The information technology (IT) industry gave many people opportunities to reach the pinnacle of success. Some of the richest and most highly-regarded entrepreneurs attained wealth through their innovations in this forward-thinking business. One of them is David Duffield, PeopleSoft co-founder and former chairman.
Duffield entered the IT industry when innovation and competition were in full swing. He graduated from Cornell University with a Bachelor’s degree in engineering and a Master’s degree in business administration. After completing his higher studies, he worked at IBM. Capitalizing on his skills and experiences, Duffield quit his job to form his first company, Information Associates. He made a business producing systems for higher learning. He also formed another company before proceeding to create PeopleSoft in 1987.
As the backbone of the company, Duffield used his visions to make things happen. Eventually his co-founder stepped away from PeopleSoft, leaving him to fulfill the responsibilities they were supposed to share. He assumed the position of CEO a couple of times before settling as chairman. His leadership made PeopleSoft the second-largest software company in the United States before it was sold to Oracle in January 2005. He later admitted that the ten billion dollar hostile takeover took a toll on him as well as his colleagues in the company.
However, losing PeopleSoft did not lead Duffield to lose his vision. He bounced back to business in 2007, challenging industry giants Oracle and SAP AG with Workday, producer of on-demand software that allows customers to manage business tasks via the Internet. His fifth startup also faced the challenges posed by the brutally competitive and crowded marketplace, but he managed to persuade even the most risk-averse corporations to take their chances with him.
With quite a number of feathers in his hat, Duffield is considered as one of the most successful entrepreneurs in the world, as well as the richest. His long streak of success is bound to continue for many years.
Sunday, December 11, 2011
Thursday, December 8, 2011
From Farmer to Hotelier: John Willard Marriott’s Story
One summer day, a thirteen-year-old, J. William Marriot, noticed an oddity on the family farm near Ogde, Utah. Two hectares of unused land were hard to miss, especially for a boy as observant as he. He decided to see what he could do about it, so off he went to Ogden and spent a few days in produce markets to check the trade. Again, based on his observation, he was able to identify what was in demand and what was short in supply: lettuce.
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| Marriott Hotel at Orchard in Singapore. photo: William Cho |
Young Marriot went home and plowed the land from sunup to sundown. He also asked his father for money to buy lettuce plants and cases of soda pop — not to water the plants but to coax his brothers and sisters to help him with the planting.
Within six weeks, he was able to take samples of his lettuce to Ogden and drive a bargain with a large dealer for his crop. He harvested the next day, took the crops to the market and handed a two thousand dollar check to his father.
It took Marriott quite some time, but dreams are never impossible to achieve with hard work. While keeping his family afloat by planting and selling crops, he pursued education and devoured every book he could get his hands on. So dedicated was he to complete his studies that he successfully graduated from the University of Utah with a Bachelor’s degree. A year after college, he built his first restaurant and never looked back.
Now his name is strewn in more than 2,700 hotels and resorts in the whole world. The farmer became one of the most successful hoteliers in the world with Marriot International, and inspired many people with his hard work, innovation, and optimism.
With a talent for seeing opportunities and the drive to seize them, Marriott was clearly a natural entrepreneur.
Monday, December 5, 2011
Billy Blanks’s Routine to Success
Adopting an active lifestyle has benefited Billy Blanks in more ways than one. Aside from becoming a physical fitness instructor, he also became one of the most successful entrepreneurs in the world. How did he manage to convert his discipline into a multi-million dollar enterprise?
Blanks was born in 1955 with an anomaly in his hip joints, impairing his movement. Growing up with this physical deformity, he was often taunted by his siblings — which made him think that he would never amount to anything. Blanks, however, found a way to overcome his impairment with karate. He began his study of the martial arts when he was eleven, and later on took up taekwondo as well. As the discipline program transformed his body, Blanks aspired to become a world martial-arts champion.
Blanks, however, found more opportunities for martial artists in Hollywood. He began his acting career in the 1980s when he participated in several low-budget films. He never became a big name on screen, but he soon created an innovative routine that made him the most popular gurus and entrepreneurs in the fitness industry.
Blanks invented the Tae Bo workout while running a karate studio in Quincy, Massachusetts. He merged elements from martial arts and boxing to create a workout routine that later attracted celebrities like Paula Abdul. With quite a star-studded following, Tae Bo became a pop culture phenomenon. Blanks banked on his routine’s popularity and started releasing mass-marketed videos — ultimately turning him into a very successful — and very fit — entrepreneur.
