The following is a sample from The Success Story: Discover and Learn How Ultra-Successful People Work and Achieve The Results They Want. If you want to get inspired and learn what the greats like Steve Jobs, Thomas Edison and Henry Ford do, then you need this book.
Bezos is the famous guy that invented Amazon. He as you know is a technological genius that studied computers and excelled in the field. This is Jeff Bezos’ Success Story.
Bezos himself loved working with electronics. In high school, Bezos was recognized for his talent. That is how Bezos came to have an interest in computers and was recognized as a valedictorian in high school. In high school Bezos started his first business called the Dream Institute which was an educational summer camp for fourth, fifth and sixth graders. Bezos continued his interest in computers in Princeton University where he graduate summa cum laude in 1986 with a degree in computer science and electrical engineering. After graduation, he found work at several firms on Wall Street.
While his career was lucrative, Bezos took the risk in joining e-commerce. He moved to Seattle to start his career there. He invented the software that took his company to new heights. He named the company Amazon which is named after the South American river.
The initial launch of the company was great. Without any press or anything, Amazon was able to make the company profitable in just 30 days. In 2 months, they made sales of $20,000 a week.
After two years from the launch date, Amazon made a lucrative amount of sales close to more than 200% of its original amount. Bezos continued to expand Amazon beyond expectations and added several new products that diversified the company take it into newer heights year after year after year.
Jeff Bezos Success Story
While many dot coms went bust, Amazon’s sales reached historical records. At one time it was estimated at $1 billion, but estimates showed that it was estimated at $17 billion.
Kindle was Amazon’s newest invention after many years. This product was considered the first digital ebook. Kindle helped Amazon to new heights for a few years before its sales declined. The sales downturn was due to the launch of competitor products of similar capacity.
Amazon then launched Kindle Fire, which was their newest tablet. This tablet was created in similar capacity to Apple’s tablet, but was not able to beat the expectations of Apple’s technology. Kindle Fire helped Amazon’s sales and the company is still profitable.
In 2013, Bezos purchased Washington Post and other companies affiliated with it. The Washington Post was not struggling, however, the company president wanted to sell it due to the fact that the post was not able to keep itself up to date on new technology. The president said that the new contract with Amazon would take the company to better heights that would help it be up to date on technology and grow.
In the end of 2013, Bezos took to the air again when he revealed that he was making a new invention called the drone. He wanted to name it ‘Amazon Prime Air’. These drones would take a package directly to the customer. The drones are remote controlled. A test was done in December where a drone would deliver a package to the customer and it was successful. Each drone would only operate within a 10 mile radius.
Lessons learnt from Jeff Bezos
1) Throw away the box.
Most of the time we use the well-worn phrase “Think outside the box.” The problem with that type of thinking is that the box is still our point of reference. We need to be asking how we can do things well beyond our existing and traditional systems. It’s a difficult but necessary exercise. Amazon is Amazon because they refused to use current paradigms as their starting point.
2) Hard work is strategy.
I’ve never known a successful leader who did not expend years working hard. Sometimes we tend to think that there is a lot of luck in success. While there may be fortuitous circumstances, great leaders work hard to take advantage of them. Just eighteen years ago, Bezos was taking Amazon packages to the post office himself.
3) “Complaining is not a strategy”.
A lot of energy has been expended complaining about Amazon. Many have said they have unfair competitive practices. Others object to the way they acquire companies. Great leaders don’t waste time complaining about others. They use the precious resource of time to look to the future. The reason I have the sentence above in quotation marks is because it came directly from Bezos in the interview. It was my favorite quote of the segment.
4) Constantly take incremental steps to do everything better.
Even if Amazon is not making dramatic changes or causing disruptive innovation, the company is constantly seeking to improve its existing systems. If you decide to watch the segment, see how they are improving their fulfillment centers incrementally but constantly. Continuous small improvements lead to major improvements.
5) Create your own disruptive innovation.
It is better for an organization to innovate, even if hurts your existing services, products, or even ministries. If you don’t innovate, some other organization will, and the lifespan of your organization will be reduced.
If you would like to know more inspirational stories about great people and their journeys I suggest you check out The Success Story: Discover and Learn How Ultra-Successful People Work and Achieve The Results They Want. The book digs deeper and analyses what makes each successful individual successful and how you can emulate their success as well as giving advice on how to become successful, change your life or start your business.
