Why Successful Entrepreneurs Are Like The Popular Kids
Looking back when I was in school, 
I realize now that the popular kids would have made very good entrepreneurs. Let me tell you why.
They Know Everyone
Where I came from, the popular kids have one thing in common: very big network. They have a large contacts list. They know who’s who and what each person is associate with- if they’re on a sports team, if they’re in the school band, if they are into computers, etc. This is very very much like knowing who is in which industry in the business world. How is this useful? Well, for one thing, they know who to call when an issue comes up. Let’s say John has computer issues but doesn’t know who to call. He doesn’t trust GeekSquad or some similar companies. He asks around and finds out that Sam knows a lot about computers. In fact, he fixes them as hobby because he loves it. John makes the connection with Sam, offering some form of compensation whether it’s monetary or a promise to make an introduction to others in his circle. This is just like how the business world when you’re an entrepreneur. Let’s do a different take on the same example. John needs to build a website. He is not a developer or a designer. His specialty is sales and marketing. He has a huge contacts list on his Blackberry (or iPhone). Because he is well connected, he knows he can call each person in his phone book and they would love to hear from him. In fact, he tries to keep in touch with each person in his phone book by calling to say hello each week. He makes a call to someone who might be able to give him a reference. He’s referred to Sam, a web designer who is struggling to gain steady clients but his work is excellent. He takes pride in his work, all the time. John makes the connection with Sam. Looking over his work, John decides to hire him. Because John is good at sales and marketing, he negotiates a lower price. He reasons that because he is well connected, he can spread the word around about Sam’s work if he loves it. Sam does a great job and John is very very impressed. Not only did John get the work he wanted, he saved an enormous amount of time looking for the right web designer, which we know is hard to find. John really likes Sam and decides to further build a working relationship, introducing him to his network, bringing Sam more work. It pays to know everyone.
Everyone Wants To Know Them
Ever noticed how the popular kids are usually the happy ones? There must be something to that. Ever met a successful entrepreneur who was not passionate about his business? Coincidence? I don’t think so. People want to be around happy people in general. Because popular kids are always talking to people, making connections, others are drawn to them by their enthusiasm. Same in business. When an entrepreneur talks about their idea and how they are working to implementing it, others are naturally drawn to them. Don’t believe me? Look at this.
And another. Now, in the business world, do you want to do business with someone you don’t like? Chances are, you prefer not to. There is always another company to pick from so if you had to to deal with someone you don’t get along with or someone you would like to have coffee with, what would you choose? That’s easy right? Besides being able to obtaining more customers, they get help easily. John comes to you and tells you enthusiastically about a problem he’s having. His arch-nemesis, Rich also comes to you about a problem he’s having. It’s the same EXACT problem. You wonder if they’re at war with each other. Because you work in the school paper, they are asking you if they could get a one page write-up about what they each think could change the school for good. You want to help both but you can only pick one. One is VERY well connected and will benefit you tremendously. The other does not have a network. In fact, he doesn’t even try to be nice to you! Who do you want to help?
What’s been the common theme so far? In both cases, John was very well connected. In the first example, he knew who to call because he knew so many people. In the second, the reach of his network gave him the edge over his competition.
But What if You’re Not Popular?
I wasn’t popular either. The important thing, in my opinion is to realize that is how the world works. We all know it’s people that create businesses and people that make them succeed. If you want to be a successful entrepreneur, you have to have a big network. Start talking and meeting people right now, even if you’re still in school. Join forums, contact bloggers that you admire. You will hear no sometimes but that’s ok. Don’t wait until you need something to find the right person. Have it ready. Fortunately, it’s easier to be “popular” in the business world. You will hear less rejections as people are professional and understand the value of knowing another person. People won’t ignore to you just because you belong in the computer club, the band, or debate club, etc. Those were just some of the stereotypes in my school. Guess what? It’s even more important to know people who know computers, musicians and artists, congressmen, etc. in the business world! So go out there and start networking.
[image credit: elnegro]
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This article is very, very true. Great read. Looking forward to more like this.
I can see how certain points can be true, but I find way more than half the time, the popular kids, don’t actually do very well academically.
academically has nothing to do with business world. grades in school do no mean anything in real life unless you are going to work on a speciality, not having a business. your workers know the stuff you don’t need to know.
Yeah I agree. The more I go down the path of business and entrepreneurship, the more I want to outsource all the technical work to someone else so I can focus on how to grow it. It’s all about the people skills. Thanks for your insight.
I don’t mean, you must have good grades or you can’t do anything in business. But in my area, alot of the popular kids in school would rather, talk and laugh during class, than get the work done and achieve something. And that matters in the business world.
Now that I think about it, the persons who were known to perform well academically do not always get the best jobs when they grow up. And I always thought that a person’s wealth has something to do about it. But now, pondering on what has been said, the wealthy ones are the popular ones as well, having many connections here and there. I guess it boils down to one thing – and that is, “It is not really what you know. It is who you know.”
This is pretty much true, cause sometimes its not always “WHAT” you know that matters but most often its “WHOM” you know. Good Post.
“The reach of his network gave him the edge over his competition”, such a true statement. I’ve landed many major contracts because of my expansive network of people who are always willing to out in a good word for me and connect me straight to the top. Networking really is one of the most important strategies in the business world today.
This article reminded about very interesting thing called “emotional intelligence”. Some experts say that it’s more important for success than high IQ. It might be that successful people, popular kids included, are “emotionally wise”. This skill, or trait, allows them to make contacts easily. I’m just wondering if one can develop and improve given level of emotional intelligence.
Yup definitely. Having a high emotional intelligence means you can read people better which is very important in the business world. I’m glad you brought that up.
I would say that the main point of the article is that “popular kids” and entrepreneurs seem to have a lot of the same character traits. It isn’t saying that the popular kids in school will be more successful later in life, this is widely known to be mostly untrue, but rather that people who have these “popular kid” traits later in life will probably be more successful.
Hey Mikey,
Yes I would agree with that statement. They have the traits and we should learn from them.