Habits Of Successful Entrepreneurs.....

*Offer what people want to buy, not just what you want to sell. ...
*Always find new ways to keep costs low. ...
*When planning, always overestimate expenses and underestimate revenues. ...
*Focus on sales and marketing manically. ...
*Find ways to exponentially increase profits. ...
*Test and measure everything

Akio Morita

In 1960 Akio Morita launched the company in the United States and renamed it ‘Sony’. The same year they produced the very first transistor television. In 1973 Sony got an Emmy Award for creating the Trinitron TV-set technology. Next in line was the home video recorder, the VHS format and then the Walkman, the first portable music player in the world. In 1984 the Discman series was released. Sony Corporation of America was the first Japanese company to be listed in the New York Stock Exchange. Along with his relation with Sony his other affiliations include the vice chairmanship of Japan Business Federation and membership of the Japan-U.S Economic Relations Group. Morita is the third Japanese to be chairman of the Trilateral Commission.
Most of the Sony’s success can be attributed to Morita. With his inventive ideas and creative thinking, he produced new cultures and lifestyles with products such as the Walkman and the video cassette recorder, which were groundbreaking ideas of the time. In 1966 Morita wrote a book called ‘Never Mind School’ based on human resources. His view point that schools are not important in carrying the job out is becoming popular belief nowadays in Japan. He was very eager to diversify the company’s operations to other things besides electronics. Thus they moved in the music software business and started CBS/Sony Group Inc. In 1979 they diversified into the financial arena by establishing the Sony Prudential Life Insurance Co. Ltd. He also acquired CBS Records Inc. and Columbia Pictures Entertainment Inc.
Morita received several awards for his outstanding achievements. He was given the Albert Medal by the UK’s Royal Society of Arts in 1982. In 1984 he received the Legion of Honor and in 1991 the Emperor of Japan gave him the first Class of Order of the Sacred Treasure. In 1987 the University of Manitoba awarded Morita with the International Distinguished Entrepreneur Award. He was presented with the honorary British Knighthood in 1993. After his death he was recognized with the Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun. He left the chairmanship of Sony on 25th November 1994. Morita died due to pneumonia in October 1999.

Walt Disney

Walter Elias ‘Walt Disney’ laid the foundations of a magical, optimistic and whimsical world full of imagination many decades ago that instantly won the audiences and the magic of his creation is still alive today

The American director, film producer, screenwriter, animator, voice actor, entertainer, philanthropist and a highly successful entrepreneur was born on 5th December 1901 in the Hermosa community of Chicago. His family moved to Marceline shortly after his birth where Walt spent most of his childhood. His early interest in art and drawing had him selling small sketches that used to do in his spare time. His activities always revolved around some kind of art work. He attended McKinley High School where he showed immense talent in drawing and photography. He also contributed his drawings to the school newspaper. To refine his art skills he joined the evening classes in the Academy of Arts.
The Disney family moved to Kansas where Walt continued to flourish in his artistic talent. He also picked up a knack for performing and acting. In 1918 Walt joined the Red Cross and was sent to France for a year. He covered the ambulance that he drove with cartoons instead of stock camouflage. On his return Walt decided that he would pursue commercial art seriously and soon he was producing animated films for small businesses. At 21, he had started his company called ‘Laugh-O-Grams’ and the first animated film he began working on was called ‘The Alice Comedies’. The company went bankrupt before the film could be created however Walt was not one to give up. He packed his bags for Hollywood with a dream to achieve greatness. With the help of his brother Roy O. Disney, who was already in California, Walt managed to set up a shop. He got his very first order for ‘Alice in Cartoon land’ and from that there was no turning back. Walt was soon known amongst the elite of Hollywood, although he chose to lead a simple lifestyle.
In 1928 Walt created one of his most legendary characters ‘Mickey Mouse’ who made his debut in world’s first sound cartoon in 1928 at the Colony Theater, New York. After the introduction of Technicolor to animated films, Disney held its patent for almost two years. In 1929, Walt created new friends for Mickey Mouse namely Minnie Mouse, Goofy, Pluto and Donald Duck. Walt’s journey to fame had started to get even better. He won his first Academy Award in 1932. His first full length animated movie ‘Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs’ came out in December 1937 which was produced at the unimaginable cost of $1,499,000 amidst the Depression. In the next five years Walt Disney Studios released more full length features such as Pinocchio, Dumbo, Fantasia and Bambi. More animated features followed in the 50′s including Cinderella (1950), Alice in Wonderland (1951), Peter Pan (1953), Sleeping Beauty (1959) and 101 Dalmatians (1961). Walt was the first one to use TV for entertainment purposes and his shows Davy Crockett, Mickey Mouse Club and Zorro were immensely popular.
Walt had always wanted to start a theme park where children could enjoy with their families, take fun rides and see their favorite Disney characters. This dream became a reality in 1955 with the opening of Disney Land Park that entertains worldwide tourists. Walt planned another Disney Land which he could not see as the maker of the magical world died on 15th December 1966 due to lung cancer. His brother Roy completed the Walt Disney World which opened in 1971.