Paul Newman was not only a famous actor but also a director, a car racer, and a successful businessman.
Many of us have changed our career paths more than once. Some find this irritating, but I think in most cases, it makes a person interesting, and one might be surprised at how many acquired skills can be used when building a business. In Mr. Newman’s case, his fame as an award-winning actor certainly helped his business.
YOU ONLY GROW WHEN YOU ARE ALONE.
Paul Newman
Do we have to create our business alone?
No, we don’t. However, many business owners started as a one-man band and hired people as the business grew.
Nevertheless, I believe Paul’s quote has its merits. The decision of whether you want to create your own business or what your business should be about takes some deep thinking. Each business partner has to be ready to take the risk and put in the work.
Once you are in operational mode, you have to withdraw from the daily routine and all the meetings if you want to explore new ideas or evaluate the ones you have scribbled in your notebook. Bill Gates took thinking weeks where he withdrew from the world. From all I’ve heard, these phases of deep thinking brought some of the most remarkable results.
If you create a business with more than one founder, you have to make sure that you can get along with each other’s style of working.
THE BEST GIFT YOU CAN GIVE YOURSELF IS THE GIFT OF POSSIBILITY.
Paul Newman
Possibilities and Opportunities
Most of us have more possibilities than our time allows us to explore. I belong to the lucky ones who have already discovered more than one, which has given me a wide range of skills and made me an expert in a few things. Accepting possibilities takes courage, but it is worth the risk.
Possibilities become even more important when you have a problem to solve, which happens every other day in business. We tend to stick with what we already know, overlooking all the options that might be out there.
In this case, it is very good to talk to people you trust as they might know something or someone to help you. Again, when a possibility presents itself as an opportunity, it is your decision alone if you want to act upon it.
