jobs made a resolve to put a computer on every table and today, his resolve is now a reality. Steve Jobs started Apple from scratch and built it to become one of the world’s most valuable brands. Respected as an innovator and a stickler for quality and perfection; Steve Jobs will forever be remembered for his passion towards technology; he ran Apple successfully until his death.

“Being the richest man in the cemetery doesn’t matter to me… Going to bed at night saying we’ve done something wonderful… that’s what matters to me.” – Steve Jobs

5. Sir Richard Branson: – What will say of an entrepreneur who owns 400+ companies worldwide? Well, you’ve just met Richard Branson, the founder of Virgin Group. A down-to-earth drop out billionaire and bestselling author; Richard Branson is most respected for his love for adventurous ventures.

“My interest in life comes from setting myself huge, apparently accepting unachievable challenges and trying to rise above them.” – Richard Branson

6. Donald Trump: – He is one of the biggest real estate developers in the U.S, a billionaire and celebrity host of The Apprentice. Donald Trump is popular for his “Thinking big” philosophy and his magnificent buildings.

“Most people think small because most people are afraid of success, afraid of making decisions, afraid of winning. And that gives people like me a great advantage.” – Donald Trump

7. Warren Buffett: – Warren Buffett is the world’s richest investor and founder of Berkshire Hathaway. His investment philosophy has revolutionized the way people invest and he plans to give away all his wealth upon his death.

“Risk comes from not knowing what you are doing.” – Warren Buffett

8. Aliko Dangote: – He is the richest black man in the world and has a goal to be Africa’s greatest industrialist.

9. Bill Gates: – He is the co-founder of Microsoft and the revolutionary of the software industry. He held the position of the world richest man for 13 consecutive years. He is currently the running the largest foundation in the world “Bill and Melinda Gates foundation.”

“To win big, you sometimes have to take big risks.” – Bill Gates

10. Mark Zuckerberg: – He changed the way people socialized with “Facebook” and went on to become the youngest billionaire in the world.

My List of Famous Entrepreneurs that Changed the World

11. Robert Kiyosaki: – A self help and personal finance expert, Robert is an entrepreneur that has transformed millions of life throughout the world with his teachings; and I am a living testimony to the result of his teachings. Robert is the famous controversial author of the book “Rich Dad Poor Dad” and other books.

“In today’s rapidly changing world, the people who are not taking risk are the risk takers.” – Robert Kiyosaki

12. Jeff Bezos: – Jeff gave up the security of his plum job and started selling books online from his garage and from that humble beginning; Amazon, the world largest bookstore was born. But Jeff has shunned conventional wisdom and taken Amazon beyond books to becoming the biggest online retail outlet. Little wonder Jeff Bezos is a billionaire.

“If there’s one reason we have done better than of our peers in the Internet space over the last six years, it is because we have focused like a laser on customer experience, and that really does matter, I think, in any business. It certainly matters online, where word of mouth is so very, very powerful.” – Jeff Bezos

13. Larry Page and Sergey Brin: – These two started out as friends, founded Google; the dominant player on the internet and went on to become billionaires. But aside the billions of dollars, Larry and Sergey have changed the way we access information because they’ve made it available to us at the speed of web.

14. Thomas Edison: – He is responsible for the invention of the light bulb and other electrical appliances. From being labeled dumb by his school teachers to dropping out of school; he founded General Electric, one of the most powerful companies in the world.

“I have friends in overalls whose friendship I would not swap for the favor of the kings of the world.” – Thomas Edison

15. Michael Dell: – Dropped out of college to pursue his dream to sell assembled computer directly to the customers; Michael has made a name in the computer industry and is worth a billion dollars.

16. Oprah Winfrey: – She discovered her passion for speaking and created a billion dollar empire out of it. She’s the richest black woman in the world but more important is the way she affected lives around the world through her show “The Oprah Winfrey Show.”

“You know you are on the road to success if you would do your job and not get paid for it.” – Oprah Winfrey

17. Ray Kroc: – Take a look around and you will observe that’s there’s a McDonald’s at every corner. Well, that’s the vision of Ray Kroc when he bought out the company from the founders. Today, McDonald’s is a billion dollar company. Not bad for a milkshake salesman that recognized opportunity that others could not see.

18. Mary Kay Ash: – The brand “Mary Kay” is one of the most recognized brands in the cosmetic industry but Mary Kay Ash didn’t just build a cosmetic company; she empowered women, raised multimillionaires and gave a lot of women a purpose to live.

“When you reach an obstacle, turn it into an opportunity. You have the choice. You can overcome and be a winner, or you can allow it to overcome you and be a loser. The choice is yours and yours alone. Refuse to throw in the towel. Go that extra mile that failures refuse to travel. It is far better to be exhausted from success than to be rested from failure.” – Mary Kay Ash

19. J. Paul Getty: – This entrepreneur controlled two hundred companies in his lifetime and was the richest man in his time. He founded Getty Company and the billion dollar foundation “Getty Foundation.”

“Without the element of uncertainty, the bringing off of even, the greatest business triumph would be dull, routine and eminently unsatisfying.” – J. Paul Getty

20. Larry Ellison: – A long standing rival of Bill Gates, Larry Ellison is the founder of Oracle; the second largest software company in the world. He’s famous for his flamboyant lifestyle.

“The most important aspect of my personality as far as determining my success goes; has been my questioning conventional wisdom, doubting experts and questioning authority. While that can be painful in your relationships with your parents and teachers, it’s enormously useful in life.” – Larry Ellison

15 Business Quotes on Adversity from 15 Famous Entrepreneurs

What will you do in the face of adversity? How do you handle business challenges or failures? Do you think you are limited by your place of birth, race or surrounding circumstances? Then read these 15 business quotes on adversity from 15 famous entrepreneurs.

