On Role Models

We live in the age of information. We are able to examine, learn, and extrapolate from our predecessors, their achievements and learnings like no one else in history. It really is a crazy luxury to have that knowledge at our fingertips 24/7. Because of this accessibility, there is a huge number of people whose accomplishments we can study and whose examples we may follow. I’ve been thinking a lot about role models lately, and what they mean to me and for everybody else. The role model as an institution is directly tied to what we are able to learn from our heritage. They are people whose successes we admire, whose ideologies we value, and whose knowledge we try to take and form to our own life.

There are many people who have taught me important lessons and whose input I value, but when I really think about my role models, these are the three who come to mind:

1. Grant Cardone

I admire Grant’s entrepreneurial skills; he’s up there with some of the greatest. Because of the era we’re in, there are an infinite number of people out there spitting opinions. There’s so much information available, so many people adding their voices to the fray, that it can be difficult to separate the beneficial from the harmful, the truth from the bullshit. I admire Grant because everything he says is helpful. Whether you’re an entrepreneur, a salesperson or working a 9–5, he has some knowledge to impart. That consistency, combined with his success as a businessman speaks to me.

2. Warren Buffet

Warren Buffet is a very unique investor. He makes a couple large investments a year, and is very particular about it. He invests in the American economy often, and is more likely to give his support to companies where he’ll have influence. His hands-on approach is very unusual for shareholders. More than that, though, he invests in products he particularly enjoys. For example, he enjoys Coca-Cola, and so invested heavily in them. I appreciate the concept giving one’s money to products and services that have personal appeal, and this approach has allowed him to see enormous success.

3. Elon Musk

Elon Musk runs multi-billion dollar businesses like startups. He has hats in a lot of different rings, and he takes risks. Whatever else you may say about him, there’s absolutely no denying that he believes in what he’s doing. He’s of the shared opinion that solar and other renewable energy is the future, that the next frontier for mankind is Mars, and that electric cars are the transportation of tomorrow. He believes in his businesses so much that he invests back into them in crazy numbers. The drive and ambition that he brings to his day-to-day is rare.

What I’ve learned from these men, and what I’ve noticed they have in common, is vision and drive. Their approach is tenacious and confident, and should serve as an example to anybody interested in business. I’ve seen many people who have a vision of how they want to impact the world or make a name for themselves, but lack the conviction to see it through.

Of course, you don’t learn everything from your role models. What I’ve found is that these people and the examples they set are tools that can be very useful, but to use them requires personal motivation and a willingness to learn. When I started out, I knew very little about how to structure, organize, and run a business properly. The lessons and practices from and of these men mean little if not paired with the readiness to go all in and learn from firsthand experience.

I’ve had people ask me how Elon Musk can simultaneously be a role model of mine as well as a competitor. This is an interesting question, and it doesn’t have a simple answer. The truth is that, especially in my industry, there’s always room for competition. Oversaturation of the market is a myth. The individual entrepreneur or the company by and large should not concern itself with the actions of their competitors. As far as I’m concerned, the issue of renewable energy is one Elon and I- Tesla and Sungrade- are working to solve together.

The biggest lesson to be taken from our collective history is that two of the main ingredients for visible change are inspiration and determination. A specific vision for the world and the discipline to see it through are the DNA of every successful corporation, world leader, or your role models. The courage to affect change and keep one’s motivations in focus are more important than I can verbalize here. Commitment to a world changing ethos can only come as a result of self awareness. If you’re able to truly figure out what pushes you to make an impact, keep it in focus, and follow through, you’ll be someone’s role model.