Each year brings a new bout of success stories, from a rags-to-riches tale to a heartwarming account of a business owner beating the odds. More than leaving a smile on your face, these tales are almost always rich in business lessons.
The following three entrepreneurs run some of the most successful and innovative companies of 2013. Learn a few things from them and, who knows, it might just be you everyone’s talking about next year.
Evan Spiegel
Who he is: The 23-year-old founder of photo- and video-sharing app Snapchat.
What he does: The 2-year-old social media app has become wildly popular this year, so much so that Facebook offered to buy the app for $3 billion in November. The young entrepreneur shocked the tech world when he turned the offer down, prompting speculation that Snapchat could overtake Mark Zuckerberg’s legacy.
What you can learn: Don’t allow larger companies to shut you out. If you start receiving offers from other companies, really take the time to consider why they want to buy you. Most likely, it’s because you’ve got an innovative, or even disruptive, idea or business model. Remember, money will come and go, but a great idea can be a once-in-a-lifetime occurrence.
Bre Pettis
Who he is: CEO of MakerBot Industries, a company that produces 3D printers
What he does: Pettis is credited with introducing 3D printing to the masses. Through his company, Pettis offers do-it-yourself 3D printing kits as well as on-site printing at three retail stores in New England. Before founding MarketBot, Pettis was a public schoolteacher in Seattle.
What you can learn: In this case, Pettis saw an opportunity to bring an elusive product to the general public. Without his innovation, how many people would have been able to see a 3D-printed object, let alone afford one of their own? Some of the best businesses exist simply because one person figured out how to make a product or service available to the public.
Bonus lesson: Don’t let your current position stop you from going after your dream. In this case, Pettis taught art and puppetry for seven years before founding his company. If you’ve always wanted to own your own business, don’t let anything stop you.
Travis Kalanick
Who he is: The man behind the Uber car service
What he does: Kalanick has founded several companies since the 1990s, but it seems his most famous creation is Uber. The bane of taxi services around the country — Uber has been disruptive wherever it operates — Uber allows customers to schedule a car ride through their smartphones.
What you can learn: The act of hiring a transportation service has been around for centuries, but Uber’s innovative approach has changed the game completely. In this case, Kalanick saw an opportunity to introduce a mobile element, saving customers time and hassle. The lesson here is to keep an eye out for upcoming trends and identify ways to integrate them into your products or services. In most cases, the most successful CEOs are those who offer something consumers didn’t even know was possible.