15 Business Quotes on Adversity from 15 Famous Entrepreneurs

1. “I am convinced that all this poverty in Mexico and in Latin America, like it’s happening in China is the opportunity to grow. It’s an opportunity for investment; it’s an economic activity and to take out poverty is the best investment any person or a person can do in any place.” – Carlos Slim Helu

2. “We did not become a conglomerate right away. The journey has been long and hard. Many times we were tempted to throw in the towel but we has a clear vision; a dream.” – Cosmos Maduka

3. “I open up the store. I’ve got all these cookies. I had brownies. And I wait for the most amazing cookies sales. I just know it’s going to be a smashing success. And here I am waiting, waiting, and the day’s starting to wear, and it’s getting closer to mid afternoon, and I had a couple of customers walk in to see what was going on, but nobody actually made a purchase. I thought everything I had worked for, everything I had dreamed of, everything I had thought was possible wasn’t happening. It was pretty hard. I’m not going to close the book on history and say, “If only…” I’m going to do whatever I have to make this thing work.” – Debbi Fields

4. “I am very prudent financially because of those hard times I went through. I spent nothing. I had a haircut every three months. I shaved my head like a monk. I needed to save every penny…I needed to be strong, and needed to find some way to secure a future. That’s why I am always conservative. I never forget to maintain stability while advancing, and I never forget to advance while maintaining stability.” – Li Ka Shing

5. “I began to learn what poverty meant. It was burnt in my heart then that my father had to beg for work and there came the resolve that I would cure that when I got to be a man.” – Andrew Carnegie

6. “I did as much as I could: raising chickens, pushing an ice-cream cart, bagging walnuts, driving a tractor on a beet farm, working on the railroad. I think this eclectic career helped me a lot in life.” – Charles Schwab

7. “Everyone who achieves success in a great venture solves each problem as they came. They helped themselves and they were helped through powers known and unknown to them at the time they set out on their voyage. They keep going regardless of the obstacles they meet.” – W. Clement Stone

8. "Behind every adversity is an opportunity. If you lament over the adversity, you will miss the opportunity." – Ajaero Tony Martins

9. "If I lose a billion dollars, I will have it back in less than five years." – Henry Ford

10. "What's coming will come and we will just have to meet it when it does." - J. K. Rowling

11. “Both my mother and I were determined that we weren't going to stay on welfare. We always worked toward doing better, toward having a better life. We never had any doubts that we would.” – John Johnson

12. “I am a woman who came from the cotton fields of the South. From there I was promoted to the washtub. From there I was promoted to the cook kitchen. And from there I promoted myself into the business of manufacturing hair goods and preparations….I have built my own factory on my own ground.” – Madame C. J. Walker

13. “I know I have a very tough five months ahead of me, but I understand, too, that I will get through those months knowing that I have the ability to return to my productive and normal life, my interesting work and future business opportunities.” – Martha Stewart

14. "Be courageous. I have seen many depressions in business. Always, America has emerged from these stronger and more prosperous. Be brave as your fathers before you. Have faith! Go forward." – Thomas Edison

15. “We ran out of money in 1969, and the board of directors said: Let’s just shut this down. And I said: I’ll pay all the costs out of my own pocket and work for nothing to see if we can get this thing going. And fortunately, it did go.” – Herb Kelleher

Mark Zuckerberg: Success Secrets of the World Youngest Billionaire

In the course of building a business; I have seen and learned a lot of things, and I am still in the learning process. Everyday, I come across tough, die hard entrepreneurs whose drive and achievements inspire me.

One of such inspiring entrepreneurs is Mark Zuckerberg; the youngest billionaire in the world. A lot have been said and written about this young billionaire entrepreneur but I am going to focus on his entrepreneurial achievements.

I saw how Mark Zuckerberg started from scratch and rose to become the youngest billionaire in the world all in a space of five years. Call him an accidental billionaire, a billionaire hacker or anything you like and you won’t be wrong but he definitely deserved his current status. Mark Zuckerberg is currently on our list of richest drop out billionaires but I don’t intend writing about his successes or fame.

Instead, I want to share with you lessons I picked up from the early years of Mark Zuckerberg; when he had nothing but a dream. I think it’s worthwhile you quietly reflect on the entrepreneurial life of Mark Zuckerberg and learn from it.

Now how did Mark Zuckerberg develop the idea for FaceBook.com? How did Mark Zuckerberg rise from nothing to become the youngest billionaires in the world? What lessons can be drawn from the startup story of Mark Zuckerberg and his Facebook Company? If you are interested in the answer to any of the questions, then read on.

How to Become a Self Made Billionaire

“It’s not because of the amount of money. For me and my colleagues; the most important thing is that we create an open information flow for people. Having media corporations owned by conglomerates is not just an attractive idea to me.” –Mark Zuckerberg

In this article, I will be sharing with you the success lessons I learned from this young billionaire; Mark Zuckerberg. I am not sharing this with you to thrill you but to challenge you to stick it through the entrepreneurial process. If you are ready to learn, then below are the secrets to the success of Mark Zuckerberg; the youngest billionaire in the world.

Mark Zuckerberg: Success Secrets of the Youngest Billionaire in the World

1. Have a Dream

Most people think that Mark Zuckerberg emerged from the blues to become a billionaire; they think he built Facebook with just a snap of fingers. The truth is they are wrong. Mark Zuckerberg was not an overnight success. His journey to fame and fortune began as a dream; a desire he was willing to sacrifice all for. That’s why Napoleon Hill said that “Desire is the starting point of all achievements.”

So if you want to replicate the success of Mark Zuckerberg; if you want to become rich and famous like him, it starts with your desire. What do you want from this life? Where do you want to be in the next ten years? What do you want to be remembered for after you bow your head to death?

2. Think big

Facebook was a project on Mark Zuckerberg’s computer and he would have opted to sell it off back then but he refused. Why? He refused to sell it off because he wasn’t looking for a payoff; he wasn’t interested in a paid job, he was more interested in changing the world. Facebook was a small project but Mark Zuckerberg’s dream wasn’t a small one.

