Khan Academy has launched a summer of learning running between last week in June to the end of August. They're offering badges for those who earn 50,000 points in that time and a special badge for anyone who earns more points than Cam, an energetic young man and hopeful unicyclist. My advice, as one who spent a summer long ago mastering the art of the unicycle is to lead the pedal with your best foot.
In light of this challenge, and my love for the work of Saul Khan, I decided to listen to the entrepreneurial videos while completing contracted work. While listening to the brilliant minds of our day I began to notice common themes. Anyone familiar with Khan's work knows its not mediocre in any sense. These interviews follow the same rigorous quality assurance checks. Guests included Richard Branson, Mark Ecko, Phillip Rosedale, Zach Kaplan, T.A. McCann, Ben Milne, Giles Shih, Danny O'Neill and Lara Morgan. The list, admittedly very caucasian and male, goes on to include top entrepreneurs such as LaKeshia Grant, Linda Jescehofnig and Renaud Laplanche.
To move toward the point, common themes that appeared one after another include the idea of delivering a product that's better and faster than anyone else's, that failures are an integral part of success and that those who do better than anyone else in their enterprise are those who are the most passionate and most excited about their product or service. Money from successful ventures will follow, but those who follow the money will compromise their core values and be left with a shell of what they once created.
The consistency of these themes was uncanny. Entrepreneurship requires grit, a bit of reckless abandon and at some point, cash flow. But cash is not often the foremost reason for creating an enterprise. Rather, it's the drive to see an idea come to life that moves these innovators to do what has never been done before.
One never grows too old to pursue their passion. Young people who succeed and amass great wealth receive overwhelming amounts of media attention because it's so uncommon. Think of all the 20-something people you know. They are probably very hard working, inspired and interesting, but not on the cover of Forbes. It's rare that one finds their point-of-focus so early in life. So, if you're a little older and reading this don't be discouraged by the advice of the most successful entrepreneurs of our time. Rather, find strength in the possibility that the dream of a profitable venture is still available to those who learn from their failures and are willing to work hard to make their dreams reality.
The best news for would-be entrepreneurs is that society has never known a better time to innovate, create and begin something completely new. It's time to launch your dream into the stratosphere of reality.