There was a point in time when the world of new technology was just a fledgling industry with just a few pioneers blazing trains and dreaming up new ideas. Tech giants such as Apple, Google, Amazon, and Facebook, were just starting out as tiny startups in garages, dorm rooms, or even basements.
But now…all of them are global powerhouses, these companies growing from modest startups to worldwide giants in a short period of time, driving innovation, future technology, and shaping our future.
So, how were they able to do that? Well, easy – through the creative brains of visionary leaders. The individuals who can look beyond the status quo, who dare to dream big and then follow through on their aspirations. Much like in a Hollywood film, if you like! In fact, some movies were even inspired by these types of stories. Does “The Social Network” come to mind?
There’s no denying that success stories are always motivating and enthralling. Whenever we hear tales like the ones you’re about to find out, we can always learn something!
Jeff Bezos sent Amazon to Retail and E-Commerce stardom
He’s by no chance a “self-made” man, and Amazon is not a self-made company, as Bezos received back in 1994 a 250.000$ dollars investment from his parents. Still, we have to give credit where credit’s due. Going from a modest online bookshop to a worldwide giant that would revolutionize e-commerce and change the way we do our shopping is a story for the ages! And it all started out in his garage!
And look - Bezos himself is an intriguing person. His career ranged from computer science, and future technology to business. But what he is actually known for is his bold vision: to be the world’s most customer-centric company. He wanted to offer a wide selection of products at a low price and provide fast, reliable shipping, leveraging new technology and e-commerce. And he succeeded!
But Amazon is not without mistakes. In fact, the company and Jeff Bezos himself have also been under fire for several controversial issues, such as labor exploitation and antitrust concerns. There was a reason why everybody was happy when they learned that Bezos would be proposed in space - many people wanted him to remain there. The memes were flooding the internet!
Nevertheless, despite these controversies, the small startup became the world’s largest online retailer. And it’s all because of Jeff Bezos’s great leadership – both innovative and demanding. He is known to encourage his team to experiment, take risks, and push the boundaries of what is possible. After all, he couldn’t have accomplished this impressive success without his high standards and belief in new technology.
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Steve Jobs’s influence has shaped the tech industry and new technology for decades, and his legacy lives on
You need to understand that the story of Apple is not only about its products! It’s also about the man behind it all - a man who was equally genius, visionary, and outcast. Steve Jobs had a turbulent career that included both spectacular accomplishments and plenty of disappointments. Balanced, as all things should be. In fact, it was the failures that Steve Jobs experienced that made him the man that he became!
Back in 1976, when he co-founded the startup –Apple, he led the firm to early success with the Apple II. He was later removed in a power dispute in 1985. It didn’t take long for Jobs to start his firm, NeXT, and Pixar Animation Studios before returning to Apple in 1997. Not only did he save Apple from bankruptcy in ’97, but he also propelled the company to new heights with new technology and iconic smart devices. iPod, iPhone, and iPad ring a bell to almost every person in the world!
On the other hand, Jobs was known throughout his career for his obsessive attention to detail, flair for design, and unwavering commitment and vision to his craft. He was a perfectionist! That’s the best way to describe him - and a lot of people named him that. But not only did he expect the best from himself and his startups but also from the team. And it worked!
“I’m convinced that about half of what separates the successful entrepreneurs from the nonsuccessful ones is pure perseverance.” Steve Jobs stated.
Dedication and perseverance are what separated Jobs from the rest, and he tried to instill this mentality in everyone on his team. For this reason, despite facing several setbacks throughout his career, including being fired from the company that he co-founded, he believed that the most important part of becoming a success is to have the strength and resilience to stick around even during tough times without quitting. And, believe it or not, it was Jobs’ vision and new technology that led Apple to the worldwide success that it is today.
Even more so, Jobs’s partners throughout his life helped Apple to reach its full potential. Think about Steve Wozniak, in the beginning, or his ultimate successor Tim Cook. And that’s not enough! The team of designers, engineers, and marketers that made his ideas a reality - as well as the customers who embraced Apple’s products - everybody played a part in the story!
There was no way Mark Zuckerberg could have predicted where Facebook would go!
After all - it started as an offensive social app for college students where they could rate girls. But the story of Facebook is probably the most tumultuous one we have selected. It’s a tale of betrayal, influence, and big ideas. The basis of a Hollywood film – and it became one. We couldn’t recommend David Fincher’s The Social Network enough – as it encompasses the story of Facebook, and Jesse Eisenberg plays Zuckerberg perfectly!
Facebook’s metric rise to becoming a global powerhouse is a fascinating story that represents the embodiment of the power of innovation, determination, and vision. However, at that time, nobody could have predicted that this startup would grow to become one of the most influential and powerful companies in the world. But Facebook ended up revolutionizing and even creating the entire social media sphere, with almost 3 billion active users monthly! Almost half of the entire population is still regularly active on Facebook!
Indeed – the startup’s tale is one of fast development, with tremendous but unexpected popularity. But it also came with unanticipated repercussions. These consequences, however, ranged from the Cambridge Analytica scandal to charges of disseminating disinformation and contributing to political divisiveness. Yes - that’s a lot for a company. It’s one of the reasons that Facebook remained imprinted in people’s minds. Despite all the controversy, a huge portion of the world's population is still on Facebook! That’s the power of a well-made social network.
Needless to say, Zuckerberg himself is a complex figure known for his intense focus, unconventional leadership style, and contentious views on privacy and free speech. Did we mention that he can step on bodies to achieve his goals? We’re a little bit dramatic - but that’s exactly what happened to the Winklevoss twins as well as Zuckerberg’s partner Eduardo Saverin. The story of Facebook is a rollercoaster.
During the late 1990s, Larry Page and Sergey Brin met at Stanford University and began a partnership that changed the internet forever.
Let’s be honest, where would we be now without Google? Way behind, technology-wise, that’s for sure. Fortunately for us, Page and Brin saw the potential for a better internet search and were motivated to turn it into a reality. Not only did they invest their time and money into building the algorithms that made Google the search engine juggernaut it is today, but they also created a workplace culture that valued innovation and creativity.
Not everything was sweet from the start, though! In the beginning, the company struggled to develop a viable business model and faced stiff competition from other search engines such as Yahoo and AltaVista. Page and Brin remained unfazed - refining their technology and expanding their products from Gmail to Google Maps and the most influential one, YouTube.
Google is now one of the most powerful businesses in the world. And it goes way back to Page and Brin, who didn’t give up in the face of uncertainty.
Facebook. Google. Apple. Amazon. The four juggernauts that changed our lives forever. This was the story of the founders that made it all possible. Of course, they’re not the only ones – but they’re certainly the most influential in our times.
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