Do You Have What It Takes to Be a 'Trep? Teen 'treps share their success secrets with you.
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(YoungBiz.com) - Oprah Winfrey. Bill Gates. These aretwo of the most recognizable names in America today, but theyweren't born rich and famous. So was it luck that propelledthem into the spotlight? Hardly.
Both found their niche at a relatively young age--Winfrey at 12,when she earned $500 for a speaking engagement at a church, andGates at 13, when he discovered computers and programming. Bothrecognized the opportunities that could await them if they minedtheir talents--and the rest, as the saying goes, is history.
That's not the whole story, however. An epiphany doesn'tnecessarily translate into fame, boatloads of cash, or a fancytitle and corner office. You have to have something more. But what?Check out the following qualities and see if you recognizeyourself.
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Success Secret #1: SelfConfidence
"Whether you believe you can do a thing or not, you areright." That quote not only sums up the self-confidence mostentrepreneurs have, but it is also credited to one of the mostfamous inventors and entrepreneurs in American history: Henry Ford.The inventor of the modern assembly line, which is responsible formaking automobiles available to the general public, Ford knew thatattitude has more to do with success than just about anythingelse.
Success Secret #2: Persistence
Self-confidence and persistence go hand in hand. Entrepreneurs likeJayson Meyer have confidence in themselves and their goals and keepat it until their dreams become realities. Meyer is the 19-year-oldCEO of Meyer Technologies in Daytona Beach, Florida, a company thatstarted off as a bedroom operation in which he and his brother,Martin, fixed computers. It's now a company that focuses oncorporate software solutions, employs two dozen people, has officesin Dayton Beach and Orlando, and is worth somewhere in the sixfigures.
Throughout it all, Meyer's mantra has been "never giveup, no matter what." His advice to others? "The key toeverything in life is staying focused and putting hard work andeffort into it," he explains. "By doing that, you canaccomplish and achieve anything."
Success Secret #3: Passion
Doing what you love doesn't seem like work at all. Just askBrittany Rogers, the 20-year-old owner of Happy Horse Hotel inSpringerville, Arizona. Rogers buys injured or tired racehorses and"recycles"--or retrains--them and then resells them."My business is time for me to share with my horses, who aremy best friends," Rogers says.
Success Secret #4: ConstantLearning
Rogers developed her love for horses when she was 5 and beganvisiting racetracks with her mother when she was about 7. Rogersbegan competing in rodeos and found a mentor in Newt Bunyard, alocal trainer who taught her the ropes and helped her get herracehorse owner's license. She began buying horses that ownerswere going to send to slaughter and retraining them, refining andperfecting her methods along the way. Needless to say, none of thiswould have happened if she had simply said, "I love horses butdon't know much about them. Oh well..."
Success Secret #5: HealthyCompetitor
Competing, to many entrepreneurs, doesn't mean being betterthan the next guy--it means constantly improving on whatthey've done before. If Meyer, for instance, had been contentfixing PCs for his school and teachers, he'd still be making$20 for each repair. Instead, he drives a Lexus and his companylogo is attached to the elevator button that takes clients to histhird-floor office.
Success Secret #6: Vision
For entrepreneurs, vision means seeing things not as they are buthow you think they should be and developing a plan to get youthere. "Running a business isn't a matter of looking attoday or yesterday," Meyer says. "It's a matter oflooking at the future." So the next time somebody labels you adreamer, say "Thanks!"
Success Secret #7: Creativity
Creativity in the entrepreneurial sense doesn't mean that youhave to be a good writer or artist. Creative thinking is the key.While there are scores of jockeys, trainers and owners in thehorseracing world, there aren't many people who have thought oftaking a horse meant for the slaughterhouse, retraining him,selling him, and having him win his first race back. BrittanyRogers did, though, and has had more than 23 horses successfully gothrough her program. And while she did her research, much of hertraining regimen came about by trial and error. In other words,Rogers found creative solutions.
SoundFamiliar?
If you checked these success secrets off one by one as you readthrough them, congrats! You're well on your way. If not,don't worry--even if you think you only possess one or two ofthese traits, there's good news. Many can be learned. Sodon't wait--you could be the next Oprah Winfrey or BillGates!