His friends envisioned Facebook as a college project; Mark Zuckerberg envisioned Facebook as a worldwide project that will change the way people communicate and stay in touch. People initially analyzed Facebook as a million dollar project but Mark Zuckerberg envisioned a billion dollar company.

What do you see in that small business idea of yours? Where do you see your company in the nearest future? Are you aspiring to build a million dollar company or a billion dollar company? Remember that success doesn’t just happen; it begins with strategic planning.

3. Start small

Mark Zuckerberg had big dreams and wonderful plans. He envisioned a worldwide project that will be worth billions of dollars. Yet, he started small. He wasn’t discouraged by his humble beginning; he didn’t despise the days of little beginning. Instead of waiting for the million dollar funding or startup capital; he started from his dormitory with little capital and sweat equity. But today; he’s among the youngest billionaires in the world. Never be ashamed to start from the scratch because building a business from scratch is where the glory lies.

4. Believe in yourself

Self belief is a prerequisite for successfully undertaking any venture and Mark Zuckerberg had lots of it. You can never build a successful business by thrusting responsibility to someone else. You have to believe that starting a business and growing such business can be done and you are the one to do it. Never look down on yourself; believe firmly in yourself and your God’s given ability and you will make it.

“You are nuts and you should be proud of it. Stick with what you believe in.” – Trip Hawkins

5. Follow your passion

What are you passionate about? Are you prepared to stick to your passion? Are you willing to make sacrifices for your passion? These are the questions you must answer if you want to replicate the success of Mark Zuckerberg.

Mark Zuckerberg was a programming enthusiast from childhood and he stuck to that passion; despite the fact that it led him to break the rules, he stuck to it. Everyone loves the success story of Mark Zuckerberg but only few will ever give a thought to the fact that Mark Zuckerberg dropped out of college; just to make sure his passion never dies. That singular sacrifice alone enabled him make the list of the richest drop out billionaires in the world. Undying resolve is a key to building a billion dollar business from scratch.

Mark Zuckerberg: Success Secrets of the Youngest Billionaire in the World

6. Be prepared for criticism

“I just wish nobody made a film about me while I am still alive.” – Mark Zuckerberg

Just like every successful entrepreneur; Mark Zuckerberg has gotten his share of criticism. But he refused to be cowed by it. Criticism is a necessity on the road to the top so you must be prepared not only to accept it but also to leverage on it. Don’t let criticism hold you back; instead, use it as a stepping stone to greater heights.

7. Be diligent

“I guess we could. If you look at how much of our page is taken up with ads compared to the average search query. The average for us is a little less than 10% of the pages and the average for search is about 20% taken up with ads. That’s the simplest thing we could do but we aren’t like that; we make enough money. Right, I mean we are keeping things running; we are growing at the rate we want to.” – Mark Zuckerberg
“See thou a man diligent in his business? He shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before vain men.” – Proverbs 22: 29

The message above is clear. Before the sweetness of success comes sweat. No man gets to the top with both hands in his pocket. All successful entrepreneurs and drop out billionaires earned their place through hard work; they toiled while others slept and that’s why they became successful.

8. Don’t be afraid to dare the giants

Mark Zuckerberg wanted Facebook to be the heart of the internet but he had an obstacle; an unmovable well established giant and that giant is Google. Was Mark afraid to take Google head on? The answer is no. Sometimes, success can be found at the feet of the giants; in the den of lions and only the brave can go for it. That’s why courage is one of the characteristics possessed by successful entrepreneurs. Without courage, there will be no risk taking.

9. Be focused

“The thing I really care about is the mission; making the world open.” – Mark Zuckerberg

Do you know the reason why Facebook was able to withstand Google? The answer is because Mark Zuckerberg focused on fulfilling Facebook’s mission. That’s why successful entrepreneurs such as Warren Buffett, Bill Gates and Andrew Carnegie repeatedly emphasized the need to concentrate. Diversified effort yield’s minimal results; concentrated effort yields maximum result. So concentrate.

“Concentrate your energy, your thoughts and your capital.” – Andrew Carnegie

10. Learn to take risk

“Without the element of uncertainty, the bringing off of even, the greatest business triumph would be dull, routine and eminently unsatisfying.” – J. Paul Getty
“In today’s rapidly changing world, the people who are not taking risk are the risk takers.” – Robert Kiyosaki

No entrepreneur ever became successful without undertaking an atom of risk. Mark Zuckerberg also had his fair share of risk. When Mark Zuckerberg dropped out of college to focus on building Facebook; he took risk. By confronting Google; he took risk. Facebook itself was a risky venture that paid off immensely. Entrepreneurship is all about risk taking. Without risk, the world will remain stagnant.

“Risk — If one has to jump a stream and knows how wide it is, he will not jump. If he doesn’t know how wide it is, he’ll jump and six times out of ten, he’ll make it.” – Anonymous
“You must take risks, both with your own money or with borrowed money. Risk taking is essential to business growth.” – J. Paul Getty

11. Stick to the process

“In the game of entrepreneurship, the process is more important than the goal. When you start building a business, you begin a journey, a process. This process has a beginning and an ending and between the beginning and end lays a lot of challenges. You will win only if you remain faithful to the process.” - Rich Dad

Starting the entrepreneurial process is one thing; sticking to the process is another. Facebook was not an overnight success; its success was achieved on installments. Mark Zuckerberg did not become a billionaire overnight; he worked it out for years and he is still working it out. That’s the spirit of entrepreneurship; the spirit of continuity.

“Press on. Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent.” – Ray Kroc

In conclusion; there’s nothing extraordinary about Mark Zuckerberg’s success. There’s nothing abnormal about his emergence as the youngest billionaire in the world. He deserves the position because he dreamed it, planned it and worked it out. He stuck to his passion and focused on fulfilling the Facebook mission; that was why he became the youngest billionaire in the world. His success has nothing to do with luck.

