Different Paths to Success

"Entrepreneurs don't worry about making great decisions as much as they do about making fast decisions." (pg. 122)

This quote is taken from the book 'Driven' by Robert Herjavec in the chapter titled 'Train for a Marathon, Prepare for a Sprint'. In this chapter Robert Herjavec is referring to the managers of a company as marathon runners because their focus is on the long-term success of a company, which is reached by following a fixed long-term plan. However the entrepreneurs are referred to as sprinters because their focus is on the immediate success of their company and their primary goal is to reach this success before anyone else does. This comparison between managers and entrepreneurs also contributes to the theme of job security versus having a highly risky job, which is very relevant in the book. Robert Herjavec often compares those who work in a large company and follow orders to those who start their own companies and become their own boss. Although both paths can lead to success and wealth it is obvious that Robert is more biased towards the entrepreneurial side of business because he himself is an entrepreneur. Having reached great success Robert understands the constant rush and hectic lifestyle that an entrepreneur has to submerge themselves into in order to reach similar heights of greatness. He explains that in order to cope with the pressure and chaos of running a company by yourself, you need to be very passionate about what you are doing. Passion is something that Robert Herjavec has found in the risk and excitement of being his own boss and not in working for a large firm. He often refers to the job security that most people are looking for in large companies as something that he understands and appreciates but does not strive for personally. Therefore I believe that the importance of this quote is for Robert Herjavec to try and differentiate the roles of a successful entrepreneur with successful manager of a company. The main differences being; choice of lifestyle concerning job security and a person's general approach to business, whether it be fast paced and focused on short-term success or more stead-paced with long term focus on success.