According to Business Insider, Becca Brown, though she is only in her middle thirties, has already enjoyed two successful careers.
The entrepreneur graduated from Harvard in 2000 and began working at Goldman Sachs, at a time when it was nearly impossible to get hired on at the bank. She earned her MBA in 2007 and continued to work for Goldman Sachs for a while, but eventually left to start her own business.
In 2009, Brown and her former Goldman Sachs colleague Monica Ferguson founded Solemates, a line of women’s shoe-care products.
The products are available in 3,000 stores around the world. In 2014, several hundred thousand pairs of heel guards, the company’s signature product, were sold.
How did Brown do it? She credits her success to the mantra, “Act as if.”
Brown explained, “It's a mentality, a state of mind, a perspective. Things are not always going to go your way in business, in your career, and in life. There will be setbacks and disappointments, and you may be tempted to get down on yourself, but you have to act as if—as if it didn't happen. As if it didn't faze you. As if things had gone your way."
Liz Berkery Drury, one of Brown’s lacrosse coaches, first introduced her to this phrase. Brown said, “While, when she said this to me, it wasn't necessarily in the context of my career yet, I have carried this advice with me throughout my life and career, and I absolutely still follow it."
What about advice from other successful business people around the world?
In an article from Entrepreneur.com, several of the world’s most successful people share the most valuable advice they ever received.
For billionaire Mark Cuban, the words of wisdom were “There are no shortcuts.” The advice came from his father, who did upholstery on vehicles. Cuban said that his father was encouraging, but also realistic.
Lululemon founder Chip Wilson adds his advice—that it’s okay to ask for help. He said, “People love to help. I don’t have to be insecure and know it all.” Wilson received this advice at Landmark Forum, which is a weekend workshop he attended back in 1991. Wilson learned how to trust others and share control, and both characteristics were key to the success of his company.
For real estate mogul Barbara Corcoran, the best advice she ever received was actually an insult! Corcoran recalled, “It was from my boyfriend and partner in my first business when he told me I would never succeed without him. I was injured no doubt. But thank God he insulted me because I would not have built a big business without that. It kept me trying everything because I couldn't give him the satisfaction of seeing me fail. So the best advice was an insult."
Of course, you have to find what works for you, and it may take some trial and error to get there. But one thing is important: you must never give up on trying to achieve your goals. After all, solely thinking about what you want will get you nowhere, but action will help you move forward.
Source: Business Insider
Photo credit: thenextweb.com
See the following articles for more career advice:
- 21 Pieces of Career Advice No One Ever Gives You
- Unique Pieces of Career Advice
- Plant Yourself in Good Soil
