It’s kind of weird, it was only the other day, while listening to NPR that I realized, after three more decades of experience in the industry, working directly for or around various fascinating entrepreneurs, it was now necessary to pass on the observations and experiences to the the rest. . Since I come from a family of entrepreneurs, none of whom worked a day in their life for an employer, this Entrepreneur thing has been in the blood, since childhood. However, this article is not about me, it is about four entrepreneurs on the road. Each one left their mark and made a difference. Each one has a different story and set of achievements, however it is interesting to see the common thread.
Entrepreneur One – a brilliant and talented engineer, technologist and visionary – an insightful and powerful person who built the second largest computer manufacturer on the planet (at the time) – Ken Olsen – Digital Equipment Corporation. This awesome individual practiced what he preached. His creed was to put trust and confidence in people and he proclaimed that ultimately they would do the right thing! Mr. Olsen created a company that was undoubtedly an industry-leading, technology innovation phenomenon, which at its peak was a $ 13 billion entity. The company was acquired by Hewlett Packard, primarily because of its service capabilities and the breadth of its customer base around the world. Mr. Olsen resigned from DEC prior to the acquisition and turned over the kidneys to a Finance Executive.
Entrepreneur Two – A literal genius and one who has mastered the application of technology to identify and classify life-threatening arrhythmias (abnormal heart conditions). A natural leader, mentor and coach who put people in a special category and demonstrated his passion for the business by saying, “What drives me is that we are saving lives and changing the quality of medicine.” Not only did Dr. Charles Feldman create and build CardioData, a leading provider of medical diagnostic systems to the cardiology market, he also made numerous industry contributions in the educational and medical fields. An impulsive, relentless and tireless leader, Dr. Feldman or Charlie, as he preferred, always allowed his people to innovate freely, without penalty, no matter the outcome. CardioData was acquired by a company that is now a division of GE Medical.
Entrepreneur Three: One of the most ambitious and compelling individuals, this contagious Leader had the magic touch of attracting and enrolling others in his vision. His original dream was to be the “Captain of the Ship” and build a technology-based company from inception to $ 100 million status. After decades of brilliant moves, it delivered on the vision, which resulted in a leading and undisputed technology company surpassing the $ 360 million mark. This individual had a unique formula for stimulating Team commitment and, in unusual ways, believed in “sharing the wealth” with those who made it possible. Jay Bertelli, CEO and Founder, Mercury Computer Systems embodies all the qualities one would expect to read about in a Harvard Business Review. Bertelli recently retired from Mercury and passed the baton to a new CEO to take the company into the next phase of growth. Meanwhile, given Jay’s appetite, he continues to advise small and medium-sized tech companies on the challenges of “making the journey to ultimate success.”
Entrepreneur Four: without a doubt, one of the most enterprising people I have ever worked with. A self-made entrepreneur who built and managed approximately six competing companies. All leaders in their field. And he still had time to make key contributions to industry groups and associations, publish groundbreaking books, consult privately with some of the biggest retailers, and teach merchandising at Harvard Business School. Despite industry sentiment (at the time), it broke the standards by introducing the Open-to-Sell concept in the retail industry that changed the principles of merchandising. Sidney Stoegel – CEO and Serial Founder put his final fingerprint on Merchandata, which became a valued strategic partner and advisor to major retail firms who relied on his brilliance, ingenuity, and vast experience to pave the way. Spending 30 minutes with Sidney discussing business was worth more than attending year-long seminars by popular speakers on the circuit. Sidney was a giver and willingly and willingly provided others with the benefit of his years of hard-earned experience.
Without reaffirming the obvious, after reading the profile of these Entrepreneurs, it is clear that they are remarkable people. Each has a different story and if we dig deeper we would discover what motivates them, which is a function of their background, history, family influence, experiences, psyche, and other unique factors. Common factors between them can also be selected. A recurring theme is his emphasis on the “people quotient” and the appetite for voluntary giving. This article is a tribute to these remarkable entrepreneurs, not a hero cult.
Are Entrepreneurs a Reproducible Race? I’m not sure, however, no matter where they come from, what they are made of, or what drives them to success, it is clear that today’s business world offers easier access and entry for these unique people than at any other time. Given this tough-as-nails market economy we’ve endured, it’s comforting that entrepreneurs continue to create new businesses, new job opportunities, and a never-ending source of wealth.
Copyright 2009
Results Marketing Group
Edmond M. Hennessy