How to Handle Business Failure and still Succeed

Have you experienced a business failure in the past? Are you currently experiencing business challenges? Are you on the verge of business failure? Are you afraid of starting a business because of the fear of failure? Do you fear failure? Do you see failure a sign of defeat? If your answer to any of these questions is yes; then please read on because I am about revealing the secret to handling business failures and making a success out of it.

"The business empires built by successful entrepreneurs were erected on the foundation of past failures." – Ajaero Tony Martins

I once wrote an article “50 Failure Quotes from 50 Successful People” and I backed it up by sharing with you stories of successful entrepreneurs that failed before hitting success. I have also shared my personal experience about how I failed and went to become successful. You can read about it below.

How to Start a Business from Scratch: My Entrepreneurial Journey so far

Please before I go on, I want to state categorically that I will not in anyway be highlighting the causes of business failures or how to avoid them. I have dealt with such topics extensively in the past. You can check them out below.

10 Causes of Business Failure You Must Watch Out For

12 Strong Reasons Why Small Businesses Fail

Recession Strategies: How your Small Business can Survive a Recession

15 Common Business Mistakes You Must Avoid When Building a Business from Scratch

10 Reasons Why You Will Never Build a Successful Business

In this article, I will strictly be sharing with you practical tips for bouncing back to success from failure. I will be telling how to handle business failures and make a success out of it. I have failed countless times and the steps explained below are exactly how I handle my failures. Though this article is strictly written for entrepreneurs and business owners; anybody can make use of its lessons. If you are prepared to learn, please read on.

Now how do you handle business failure? How do you recover from a business failure? Well, you are going to find out below.

How to Handle Business Failure and still Succeed

1. Be prepared to fail

In the article “How to Start a Business from Scratch: My Entrepreneurial Journey so far,” I shared four hard core business lessons I have learn; mind you that these business lessons were self learned (lessons from personal experience). My lesson one in that article was:

“The fastest way to build a successful business from scratch is to fail fast.” – Ajaero Tony Martins

And this lesson is the truth in its entire. The first and the best way to handle business failure is to prepare for it in advance. I know this sounds crazy but it’s probably the best strategy for handling business failure. Nobody wants to fail and that’s why majority end up becoming failures.

Everyday I come across budding entrepreneurs who are excited about their new fool proof business ideas. But what these entrepreneurs fail to understand is that business is a game of probability; where you have a 50 – 50 chance of either failing or succeeding.

And with business failure come emotional pain on the part of the entrepreneur. I have seen and heard of entrepreneurs committing suicide just because their business crumbled. When my mom lost her lucrative business to fire, I knew the amount of courage it took her to bear the loss and start all over again. At the site of the incident, a business man who couldn’t stand the sight of watching his sweat go up in flames attempted to jump into the fire. If not for the intervention of on-lookers, that man would have been history.

That’s exactly why you need to be prepared in advance for the D-day. Nobody prays for failure but if it comes; you just have to face it. That’s what makes you an experienced entrepreneur. Now how do you prepare in advance for business failure?

You prepare in advance to handle business failure by changing your perception towards failure. Just as my mentor “Robert Kiyosaki” says “No one is doomed to bad luck.” Sometimes, unplanned shit happens but I will rather prepare myself for it ahead of time than to carry the illusion that things will never go wrong.

“Things never go smoothly.” – Jeff Bezos

You can also prepare for business failure by giving your business your best shot, while expecting the worst. Expecting the worst may lead you to setting up a landing haven; which in this case will be a contingency plan. A pilot learning how to fly an airplane will never be allowed to practice without a parachute; so must you also never start a business without an escape plan.

A contingency plan is the reason why successful entrepreneurs start new businesses despite their failures; it’s the reason why I am still in the game of entrepreneurship. I have had successes and failures in business but that doesn’t still erase the odds. I might be back to square one tomorrow; but I am not afraid to lose it all because I have prepared my mindset to handle even the worst situation.

2. Don’t take failure personal

The message above is straight and precise. If you’ve been hit by a storm in business; don’t take it personal, it’s just life. Don’t go banging your head against the wall because you won’t solve anything that way. Don’t go criticizing yourself; don’t regret ever starting a business.

The fact that you failed in business doesn’t mean you are doomed to bad luck. It’s not your destiny to be a failure; failure and success is all about choice. Instead of talking down on yourself, cheer yourself up; you’ve just proved that you have the nerve to handle risk.

Starting a Business: It Takes More than Just an Idea

It takes guts to start a business and fail; and you’ve just built one and lost it. Most people will remain average because they lack such guts; they may die poor because they lack the courage to risk failure. Most people will never know what it feels like to lose a million dollar business and that’s why they will never build a billion dollar business.

3. Take responsibility

“Making mistakes is the privilege of the active. It is always the mediocre people who are negative, who spend their time proving that they are not wrong.” – Ingvar Kamprad

Taking responsibility for your actions is an essential ingredient to handling business failure and making a success out of it. Don’t go looking for whom to blame. If you were bad at cash flow management; admit it. If your business crumbled based on the decision you took or the business move you made; don’t deny it. Admit it and move on. Making mistakes is what makes us human.

"Only those who are asleep make no mistakes." – Ingvar Kamprad

4. Let your emotions flow

When you’ve lost a business; just let your emotions flow. Cry if you must and don’t feel bad about crying but I will prefer you do it in your closet. Don’t even think about hurting yourself because your predicament is just a phase that will come to pass. Allow your emotions flow because that moment of pain and tears will turn out to be one of your memorable and most inspiring moments in life.

5. Analyze the situation

Analyze the situation and circumstances surrounding your business failure. Where did you go wrong? What did you do wrong? What caused the failure? What would you have done to prevent the failure that you failed to do? These are the questions you should be answering at this point in time. If you don’t find definite answers to the questions; then you are bound to repeat the feat again.

You can also pick the pieces or leftovers of your failed business. They may prove useful in your next business venture.