Recently, the inventor of the Tae Bo kicked off a new workout program, PT 24/7. According to him, this program is so powerful that people will feel the results in twenty-four hours and see visible results in just seven days.
Blanks is showing no signs of slowing down after over two decades in the fitness industry. With Tae Bo and PT 24/7, he retains his status as the most bankable fitness guru-turned-entrepreneur today.
Blanks was born in 1955 with an anomaly in his hip joints, impairing his movement. Growing up with this physical deformity, he was often taunted by his siblings — which made him think that he would never amount to anything. Blanks, however, found a way to overcome his impairment with karate. He began his study of the martial arts when he was eleven, and later on took up taekwondo as well. As the discipline program transformed his body, Blanks aspired to become a world martial-arts champion.
Blanks, however, found more opportunities for martial artists in Hollywood. He began his acting career in the 1980s when he participated in several low-budget films. He never became a big name on screen, but he soon created an innovative routine that made him the most popular gurus and entrepreneurs in the fitness industry.
Blanks invented the Tae Bo workout while running a karate studio in Quincy, Massachusetts. He merged elements from martial arts and boxing to create a workout routine that later attracted celebrities like Paula Abdul. With quite a star-studded following, Tae Bo became a pop culture phenomenon. Blanks banked on his routine’s popularity and started releasing mass-marketed videos — ultimately turning him into a very successful — and very fit — entrepreneur.
Recently, the inventor of the Tae Bo kicked off a new workout program, PT 24/7. According to him, this program is so powerful that people will feel the results in twenty-four hours and see visible results in just seven days.
Blanks is showing no signs of slowing down after over two decades in the fitness industry. With Tae Bo and PT 24/7, he retains his status as the most bankable fitness guru-turned-entrepreneur today.
Thursday, December 1, 2011
Stuart and David Pikoff’s Mobile Party
Brothers Stuart and David Pikoff thought that entering the gaming business seemed like a good idea. The opportunity they saw, however, was far from what any other average entrepreneur would possibly think of. Instead of programming their own game, they turned retrofit vans and trailers into mobile party units, complete with video games and other comically-named games.
Stuart and David started building their careers as entrepreneurs by running small businesses in various industries, such as telecommunications, property management, and homebuilding. Their mother, who was involved in real estate, importing art, and raising emus, influenced their choice of profession and raised them to be free-thinkers.
Stuart and David long wanted to start a business together. In time, they decided to leave each of their respective ventures to create a joint project. Although their initial plan was to buy an existing franchise, they ended up building something of their own to avoid labor costs and high employee turnover rates. They deviated from the trappings of communication and real estate business and entered the entertainment industry, where party options were very limited. In 2007, the brothers launched Games2U, a literal party on wheels.
Work is all fun and games for Stuart and David with their company Games2U, an Austin, Texas-based franchise that brings the party to the people. The brothers provide an over-the-top mobile experience with a wide array of games and entertainment to add life to the celebration for kids and the young at heart.
In just one year, several Games 2U franchises were up-and-running. Stuart and David’s unusual business became an instant hit, not only with kids but also with corporate professionals. They were able to tap the inner child in everyone and recreate a fun, jovial, and carefree atmosphere that can be enjoyed anytime, anywhere.
Stuart and David started building their careers as entrepreneurs by running small businesses in various industries, such as telecommunications, property management, and homebuilding. Their mother, who was involved in real estate, importing art, and raising emus, influenced their choice of profession and raised them to be free-thinkers.
Stuart and David long wanted to start a business together. In time, they decided to leave each of their respective ventures to create a joint project. Although their initial plan was to buy an existing franchise, they ended up building something of their own to avoid labor costs and high employee turnover rates. They deviated from the trappings of communication and real estate business and entered the entertainment industry, where party options were very limited. In 2007, the brothers launched Games2U, a literal party on wheels.
Work is all fun and games for Stuart and David with their company Games2U, an Austin, Texas-based franchise that brings the party to the people. The brothers provide an over-the-top mobile experience with a wide array of games and entertainment to add life to the celebration for kids and the young at heart.
