Mastering the Art of Business

The past few weeks have been tremendously enlightening and interesting. Already, I feel like I’ve learned a great deal from the different books I’ve read and articles I’ve followed; but primarily from all the inner searching and deep thinking that came as a result of the newly acquired knowledge. Never underestimate the power of words and thought. With this blog I’ve manage to better position myself in my career and clearly understand where I want to go and what I want to achieve. I hope that some of you have also benefited from my articles, as this is the intent, to share my discoveries with all of you.

To help you better integrate this knowledge, here are some core concepts that were discussed in my previous posts, which should help bridging the knowledge gaps.

The first realization is that we should never forget what our passion and inspiration is, and what drives us to become entrepreneurs, innovators, and leaders. After reading the book The 80 Minute MBA: Everything You’ll Never Learn at Business School it suddenly occurred to me that one of my long term dream and vision was to use business as a vehicle for prosperity and good, simultaneously. Wealth is a driver, but not the core one. We can leverage the power of the corporation to build an ethical enterprise that leads and promotes sustainable development for a better and cleaner world. As you will soon see, I will be posting numerous articles on renewable energy and sustainable business development.

The second realization is that each individual may have a lot to offer – perspectives and knowledge we can learn from. All we need to do is listen, integrate, and evolve. We need to better be in touch with our surrounding environment, both social and geographical.

The third realization, inspired by the book Crush It!: Why NOW Is the Time to Cash In on Your Passion, is that we should never abandon our passion. Through planning, strategy, hard work, devotion, and passion, we can achieve more than we could ever imagine. Never let go of your dreams and ambitions. You can reach them.

The fourth realization is that a leader is not born, but made. The book The Extraordinary Leader: Turning Good Managers into Great Leaders supports this statement through research, statistical evidence, and facts. It’s by far one of the greatest books I’ve read. For me it was a revelation – finally, words of wisdom that we can all learn and benefit from. Not from personal experience and beliefs, but from actual facts. To become exceptional, we have to put the effort in improving our existing skills and strengths as well as to eliminate our critical flaws. The statement is simple, but it requires a lot of introspection and thought. You need to identify what your critical flaws and strengths are which can be quite daunting. But it is through this process that you discover yourself and can truly become exceptional.

The fifth realization is that having a vision is critical. Whether it’s a vision for your business or for your personal life objectives, it is what will guide you and help you achieve those goals.

Be wise. Be healthy. Live strong.

What books have inspired and transformed you?