6. Take note of the lessons

This is probably the most important element to converting your business failure into success. You will be a fool to lose a business and not learn from the experience. In fact, this experience may turn out to be a priceless asset in the long run. Yes, you’ve fail and there’s nothing you can do about it. One of the most important questions I always ask someone who has just lost a business, contract or an idea is this:

What did you learn from your failure?

If you can’t answer this question confidently; then more business failures await you. The lesson from your business failure is very important because it will form the foundation on which you will build a successful business. If you want to know how to turn your business failure into a learning opportunity; then read the article below.

How to Learn From Your Mistakes in Business

"Behind every adversity is an opportunity. If you lament over the adversity, you will miss the opportunity." – Ajaero Tony Martins

7. Resolve to succeed

"Get mocked at for as much as you can, fail as much as you can but don't quit. Let every mockery, every failure, be a source of inspiration for you to reach for greatness and that greatness will silence your critics." – Ajaero Tony Martins

You can either use your business failure as leverage to greater heights or as a spade to digging your grave. The choice is yours. Instead of being cowed by your failures; use your business failure as a stern resolve to succeed. Each time I fail; I resolute to strive harder and smarter to cover for my losses and failures. Failures don’t weigh me down; instead, failure inspires me to success. You should strive to use your failures positively.

“When I see a barrier, I cry and I curse, and then I get a ladder and climb over it.” – John Johnson

8. Start again

"Starting a business is like building a ship and embarking on a voyage, armed with a plan, a map and a team. You have to sail with uncertainty against storms and unpredictable weather. If your ship sinks, it's either you quit or you swim back to shore, build a new ship and sail again." – Ajaero Tony Martins

You have failed, cried your eyes out and learned some lessons. But the question now is: will you have the guts to start a business again? The word of God made me understand that the glory is not in the falling; but by rising each time we fall.

Just as I said earlier; “I am not afraid of failing, I am only afraid to quit the entrepreneurial process having come this far.” In the business world, you are not yet defeated until you quit the game. As long as you are still in the game; even if you are hanging by a finger, you can always start again.

"You can always quit, so why quit now." – Rich Dad

As a final note, this is my eight step guide to handling business failures. These are the exact steps I take whenever I fail to breakthrough in business. Before I draw the curtain close, I want you to know that failing in business is a painful experience; but it’s worth it if you go about it positively and make a success out of it.

12 Famous Entrepreneurs and Business Role Models You can Draw Inspiration from

Do you have a role model? Who inspires you? When you find yourself in certain situations; who’s thinking pattern and strategy do you adopt? While I may not know your role models; I want to share mine with you.

I have several role models covering every field of life I have interest in but I will be limiting this article to just my entrepreneurial role models. I will be sharing in this article a list of entrepreneurs and business role models that inspire me the most. This list comprises of some successful entrepreneurs and drop out billionaires who are quite famous.

In addition to listing their names, I will also be highlighting the specific influence or impact they’ve had on my life. If you are an entrepreneur and you don’t have a role model; then I will advice you find one because your entrepreneurial role model can be a great source of inspiration.

12 Famous Entrepreneurs and Business Role Models You can Draw Inspiration from

Before I proceed with the list of my entrepreneurial role models; I want to acknowledge the greatest entrepreneur I’ve ever known. This entrepreneur has been my greatest source of inspiration; this entrepreneur is no other person than my beloved mother, Angela Ajaero.

I once watched my mom’s retail store at Balogun, Lagos Island go up in flames and goods worth millions were destroyed by the inferno. I personally broke the news of the tragedy to her while she was chatting with a close friend; but all my mom did was smile. When I broke the news, I expected her to break down in tears so I prepared myself to comfort her but my mom surprised me; not a single tear dropped from her eyes.

Most importantly, my mom diligently and courageously started building a business again from scratch; I really admire the courage she put up in the face of adversity. Today, whenever I am faced with a business challenge or trouble; I simply close my eyes and remember the countenance of my mom the day I broke the news of the fire incident to her. Then I will say to myself; “if my mom who happens to be a woman didn’t break down in the face of adversity, why should I?

My mom experience and reaction to situations made her my greatest role model and source of inspiration. Now are there other entrepreneurs who I draw inspiration from? My answer is yes.

1. Larry Ellison – Oracle Corporation

I have tremendous respect for Larry Ellison and he has greatly influenced my life with respect to my goal getting attitude. Whenever I am in pursuit of a goal; I become Larry Ellison because I admire his ambitious spirit and I aspire to build up such level of go getting spirit.

“I think I am very goal oriented. I’d like to win the America’s cup. I’d like Oracle to be the No 1 software company in the world. I still think it is possible to beat Microsoft.” – Larry Ellison

2. Andrew Carnegie – Carnegie Steel

Reading the autobiography of Andrew Carnegie opened up my heart on the need to give back to the society. Andrew Carnegie was known for his philanthropic activities; he’s remembered as the man who gave all away to charity and I think I want to tow that line.

“I resolved to stop accumulating and begin the infinitely more serious and difficult task of wise distribution.” – Andrew Carnegie

3. Mike Adenuga – Globacom, Conoil, Equatorial Trust Bank

Mike Adenuga is a Nigerian billionaire but his humility overshadows his wealth. Nothing strikes my heart more than seeing someone influential and wealthy still bowing low. I have heard of the humility of Mike Adenuga but I made up my mind to be like him when I read in the papers that he once went on his knees and laid face down before someone he was far richer than.

4. Ingvar Kamprad – IKEA

To become a successful entrepreneur; you must have high self imposed standard and you must stick to it. This was exactly what I learned from Ingvar Kamprad; founder of IKEA. Ingvar Kamprad has been heavily criticized because of his reputation for “cautious spending.” Ingvar Kamprad is very cautious of the way he spends money despite the fact that he’s among the richest people in the world and I really respect that resolve. If you have a personal standard, stick to it no matter the criticism.