In just one year, several Games 2U franchises were up-and-running. Stuart and David’s unusual business became an instant hit, not only with kids but also with corporate professionals. They were able to tap the inner child in everyone and recreate a fun, jovial, and carefree atmosphere that can be enjoyed anytime, anywhere.
Monday, November 28, 2011
Three Women Create Stylish Products for the Aged
Many people experiment with fashion during their prime years. As they age, their sense of fashion also evolves – from experimental to conservative, flashy to conventional. Consequently, there are less wardrobe options for older people than younger generations.
Entrepreneurs Rie Nørregaard, Susy Korb and Susan Towers believe that the golden years don’t have to be so boring. They therefore decided to create a company that sells fashionable canes, walkers and other living aids to senior citizens. Ohmu seeks to reinvent aging and change the way people think about it with colorful and whimsical living aids.
The three women behind Ohmu began their business in 2008. Korb and Towers set up a business partnership that year, and later on became friends with Nørregaard, who was pregnant at the time. As Nørregaard shopped for items for her newborn baby she realized that there was nothing good to buy for an elderly parent.
Nørregaard pitched this gem of an idea to Korb and Towers, and it was well received. It just so happened that all three have seen how their parents’ health deteriorated throughout the years, with an increasing dependency on these living aids. They decided to reinvent the old, stale industry of these aids and created Ohmu.
The trio did an enormous amount of research into the market, originally targeting older women. But with the company’s assorted and appealing product designs, their initial plan of bringing style to senior citizens expanded to include a diverse audience. The company now has a customer base from ages 15-92, proving that canes aren’t just for old people.
Nørregaard, Korb and Towers share the same sentiment about their business. The trio strongly believes in the idea of creating a product to make people happy, and seeing seniors get back on their feet again – with flair – has given them a feeling of satisfaction and sense of purpose.
Entrepreneurs Rie Nørregaard, Susy Korb and Susan Towers believe that the golden years don’t have to be so boring. They therefore decided to create a company that sells fashionable canes, walkers and other living aids to senior citizens. Ohmu seeks to reinvent aging and change the way people think about it with colorful and whimsical living aids.
The three women behind Ohmu began their business in 2008. Korb and Towers set up a business partnership that year, and later on became friends with Nørregaard, who was pregnant at the time. As Nørregaard shopped for items for her newborn baby she realized that there was nothing good to buy for an elderly parent.
Nørregaard pitched this gem of an idea to Korb and Towers, and it was well received. It just so happened that all three have seen how their parents’ health deteriorated throughout the years, with an increasing dependency on these living aids. They decided to reinvent the old, stale industry of these aids and created Ohmu.
The trio did an enormous amount of research into the market, originally targeting older women. But with the company’s assorted and appealing product designs, their initial plan of bringing style to senior citizens expanded to include a diverse audience. The company now has a customer base from ages 15-92, proving that canes aren’t just for old people.
Nørregaard, Korb and Towers share the same sentiment about their business. The trio strongly believes in the idea of creating a product to make people happy, and seeing seniors get back on their feet again – with flair – has given them a feeling of satisfaction and sense of purpose.
Friday, November 25, 2011
Omar Hamoui: Google’s Coveted Jewel
Tech entrepreneur and innovator Omar Hamoui has successfully merged two great ideas with AdMob. This ad network melded together of the benefits of internet-connected smartphones with Google’s operating system to create a new industry: advertising on mobile devices. With the increasing dependency of people on mobile devices and the rapid demand for new ways of marketing, AdMob potential to become an industry giant is evident.
Because of this, Apple and Google got into a bidding war over AdMob in 2009. The latter won and brought $750 million to Hamoui’s company. Since then, AdMob has placed nearly 200 billion ads in mobile phones and applications downloaded by users of Google’s Android devices. In reply, Apple has launched its own mobile advertising system, the iAd.
Before the success, the bidding wars, and the multi-million dollar deals, Hamoui actually created AdMob to build traffic for his young company. It was a firm that created photo-sharing software for cell phones. He first tried marketing his company through Google ads, but found that it cost too much. Since his application is meant for smartphones, he thought that the best way to market it was directly through mobile devices. But such industry was still unheard of when he initially thought about it.
As a result, Hamoui can be considered as a pioneer in the mobile ad industry. The cost of marketing was shockingly cheaper compared to regular Google ads, too.
Upon seeing how cost-effective this strategy was, Hamoui introduced AdMob to the public market in 2005, attracting the two largest tech companies in the industry.
