From Chapter 7 "Tolerating Risk: Being a Doer, not a Dreamer" from Ingredients of Outliers Pressing On To me, entrepreneurism is simply taking something you’re passionate about and turning it into capital so you can do more of it. Passion without monetization is called a hobby. I’m what you’d call a serial entrepreneur; I’ve tried (and more often than not, failed) at more businesses than you can imagine. (You may recall my hot dog stand adventure and others that I described in Chapter 2.) Although failing’s never fun, if you keep your mind open it will teach you more than success … [Read more...]
Teen Outlier, Bringing Power and Clean Water through New Invention
What were you doing when you were 17? For many of us, this was a time of both disorientation and discovery, if spending way too much time updating the newest selife on social media, or heading to the nearest party. As for Cynthia Sin Nga Lam, this was a time to innovate the unexpected. This teen took full advantage of the period of cognitive growth by thinking abstractly to solve a problem. Lam was looking for away to help the millions of people lacking access to clean water and electricity. The Australian high school teen developed a device that purifies wastewater and creates power at … [Read more...]
What’s Your Power Color? Analyze or Re-energize your Logo or Workspace!
Have you ever wondered why certain colors affect you in different ways? For example the color green might instill a feeling of peace or tranquility whereas red makes you feel energized and ready to take on the world. Believe it or not, there is actually a lot of research behind the art of “power colors” and each person has their own color that evokes power from within. Colors can stimulate productivity, increase confidence, intimidate competitors, and so much more. Color meanings vary from culture to culture and have changed over the decades however recent research has found these power … [Read more...]
Risk Taking: When to Dismount a Dead Horse
Taking risks is no doubt scary, there is no definite outcome, and there is no guarantee for success. But risk-takers are the people who make history. People who take calculated risks are often the ones who reap extraordinary benefits. Taking risks and failure go hand in hand and you shouldn’t be afraid to do either if you want to set your goals high. When it comes to entrepreneurial ventures, Dr. Shufeldt is the first to admit he has made mistakes, and some ideas have never come to fruition. But trying, and taking that leap of faith is what creates innovation and breakthroughs in … [Read more...]