“I am stingy and I’m proud of the reputation.” – Ingvar Kamprad
“Waste of resources is a mortal sin at IKEA.” – Ingvar Kamprad

5. Aliko Dangote – Dangote Group

Aliko Dangote has always a role model that inspires my spirit. His strong business sense and his determination to support the economy of Nigeria earned him my respect. I also admire his drive and I look forward to replicating his achievements by aggressively investing in my country.

“I enjoy myself a lot but I derive more joy in working. I believe in hard work and one of my business success secrets is hard work. It’s hard to see a youth that will go to bed by 2am and wake up by 5am. I don’t rest until I achieve something.” – Aliko Dangote

6. Richard Branson – Virgin Group

I have been a long admirer of the Virgin Group but my contact with Richard Branson’s autobiography Losing My Virginity increased my respect for him. His competitive spirit and resilience inspires me to take on the giants unafraid.

“To be successful, you have to be out there, you have to hit the ground running, and if you have a good team around you and more than a fair share of luck, you might make something happen. But you certainly can’t guarantee it just by following someone else’s formula.” – Richard Branson

12 Famous Entrepreneurs and Business Role Models You can Draw Inspiration from

7. Ray Kroc – McDonald’s

In the business world, the name “Ray Kroc” is synonymous with persistence. With persistence, Ray Kroc built from a single stand to become the world’s most successful small business. Most times, I use Ray Kroc’s motto “press on” to stir my spirit to action and that’s why he’s on my list of role models.

“Press on; nothing in the world can take the place of persistence. Nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. The world is full with educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent.” – Ray Kroc

8. Henry Ford – Ford Motor Company

If there’s any reason why Henry Ford is on this list; it’s because he taught me how to fail without failing, he taught me that failure is just a resting place and he proved it by going from two major business failures to becoming one of the richest man in the world. So whenever I am on the verge of failure; I remember the lessons of Henry Ford and use it as an inspiration to stay afloat.

“Failure is just a resting place. It is an opportunity to begin again more intelligently.” – Henry Ford

9. Robert Kiyosaki – Rich Dad Company

I don’t think this list will be complete without Robert Kiyosaki; in fact, he is one of my most respected mentors. His teachings and ideas drove me into entrepreneurship; I became an entrepreneur after reading his book “Rich dad Poor Dad.” Today, I am financially literate, financially free and have a stronger control of my life. Thanks to Robert Kiyosaki’s teachings.

“People without financial knowledge, who take advice from financial experts are like lemmings simply following their leader. They race for the cliff and leap into the ocean of financial uncertainty, hoping to swim to the other side.” – Robert Kiyosaki

10. J. Paul Getty – Getty Oil

Entrepreneurship is all about risking your time, energy and resources on a venture with hope of a bigger reward. And there’s no other entrepreneur that emphasizes on the need for entrepreneurs to take risk than J. Paul Getty; the billionaire oil mogul.

“You must take risks, both with your own money or with borrowed money. Risk taking is essential to business growth.” – J. Paul Getty

11. Warren Buffett – Berkshire Hathaway

In the world of business and investing, Warren Buffett happens to be one of the few personalities that have maintained a clean record and it caught my attention. Integrity is a rare character in life but Warren Buffett has maintained the standard and I aspire to be just like him; or even better.

“It takes 20 years to build a reputation and only five Minutes to ruin it. If you think about that, you will do things differently.” – Warren Buffett

As a final note, these are the 12 entrepreneurs and business role models I seek inspiration from; you can also do the same. Role models, mentors and coaches have a high influence on protégés so take advantage of the opportunity; find a good role model, aspire to be like him/her and I will see you at the top.

60 Famous Life Quotes and Sayings from 60 Famous Entrepreneurs

Today, I will be sharing with you 60 famous life quotes and sayings from 60 famous entrepreneurs.” These 60 famous life quotes reveals the perspectives and beliefs of some of the world’s famous entrepreneurs. I hope you learn from these famous entrepreneurs view of life.

“To everything, there is a season, and a time to every purpose under heaven. A time to plant and a time to harvest that; which is planted. A time to break down and a time to build up.” – Ecclesiastes 3: 1-8

"Face reality as it is; not as it was or as you wish it were." – Jack Welch

Without wasting much of your time, below are 60 famous life quotes and sayings from 60 famous entrepreneurs.

60 Famous Life Quotes and Sayings from 60 Famous Entrepreneurs

1. “I wake up every morning thinking…this is my last day. And I jam everything into it. There’s no time for mediocrity. This is no damned dress rehearsal.” – Anita Roddick

2. "I shall argue that strong men conversely know when to compromise and that all principles can be compromised to serve a greater purpose." – Andrew Carnegie

3. “When you discover your mission, you will feel its demand. It will fill you with enthusiasm and a burning desire to get to work on it.” – W. Clement Stone

4. “Somewhere out there are a few men with more innate talent at golf than Jack Nicklaus or women with greater ability at tennis than Chris Evert or Martina Navratilova but they will never lift a club or swing a racket and therefore will never find out how great they could have been. Instead, they will be content to sit and watch stars perform on television.”

