Many people think that in order to be a successful entrepreneur or corporate CEO, you have to be born into a wealthy family or have a prestigious education. However, this is not always the case. There are many CEOs who started from nothing and worked their way up the ladder.
Here are four examples of founders and CEOs who defied the odds and achieved success through pure grit and determination.
1. Howard Schultz, CEO of Starbucks
Howard Schultz, the CEO of Starbucks, was born in Brooklyn, New York, in 1953. He grew up in a low-income family and didn’t have many opportunities growing up. Schultz started working when he was a teenager and eventually saved up enough money to open his own coffee shop. Schultz’s hard work and dedication paid off as Starbucks is now a household name and one of the most successful businesses in the world.
2. Richard Branson, CEO of Virgin Group
Richard Branson, the CEO of Virgin Group, was born in 1950 to a working-class family in England. Despite having very little money growing up, he was always an ambitious and driven individual. With hard work and determination, Branson founded Virgin Records when he was just 21 years old. Since then, he has built his empire into one of the most well-known brands in the world.
3. Frank VanderSloot, Founder and CEO of Melaleuca
Frank VanderSloot was born in Montana in 1948. He grew up on a small farm in north Idaho, where he learned the value of hard work at an early age by chopping wood, building fences, and taking care of livestock. VanderSloot put himself through college by working in a laundromat and was able to graduate debt free. After working at two Fortune 500 companies, he founded Melaleuca in 1985 and has led its product development to a portfolio of over 400 exclusive health and wellness products. Today, Melaleuca is a multi-billion dollar company operating in 20 countries around the world.
4. Michael Bloomberg, Co-Founder and CEO of Bloomberg LP
Michael Bloomberg, co-founder of Bloomberg LP, was born into a middle-class family in Boston, Massachusetts, in 1942. Despite having to work his way through college and facing obstacles along the way, he eventually started his own successful financial information company. Bloomberg’s hard work and determination has made him one of the most notable business leaders in the world today.
As these examples show, it is possible to achieve incredible success even if you start from nothing. Whether through sheer determination or by surrounding yourself with people who believe in your potential, anyone can become a successful founder and CEO if they have the right mindset and work ethic.
If you want to be successful, start by studying those who have achieved what you want to achieve. Find out what makes them tick, and then emulate their behavior.
Finally, don’t give up when the going gets tough – success seldom comes easy.
