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Entrepreneurs- The Best Ten Most Flourishing Entrepreneurs in the 20th Century That We Should Research and Why

Selecting the top ten most successful entrepreneurs in the last century is very subjective. Some persons measure importance on net worth alone while others measure how meaningful the entrepreneur’s efforts have grown to be. The finest way to actually select the best group is to mix the two.

Following is a list of ten crazily successful entrepreneurs who are acknowledged as icons all over the world. Their lucrative accounts are nothing short of astonishing and are the material dreams are made of.

1. Bill Gates
2. Michael Dell
3. Larry Ellison
4. Ted Turner
5. Phil Knight
6. Vince McMahon
7. Rupert Murdoch
8. Steve Jobs
9. Oprah Winfrey
10. Martha Stewart

Reaching for the Stars

Why are these persons so successful? Why are they unique? What makes them shine? Whilst the products they present, their private lives, their upbringing and even their business approaches contrast greatly, all of these persons have established empires that will exist for a very long time. They are all self-developed persons that did not use a family name or exclusive favors to find success. They all possess a relentless drive to be successful.

Dreaming the Unachievable Dream

Are you considering a big change in your career? Do you feel let down, bored, burned out? Maybe you think there is something bigger and more meaningful that you are meant to do. Perhaps your company downsized you into this predicament. Regardless of the reason, there are some common mistakes to avoid while you evaluate and select new career options. Avoid these pitfalls and you can stay motivated, keep your balance and move forward successfully.

Mistake #1 – Making Decisions in Haste

Tempted to just quit and wing it? Everyone is now and then, but unless you just can’t stand your current situation another day, resist! Instead, write down everything you hate about your current situation, then one by one, look at the most intolerable issues and see how you can turn each around to make it more tolerable for the present moment.

It is easy to get so excited about the future that you decide to forge ahead without a plan and hope everything naturally falls your way after that. It will require more energy to sustain your new career and make it work well for you than it will to identify and start it. It is better to come from a place of higher energy and stability than to start out already burned out or worried about how you will pay the bills. Consider seeking the help of a qualified career coach, life coach or career counselor to help you identify your next career path. An objective, trained third party can help you strategize and phase it in for the best results and the least amount of heartache.

My neighbor asked me, “Why would anyone sell a successful company?”. He could not understand why anyone would leave a business that was doing well. Of course successful companies get sold all the time.

So why do these business owners sell? The short answer is that most closely held businesses sell for human reasons, such as burn out, retirement, illness, partnership disputes, family issues or other personal reasons. Usually the business is fine but the human being running the business needs a change. To understand this better it is key to understand the other options for exiting a business.

Close the Business/Liquidation

Closing a business that is profitable never makes sense. Even if the assets are liquidated the price is likely to be pennies on the dollar versus selling the business as a going concern with employees, customers and a reputation that is intact. Not only does the business owner get the lowest value but the employees, vendors and customers are hurt by this type of exit.

Accident, Illness or Death

No one wants to exit their business this way, but many do. The loss of an owner not only creates tremendous issues for the family but also creates a leadership void in the business. Even the most competent management can struggle when a key business leader is lost to a serious accident, illness or death. No one plans for this type of exit but many end up exiting the business this way because they failed to create an alternate plan.