5. “I regret being the richest man in the world because that position attracts undeserved publicity.” – Bill Gates

6. "God is such a loving father. He gave everyone of us a blank signed check. Anything you write on that check will be yours. But unfortunately; most people die poor because they don't dare to write something big on that check. That check is a gift called life." – Ajaero Tony Martins

7. "There is no man living who isn't capable of doing more than he thinks he can do." – Henry Ford

8. "Life is like a cobweb, not an organizational chart." – Henry Ross Perot

9. “Happiness is not reaching our goal. Happiness is being on the way. It’s our wonderful fate to just be at the beginning.” – Ingvar Kamprad

10. "What's coming will come and we will just have to meet it when it does." – J. K Rowling

60 Famous Life Quotes and Sayings from 60 Famous Entrepreneurs

11. "In times of rapid change, experience could be your worst enemy." – J. Paul Getty

12. “I believe a man is better anchored who has a belief in the Supreme Being.” – James Cash Penny

13. "Every right implies a responsibility; every opportunity an obligation, every possession a duty." – John D. Rockefeller

14. “You realize that life is short and fragile; and when you are facing walls of water, you understand your own mortality can change and how quickly things could change.” – Larry Ellison

15. "We must have a theme, a goal, a purpose in our lives. If you don't know where you are aiming, you don't have a goal. My goal is to live my life in such a way that when I die, someone can say, 'she cared." – Mary Kay Ash

16. “My philosophy is that not only are you responsible for your life but doing the best at this moment puts you in the best place for the next moment.” – Oprah Winfrey

17. "The more a person seeks security, the more that person gives up control over his life." – Rich Dad

18. "The most life destroying word of all is the word tomorrow." – Robert Kiyosaki

19. "I know this world is ruled by infinite intelligence. Everything that surrounds us – everything that exists, proves that there are infinite laws behind it. There can be no denying this fact. It's mathematical in its precision." – Thomas Edison

20. “Let us do or die.” – Warren Buffett

60 Famous Life Quotes and Sayings from 60 Famous Entrepreneurs

21. “When you have made it in life, you must give back to those who made you.” – Aliko Dangote

22. “Things never go smoothly.” – Jeff Bezos

23. “Decide what it is that you are and then stay true to that thing. My brand is based very much on how I live my day-to-day life.” – Rachael Ray

24. “Remembering that I'll be dead soon is the most important tool I've ever encountered to help me make the big choices in life. Because almost everything — all external expectations, all pride, all fear of embarrassment or failure – these things just fall away in the face of death, leaving only what is truly important. Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose. You are already naked. There is no reason not to follow your heart.” – Steve Jobs

25. “May my legend prosper and thrive. I wish it a long and happy life.” – Coco Chanel

26. “Getting out of the way is really important.” – Craig Newmark

27. “To sit down with a blank piece of paper and write was the most traumatic thing that had ever faced me in life. I had ideas in my head, but I could not get the stuff down. It was a crushing time.” – Charles Schwab

28. “In the beginning there was nothing and God said 'Let there be light', and there was still nothing but everybody could see it.” – Dave Thomas

29. “Good enough never is. Set your standards so high that even the flaws are considered excellent.” – Debbi Fields

30. “My first-grade teacher told me I was the dumbest student she ever had. She did me a favor. If she told me I was very smart, I wouldn’t have tried to improve.” – Ernest Gallo

60 Famous Life Quotes and Sayings from 60 Famous Entrepreneurs

31. “I didn't get there by wishing for it or hoping for it, but by working for it.” – Estee Lauder

32. “I had a lot to learn.” – Fred DeLuca

33. “You've got to enjoy what you're doing, and have some fun, and be able to laugh at yourself a bit.” – Fred Smith

34. “I enjoy the independence of single-handling a boat. I like controlling the elements, making the wind and the waves and the water work for me.” – Gerry Schwartz

35. “Remain true to yourself and your philosophy. Changing in the face of adversity will in fact diminish your credibility” – Giorgio Armani

36. “I made a resolve then that I was going to amount to something if I could. And no hours, nor amount of labor, nor amount of money would deter me from giving the best that there was in me. And I have done that ever since, and I win by it. I know.” – Harland Sanders

37. “You must be very patient, very persistent. The world isn't going to shower gold coins on you just because you have a good idea. You're going to have to work like crazy to bring that idea to the attention of people. They're not going to buy it unless they know about it.” – Herb Kelleher

38. “Once you consent to some concession, you can never cancel it and put things back the way they are.” – Howard Hughes

39. “Life should be enjoyed, not wasted counting fat grams and calories.” – Jenny Craig

40. “Go as far as you can see; when you get there, you'll be able to see farther.” – J. P. Morgan

60 Famous Life Quotes and Sayings from 60 Famous Entrepreneurs

41. “I'm convinced that the only way to get ahead in this world is to live and sell dangerously. You've got to live beyond your means. You've got to commit yourself to an act or vision that pulls you further than you want to go and forces you to use your hidden strengths.” – John H. Johnson

42. “Let others lead small lives, but not you. Let others argue over small things, but not you. Let others cry over small hurts, but not you. Let others leave their future in someone else's hands, but not you.” – Jim Rohn

43. “I had to make my own living and my own opportunity. But I made it! Don’t sit down and wait for the opportunities to come. Get up and make them.” – C. J. Walker

44. “You can believe in Fung Shui if you want, but ultimately people control their own fate. The most important thing is to improve yourself and give it your best. Then many things previously thought to be impossible will become possible.” – Li Ka Shing

45. “Toughness is a good thing, yet it is considered good only in men. When a woman is tough, men can't stand it. I like being tough and smart.” – Lilian Vernon

46. “I must reclaim my good life and I must return to my good works.” – Martha Stewart

47. “There are no shortcuts. You have to work hard, and try to put yourself in a position where if luck strikes, you can see the opportunity and take advantage of it. I would also say it's hard not to fool yourself. Everyone tells you how they are going to be "special," but few do the work to get there. Do the work.” – Mark Cuban

48. “Don’t spend so much time trying to choose the perfect opportunity, that you miss the right opportunity.” – Michael Dell

49. “I think those challenges are really critical and really important. What you learn from them is, of course, kind of what they say, ‘If it doesn’t kill you, it makes you stronger,’ and it’s true. And what you learn from those challenges and those failures are what will get you past the next ones.” – Pierre Omidyar

50. “One is only happy in proportion as he makes others feel happy and only useful as he contributes his influences for the finer callings in life.” – Milton Hershey

60 Famous Life Quotes and Sayings from 60 Famous Entrepreneurs

51. “What I do is about living. It’s about living the best life you can and enjoying the fullness of the life around you – from what you wear, to the way you live, to the way you love.” – Ralph Lauren

