If you had one final lecture to share with a group of students on what you have learned from this course, what would you share?
I would share that everybody has the raw material to become a successful entrepreneur. We all have the capabilities to dream big, create, work hard, influence the world, and give, rescue, and help others.
The difference between a potential entrepreneur and an actual entrepreneur only resides in how well they know themselves, their willingness to take risks, their ability to cope with failure, and their desire to work consistently toward their dreams.
I would emphasize that becoming successful is more about the person you need to become than the things or accomplishments you get.
What would be your last bit of advice to someone wanting to begin the entrepreneur journey?
Start by knowing yourself. Then find something you like and are good at, explore your potential paths in that direction, and do something you think will take you there consistently. Then let opportunities define your path. If you feel stuck, repeat the process.
What words of advice, direction, or caution would you give him or her if you had only one chance to give your own last lecture?
Complete, meaningful, and everlasting success comes from helping others and giving value to the world. It never comes from a selfish desire to make money or gain power.
We all have the potential to influence the world for the better, so trust yourselves.
The bigger the change you want to make, the more meaningful your quest needs to be for you. Find a powerful purpose that will keep you moving when things get tough.
Hard work and consistency are the only ways to make things happen, so reserve daydreaming for those moments when you need to be creative.
Protect yourself from deviating from your path by deciding now, before the temptations come, how you would act in a difficult situation.
Find faithful companions that complement you and will help you in your journey. No one can succeed without some help on the way.
Manage your life as if it were a business. Seek to add value, plan, evaluate, invest your resources, prepare for emergencies, maintain low and healthy debt levels, take advantage of opportunities, and surround yourself with the best people.
Record what you learned and what you are learning in a way that allows you to use that knowledge in the future.
Remember that it’s a journey. It’s a process and, as such, will take time. Learn to enjoy the ups and downs, but above all, learn to appreciate the plateaus.