Later on in his years, Gallo was asked by a reporter if he was still enjoying life. “More than ever,” he said. “With great wines like these to drink every night, who wouldn’t?”

After his father had shot and killed his mother and then turned the gun on himself, Gallo was unsure of what the future held for him. All he knew was that he now had his father’s vineyard on his hands. How did this boy who never excelled in school turn a vineyard and a loan of $5,000 into a global empire and a personal net worth of $1.2 billion?

Branding: Not every product that Gallo ventured into worked. In 1974, he introduced high quality, cork-finished varietal wines, but they quickly failed. Many said he was better off sticking to what he knew: cheap, fortified wines with nothing fancy about them except their names. Still, Gallo remained determined that he could create high quality wines using the same brand name. By adapting his advertising strategy, Gallo slowly began to convince the world that the Gallo brand could meet any market need.

Persistence: Working 12 to 16-hour days was nothing out of the ordinary for Gallo. In the beginning, when E&J Gallo Winery was made up of only E&J, the two brothers made it their mission to work as hard as they possibly could to make up for what they lacked. In the end, it was their dogged hard work that helped set them apart from the rest.

Ruthlessness: Gallo made no bones about it: if something had to be done for the sake of his company’s success then so be it. From aggressively under-pricing his competition to demanding more from his workers, Gallo let his competitive spirit shine through whenever it was needed.

Connections: Gallo was not a political man by any stretch of the imagination. But, when the time came to think about his business, he was not above getting involved in politics to make his voice heard. He cultivated powerful connections and drew on those people when the time came. He understood the importance of relationships that worked for mutual benefit and prospered as a result.

Strategy: Gallo did not become an industry leader by accident. He worked hard to not only run his business, but to also structure the industry in a way that was beneficial to him. From tightly controlling distribution channels to funding in-house research and development, Gallo implemented a strategic plan to take him to the top.

“Whatever we do has always been for the future, this being a family-owned company,” Gallo once said. “We have another mountain to climb.” Gallo never got to climb that mountain, but today, his son leads the way. Gallo continues to be an industry leader and is slowly chipping away at its reputation for nothing more than cheap, strong wines. The company continues to win blind testings around the world, demonstrating that above and beyond anything else, all it really comes down to is the wine.

Harley-Davidson fans are known for the overt pride they take in their machines. A T-shirt that one devotee made reads: “Put your ass on some class.” Whether that motto has been officially sanctioned by the company or not, that is exactly what hundreds of thousands of bike riders around the world have done. With more than 33 models of touring and custom Harleys, which are sold by over 1,300 dealers, Harley-Davidson remains the only major American manufacturer of motorcycles, and dominates sales of the more heavyweight bikes. How did four young boys from Milwaukee turn their shed-bound experiments into a thriving enterprise and a cultural icon of America?

Innovation: If there is anything the Harley-Davidson Motor Co. is known for above all else, it is the never-ending stream of innovative designs and manufacturing techniques of its bikes that have surfaced over the decades. From the sidecar to the front pedal brake, the company prioritized the process of innovation. People who bought a Harley knew they were buying something on the heels of the future.

Exhibition: Harley and the Davidson brothers began racing motorcycles because they loved being atop their own creations and proving that they were the best. But, in doing so, the savvy entrepreneurs also saw the opportunity to raise their visibility and build a solid and reliable corporate reputation.

Dedication: If any of the children of Harley or the Davidson brothers wanted to see their fathers, they would have to pay a visit to the company’s factory. With the exception of Christmas, even birthdays and other holidays were spent devoted to their business. The four founders established a habit of hard work that became ingrained within the corporate culture.

Passion: Even if their company had not achieved the success that it did in their own lifetimes, there is little doubt that its four founders would have nevertheless devoted themselves to their bikes. Harley and the Davidson’s loved what they did and it was for that reason that they wanted their company to not only succeed, but also to be the best it could be.

Branding: The Harley-Davidson logo is almost instantly recognizable even to non-motorcycle aficionados. Through early attempts to create a loyal customer base, such as with The Enthusiast magazine, to the later development of the Harley Owners Group fan club, the Harley-Davidson Motor Co. has been one of the most successful American companies in history when it comes to having established an effective brand image.

The Harley-Davidson story is not just a story of success in the early part of the century. With 2005 annual growth standing at 6.6 percent, and income growth at 7.8 percent, the Harley-Davidson Motor Co. remains an industry leader. Hundreds of thousands of motorcycle fans continue to embody the passion for their machines as once did William Harley and the Davidson brothers. Today, the company is as much known for its bikes as it is for the loyal cyclists that sit atop them, which speaks volumes to the legacy that the four original Harley-Davidson entrepreneurs left behind them

There are some who say that what Popeil has been able to accomplish in his career is nothing short of magic. To create an empire out of seemingly nondescript kitchen wares is without a doubt an impressive feat. It was not, however, magic. The secrets behind Popeil’s success are as simple to follow as the instructions on his Veg-O-Matic.

He put the product first: Most television viewers have at one point or another seen one of Popeil’s infomercials, but few would ever be able to recall his name. That is because whether he was selling on the streets of Chicago or live on his infomercials, Popeil always put the product ahead of himself. He understood how to make the product come across as appealing as possible, and from design to distribution, that was his sole focus.