52. “It’s easy to have principles when you're rich. The important thing is to have principles when you're poor.” – Ray Kroc

53. “It was an extremely satisfying experience. Taking smart risks can be very gratifying.” – Reed Hastings

54. “We’re not reinventing the wheel; we’re just painting it black.” – Robert Johnson

55. "I believe in benevolent dictatorship provided I am the dictator." – Richard Branson

56. “We have no intention of failing. The only question is how great a success we'll have.” – Rupert Murdoch

57. “Ignore the conventional wisdom. If everybody else is doing it one way, there's a good chance you can find your niche by going in exactly the opposite direction.” – Sam Walton

58. “Our one goal is to give the world a taste of peace, friendship and understanding. Through the visual arts, the art of celebration of life, we are dedicated to making this the most emotional opening ceremony ever.” – Steve Spielberg

59. “I'd rather go to hell. Heaven has got to be boring.” – Ted Turner

60. “If you can dream it, you can do it.” – Walt Disney

31 Positive Thinking Quotes from Famous Entrepreneurs

How do you handle failure and disappointments in business? Do you perceive business mistakes as bad or as an opportunity to learn? Are you an optimist or pessimist? Do you know that you can become a success in life by mere thinking positively? If you had a chance to change your perception from a negative one to a positive one; will you take it? If your answer to the last question is yes, please read on.

Today, I want to share with you some positive thinking quotes that will help change your perception towards life. Most average entrepreneurs lack the ability to think positively and that’s why they remain average.

“What we think, we become.” – Anonymous

Successful entrepreneurs are successful because of their positive perception towards business failures, business challenges, criticism, business mistakes and life in general. This is the sole reason why I always emphasize the need for a change of mindset before ever starting a business.

In this article, you will learn from successful entrepreneurs; the secret to successfully going through the entrepreneurial process of building a business by simply thinking positively. Without wasting your time, below are 31 positive thinking quotes from famous entrepreneurs.

31 Positive Thinking Quotes from Famous Entrepreneurs

1. “I intend to be, the richest man in the world.” – Howard Hughes

2. "To be successful, you must act big, think big and talk big." – Aristotle Onassis

3. "It is my utmost desire to become a billionaire in my life time and also give away billions of dollars. I don't think any paid employment on earth can help me achieve that dream. If I become a billionaire in my life time, I will just be another self made entrepreneur on the list. But if I don't; I will die knowing I gave that dream my best shot." – Ajaero Tony Martins

4. “Like success, failure is many things to many people. With positive mental attitude, failure is a learning experience, a rung on the ladder, and a plateau at which to get your thoughts in order to prepare to try again.” – W. Clement Stone

5. “Out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks” – Luke 6:45, Matthew 12:34

6. “Be careful of your thought, for they may break into words”. – Anonymous.

7. "I like thinking big. If you’re going to be thinking anything, you might as well think big." – Donald Trump

31 Positive Thinking Quotes from Famous Entrepreneurs

8. “We are self made or never made.” – Dr Sidney Newton

9. "I am looking for a lot of men who have the infinite capacity to not know what can't be done." – Henry Ford

10. "I'm not afraid of turning 80 and I have lots of things to do. I don't have time for dying." – Ingvar Kamprad

11. "What's the worst that could happen? Everyone turned me down; big deal." – J. K. Rowling

12. "Don’t limit yourself. Many people limit themselves to what they think they can do. You can go as far as your mind lets you. What you believe, remember you can achieve." – Mary Kay Ash

13. "I always knew I was destined for greatness." – Oprah Winfrey

14. "Every tomorrow has two handles. You can take hold of the handle of anxiety or the handle of enthusiasm. Upon your choice so will be the day." – Brian Tracy

31 Positive Thinking Quotes from Famous Entrepreneurs

15. "There are no mistakes in life, just learning opportunities." – Rich Dad

16. “As a man thinketh in his heart; so he is.” – The Holy Bible

17. "I have never run into a guy who could win at the top level in anything today and didn't have the right attitude, didn't give it everything he had, at least while he was doing it; wasn't prepared and didn't have the whole program worked out." – Ted Turner

18. "I always knew I was going to be rich. I don't think I ever doubted it for a minute." – Warren Buffett

19. "Be courageous. I have seen many depressions in business. Always, America has emerged from these stronger and more prosperous. Be brave as your fathers before you. Have faith! Go forward." – Thomas Edison

20. "I have not failed. I have just found 10,000 ways that won't work." – Thomas Edison

21. "Getting rich begins with the right mindset, the right words and the right plan." – Rich Dad

31 Positive Thinking Quotes from Famous Entrepreneurs

22. "I am black, I don't feel burdened by it and I don't think it's a huge responsibility. It's part of who I am. It does not define me." – Oprah Winfrey

23. “We have a problem, ‘congratulations.’ But it’s a tough problem. Then double congratulations.” – W. Clement Stone

24. “Life and death are in the power of the tongue” – Proverbs 18:21

25. "The greatest discovery of all time is that a person can change by merely changing his attitude." – Oprah Winfrey

26. “Self suggestion makes you master of yourself.” – W. Clement Stone

27. "Do you know that within your power lies every step you ever dreamed of stepping and within your power lies every joy you ever dreamed of seeing? Within yourself lies everything you ever dreamed of being. Become everything that God wants you to be. It is within your reach. Dare to grow into your dreams and claim this as your motto: Let it be me." – Mary Kay Ash

28. "I don't think of myself as a poor deprived ghetto girl who made good. I think of myself as somebody who from an early age knew I was responsible for myself, and I had to make good." – Oprah Winfrey

29. “A man is what he thinks all day long.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

30. “Nothing can stop a man with the right mental attitude from achieving his goals; and nothing on earth can help a man with the wrong mental attitude.” – Thomas Jefferson

31 “There is little difference in people but that little difference makes big difference. The little difference is attitude. The big difference is whether it is positive or negative.” – W. Clement Stone