A Common Theme

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