When starting a
business, we often look to successful people in a particular industry, for
inspiration, guidance, and starting points. Recently Forbes.com sat down to
interview two successful men, from two different industries, to talk success.
An interview with Business Typhoon, Warren Buffett and Hip-Hop Entrepreneur,
Jay-Z would grab anyone’s attention. To add more interest to this interview, a
person would be amazing by how similar these two men started and established
their businesses. Research shows the most important elements for a business are
the brand, passion, and impact, and if you are like me, you are probably
wondering how can hip-hop and investment be the same.
History
teaches us that a lot of successful people or masters of a particular field had
a deep love for this field as a child. During the interview with Forbes, Warren
Buffett explained that he knew when he was seven that he wanted to get into
investments. Warren’s father was into investments, and by the time he was
twelve, he had read his father whole library of books. After graduating from
college, Warren explained that he consider his self fifteen years ahead of his
classmates because he knew from a young age what we wanted to do with his life.
Jay-Z did not release his first album until the age of twenty-six; however, he
explained that he had deep roots with music since his early childhood, and ever
since a kid he loved words and how they could be use to express life. Authors
such as Robert
Greene, in his book Mastery, explained the importance of following
childhood passions, and these two men are proof in our generation that we can
be successful doing what we love.
If
love were all that is needed to be successful, the world would be full of
entrepreneur; however, we know that this is not the case. A successful business
needs a successful brand. A brand is the consumer’s perception of a business or
company. Warren Buffett explained in the interview that it is important to
develop a personal brand, and even more important to live that brand. During
the interview, Jay-Z explained that he has had success in the music industry
over the years by not changing. According to Jay-Z, a lot of artists jumping on
every new trend, and this can destroy a career, something we witness over and
over. Both men agree in the interview that when businesses stop following their
brand they lose their identity and the person or company collapses.
Success
is more that personal wealth and luxury living according to both men. To Warren
Buffett his business is about improving society. Earning capital allows him to
provide more jobs, better benefits and pension plans to the public. Jay-Z also
explained the importance of improving society. Jay-Z started the Shawn Cater Foundation,
a foundation that supplies full college scholarships, to help people succeed at
their dreams. In Warren Buffet words, “Business is easy Philanthropy work is
hard, but has the greater reward.”
I
name this post a common theme because this interview demonstrates how two
successful people in two different industries, started and operated their
business in the same way. When we follow our hearts, and strive for the
improvement of society, we reap great benefits in life. Our childhood often
points us in the direction we should go; however, it takes courage to follow
this path. This path can lead to a successful life; however we must always
remember our brand is being judge constantly, and we have a responsibility to
improve society, a common theme amongst professional.
~LT
