Twenty Billionaires Who Started With Nothing

[Dien Rice]

Here's another interesting story... from the life of John Paul DeJoria...

http://images.businessweek.com/slide...thing/slides/6

At times he was homeless. DeJoria worked his way up in hair care and cosmetic companies before joining with Paul Mitchell in 1980 to launch a hair products company, putting up an initial investment of just $700.

The key thing here is - he started in hair care and cosmetics, and worked in that field. Eventually, I'm sure the business was as familiar to him as the face he saw every day in the mirror. When he launched a company, it was in that same field.

He built on what he knew... It always helps to build a house on solid ground that you're familiar with - and not on unfamiliar ground, which could be quicksand!

- Dien

...that, after clicking on "read the [rest of the] story" link at the bottom of the 1st page, it led to an UNavoidable advertising video (commercial) -- which the visitor is *forced* to view, before proceeding. That is, the rest of the article is held hostage -- the "ransom" being one's eyeballs AND a bunch of seconds worth of attention paid.

"You VIL votch zee ads, UNT you vil LUFF votching zee ads!!"

Cheers.

-- TW

From what I've read, aside from he knows what he is doing, he loves what he is doing. I think he made it clear to his self of what he wants in his life.

[Dien Rice]

Originally Posted by -TW

...that, after clicking on "read the [rest of the] story" link at the bottom of the 1st page, it led to an UNavoidable advertising video (commercial) -- which the visitor is *forced* to view, before proceeding. That is, the rest of the article is held hostage -- the "ransom" being one's eyeballs AND a bunch of seconds worth of attention paid.

"You VIL votch zee ads, UNT you vil LUFF votching zee ads!!"

Hi TW,

On the other hand, it's probably ads like that helping to keep the magazine afloat... After all, they've gotta pay the bills too!

If it's a choice of it existing with ads, or not existing without the ads - I'd choose the ads...

I think many of these online ads are generally more entertaining anyway - they know that you have a lot of possible distractions online, so they have to keep it entertaining to make people watch!

Cheers, Dien

Sorry if I gave the wrong impression.

I am on the side of the ads! Remember, I am the big believer in intrusive ads. I believe intrusive ads are the (very) cornerstone of capitalism itself!

My sparring partner on this topic has always been Ankesh (who advocates the permission-based model).

So, yes, bring on the ads AND the forced keeping-the-audience's-eyes-OPEN, A-Clockwork-Orange style machines, that go with them!
(see attached image)

Minority Report style intrusiveness cannot be avoided. The intended audience cannot be PERMITTED to ignore the ads!

I'm totally there, man.

Cheers.

-- TW

[Dien Rice]

Here are a couple more...

http://images.businessweek.com/slide...hing/slides/13

Ken Langone
[...] His first fortune came in 1968, when he partnered with Ross Perot to take Electronic Data Systems (HP) public. In the 1970s he teamed with Bernard Marcus to start Home Depot (HD) [...]

Actually, in the above one, I want to highlight Ross Perot more than Ken Langone...

http://images.businessweek.com/slide...hing/slides/14

Ralph Lauren

[...] Next he worked as a clerk at Brooks Brothers, then toiled as a tie salesman—which caused him to decide that men were ready for wider, brighter designs. According to a profile in Time, Lauren sold $500,000 worth of ties in 1967, the year he started designing them for St. Louis-based Beau Brummell Cravats. The next year, he started Polo (RL) with $50,000 from clothier Norman Hilton. The company tallied $5 billion in revenue during its 2010 fiscal year.

Many rich people have a good experience in sales. Such as Ross Perot and Ralph Lauren (among many others).

Not every sales person gets rich - but sales knowhow can help, especially when mixed with a little entrepreneurial spirit - since nothing happens until a sale is made!

"Selling" is not only selling the products to customers, but also selling the idea of your business to investors as well, plus to suppliers, distributors, ...

By the way, another guy connected to Ken Langone is Arthur Blank - one of the other co-founders of Home Depot...

From Wikipedia's entry on him - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arthur_Blank

After graduating from Babson College, Blank was hired by Handy Dan Hardware, and worked his way up through the company to become a regional manager. He was fired in 1978 for a disagreement with executives.

In 1978, Blank co-founded Home Depot with Bernie Marcus, another former Handy Dan manager. New York investment banker Ken Langone assembled the initial group of investors.

Probably the day Arthur Blank got fired was the best day of his life (with hindsight)! Getting fired enabled him to pursue the opportunity to co-found Home Depot.

If Arthur Blank hadn't been fired - would he be a billionaire today?

Maybe not!

One thing which is good to do is to "Solve Problems In the Direction Of your Goals" (SPIDOG), that's a concept that Harvey Brody teaches. Getting fired - and using that new opportunity to create an unbelievable company like Home Depot - that's a great example of that...

- Dien