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For those looking to reach the very top of the tree, there is a lot to be learnt from existing CEOs and the roots of their success.
Peter Vanham, author of ‘Before I was CEO’, interviewed 20 CEOs and entrepreneurs about how they started their careers and how they made it to the top.
Contributing to Business Insider, he says: “Surprisingly, many answered enthusiastically, and their answers were surprinsingly unconventional.”
He then goes on to list the top 10 success tips he learned from talking with these Chief Executives…
1. Education and money is irrelevant
Vanham points out that a person’s upbringing doesn’t determine success. He says you don’t need to obtain a degree from a top university or come from a wealthy family.
He supports this statement with the following examples: the first, Susan Cameron, CEO of Reynolds American, who came from a middle-class family and obtained her MBA from a small Catholic university in Kentucky, and the second, Rick Goings, CEO of Tupperware, who came from a poor family and never obtained a degree.
2. Self-belief is key
“All the people I spoke to shared two qualities. First, at some point in their youth, they became confident in their abilities. Second, they discovered a field or industry they loved,” writes Vanham.
He gives the example of David Kenny, General Manager of IBM Watson, who became confident in his own abilities after being accepted in to the Kettering Institute school for engineers.
Vanham continues: “If you're not yet sure of your abilities or interests, look for people around you to support and guide you, like a teacher. Be patient — your passion will surface sooner or later.”
