That's right. Nobody has started something from nothing.
Without the Napster, Zuckerberg is a nobody.
Without Bill Hewlett answering the phone Steve Jobs and Apple computer are nothing.
Without money from IBM Bill Gates and Paul Allen go bust.
A lucky break is required for success and too many entrepreneurs (with egos the size of Texas) take too much credit for their own lucky circumstances.
I once worked with a guy who claimed he was self-made. Turns out his dad lent him $200,000 to start his business.
There's a billionaire family who lives 20 miles from my house. From all the accolades they receive you'd think they started their $200 million dollar countertop business from nothing. Turns out they invested $34 million before they ever made a dime.
I'm pretty sure that most people could start a business from scratch given a $34 million dollar budget.
Take Steve Jobs. What a fake. Yes he made Apple from "nothing (reread above qualification)" but look at Next. Not even Steve Jobs could turn his money, connections and experience into a successful company. Even Steve needed something more...something unquantifiable.
The truth is you need resources to be successful. Money, experience, and connections are necessary but they are not enough. There has to be an opportunity that can sweep you up in it and that is something that you can't manufacture. It is a meeting of a need, a skill set and a passion all coming together at the same time. For entrepreneurs, they can only supply 2 of those 3 things. The need is illusive. I can only be found by accident. You can set out to discover it but you will fail multiple times before you find it.
Just ask AJ Khubani the infomercial king. He built a multimillion dollar business only to go bankrupt because he hit a dry spell. The need, or demand if you will, is lucky. Not even the experts can spot it. But if you find it it will take you away.
Luck is required. Nothing else matters. Luck supersedes money, experience and connections. It is necessary for success.