The wisdom of Omar Hamoui is reflected on the short period (around three years)it took him to create a pioneering company that consequently became the largest player of mobile Web ads. As Google’s coveted jewel, Hamoui is expected to rise up to the challenge and demand of a growing industry in the years to come.
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| photo: Eirik Solheim |
Before the success, the bidding wars, and the multi-million dollar deals, Hamoui actually created AdMob to build traffic for his young company. It was a firm that created photo-sharing software for cell phones. He first tried marketing his company through Google ads, but found that it cost too much. Since his application is meant for smartphones, he thought that the best way to market it was directly through mobile devices. But such industry was still unheard of when he initially thought about it.
As a result, Hamoui can be considered as a pioneer in the mobile ad industry. The cost of marketing was shockingly cheaper compared to regular Google ads, too.
Upon seeing how cost-effective this strategy was, Hamoui introduced AdMob to the public market in 2005, attracting the two largest tech companies in the industry.
The wisdom of Omar Hamoui is reflected on the short period (around three years)it took him to create a pioneering company that consequently became the largest player of mobile Web ads. As Google’s coveted jewel, Hamoui is expected to rise up to the challenge and demand of a growing industry in the years to come.
Tuesday, November 22, 2011
Ben Kazez: Bringing Travel to the Palm of Your Hand
Ben Kazez founded the app creating company Mobiata in August 2008. In its first year the company generated more than $1 million in earnings and became a top app company in the business travel niche. In fact, its top-selling app, FlightTrack, was one of apps listed on Mashable’s “6 Essential Android Apps for Business Travel” in 2010.
FlightTrack has that elusive combination that the best apps always seem to have being both beautiful and usable. It enables air travelers to track flights and their arrivals and departures in real time through the phones in their hands. Within days of its iPhone app launch in November 2008, FlightTrack became the top-selling travel app at that time.
FlightTrack was just the beginning. Some of the other mobile phone apps Kazez and Mobiata created are HotelPal, FlightBoard and TripDeck. HotelBoard gives users the power to browse and book from more than 100,000 hotels across the globe. It also has availability information, photos and reviews. On the other hand, FlightBoard is an amazing app that turns your phone into the real time arrivals and departures board for any airport in the world. According to Mobiata website, the flight board was designed after the Charles de Gaulle Airport’s. Moreover, TripDeck is a free app that gives the user the ability to manage flights, car rentals, hotel reservations, meetings, restaurant reservations and cruises all through a single app.
Continued success, according to Mobiata’s website, “comes from a combination of working extraordinarily hard, being meticulous about design, focusing on user experience and making sure that every one of our products is an indispensible tool for travelers. We take exceptional pride in our products and we think it shows.”
To learn more about Kazez and Mobiata’s successful travel apps, visit:
• Ben Kazez Interview
• My Interview with Kazez
• Review Tripdeck
• FlightTrack Review
• FlightTrack Live Flight Status Tracker by Mobiata
FlightTrack has that elusive combination that the best apps always seem to have being both beautiful and usable. It enables air travelers to track flights and their arrivals and departures in real time through the phones in their hands. Within days of its iPhone app launch in November 2008, FlightTrack became the top-selling travel app at that time.
FlightTrack was just the beginning. Some of the other mobile phone apps Kazez and Mobiata created are HotelPal, FlightBoard and TripDeck. HotelBoard gives users the power to browse and book from more than 100,000 hotels across the globe. It also has availability information, photos and reviews. On the other hand, FlightBoard is an amazing app that turns your phone into the real time arrivals and departures board for any airport in the world. According to Mobiata website, the flight board was designed after the Charles de Gaulle Airport’s. Moreover, TripDeck is a free app that gives the user the ability to manage flights, car rentals, hotel reservations, meetings, restaurant reservations and cruises all through a single app.
Continued success, according to Mobiata’s website, “comes from a combination of working extraordinarily hard, being meticulous about design, focusing on user experience and making sure that every one of our products is an indispensible tool for travelers. We take exceptional pride in our products and we think it shows.”
To learn more about Kazez and Mobiata’s successful travel apps, visit:
• Ben Kazez Interview
• My Interview with Kazez
• Review Tripdeck
• FlightTrack Review
• FlightTrack Live Flight Status Tracker by Mobiata
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