He used clever marketing: 60 percent of the way into the infomercial, you made your first sales pitch. And you did not just make it once; you made it three times. That was just one of Popeil’s handy little marketing strategies. Popeil left no stone unturned when it came to his pushing his products. Every step of the sales process was part of his carefully crafted marketing strategy to bring in as much profit as possible.

He created his own products: Popeil was a firm believer in the fact that product development and marketing went hand in hand; without a clear handle on one, the other would rarely be successful. It was in designing and manufacturing his own products that Popeil developed the know-how and the passion that would see his marketing through.

All of these factors come down to what Popeil believes are the two most essential keys to success: quality and reputation. In fact, “It’s all I have,” he says. By building up his reputation for quality kitchen and home products, and by making his infomercials strategic and as entertaining as they could be, Popeil was able to generate a loyal customer base. His products and late night infomercials may have been parodied on everything from “The Simpsons” to “Saturday Night Live,” but with his multi-million dollar fortune under his belt, it is Popeil who is now having the last laugh.

Read the complete Ron Popeil story here.

Proudly on display in the front of Rachael Ray’s home is a sign that reads: “Martha Stewart doesn’t live here.” She may not be Martha Stewart, but Ray has found her own equally successful style of cooking and presenting herself on the road to success. How did this young woman who never stepped foot inside a culinary training institute become on of the industry’s most popular and well-known cooks?

Lesson #1: Keep Your Fire Fuelled by Having Fun

“I was raised in a household that taught us that everybody has the right to have a lot of fun,” says Ray.

Lesson #2: Make Yourself Accessible To Your Customers

Rachael Ray has a secret ingredient to her success, but it is not the cayenne pepper or diced garlic she uses in her recipes. What makes Ray stands out from her peers and the likes of Martha Stewart is that Ray is human. She makes food with regular ingredients found in a normal grocery store and she does not apologize if she goofs up on air, which she does. Ray is just like the rest of her viewers, and it is that down to earth nature that has propelled her to the top.

Lesson #3: You Do Not Need to Be a Pro to See Your Business Grow

“My first vivid memory is watching mom in a restaurant kitchen,” recalls Ray. “She was flipping something with a spatula. I tried to copy her and ended up grilling my right thumb. I was three or four.”

The fact that Rachael Ray did not know where she was going makes where she wound up today all the more impressive. Despite never working at a five-star restaurant, attending a single cooking class, or training under a revered chef, Ray has made a name for herself as one of the industry’s most successful cooks. She is one of Food Network television’s most popular hosts, the author of numerous bestselling cookbooks, and editor-in-chief of her own magazine. More recently, Ray stepped out even farther into the limelight with her own hour-long daytime talk show, “Rachael Ray”.

Read the full Rachael Ray story here.

A successful entrepreneur, a strategic advisor to world leaders, an award-winning speaker and an internationally best-selling author, Tony Robbins has become one of the world’s most recognized authorities in the life coaching industry. Through his seminars and audiotapes, Robbins is helping millions of people around the world live a more fulfilled life. How did he create the life he wanted for himself?

Lesson #1: Your Potential is Determined By Your Self-Belief

“The only thing that's keeping you from getting what you want is the story you keep telling yourself,” says Robbins. “What we can or cannot do, what we consider possible or impossible, is rarely a function of our true capability. It is more likely a function of our beliefs about who we are.”

Lesson #2: Personal Power is the Ability to Take Action

“The path to success is to take massive, determined action,” says Robbins. “Your life changes the moment you make a new, congruent, and committed decision…It is in your moments of decision that your destiny is shaped.”

Lesson #3: Anything is Possible with Passion and Purpose

Ask anyone who has attended a Tony Robbins seminar to describe the experience in one word and you are likely to hear words such as “energetic” or “enthusiastic.” If there is one thing that Robbins is known for above all else, it is the passion with which he approaches life. Whether he is speaking to an audience of 2,000 or a single journalist, Robbins can’t help but be passionate.

“Success is doing what you want to do, when you want, where you want, with whom you want, as much as you want,” says Tony Robbins. For the past 15 years, Robbins has been doing exactly that. As one of the most celebrated motivational speakers and life coaches in the world, Robbins has come from humble beginnings to rise to the top of his game. He not only talks about how to achieve success; with best-selling books and seminars behind him, as well as being Chairman of five private companies that together generate over half of $1 billion, Robbins has himself become a successful entrepreneur and a model of what it takes in order to achieve your dreams.

Read the complete Anthony Robbins story here.

Frederick W. Smith is one of those very few people. Born on August 11, 1944, in Marks, Mississippi, this future founder of Federal Express was forced to grow up at an early age. His father passed away when he was just four years old, leaving Smith with few male role models in his life. “My childhood was autonomous, in the main,” he recalls. “I had a lovely mother, but not having a father influence, I learned a lot of things on my own. I think that would be the best characterization of it.”

“I would like to sit down some time and put a few thoughts down on paper,” says Smith. “I've got a few observations that might be useful for someone. It'd be fun for me to do it, and I intend to at some point. Other than that, I enjoy my family, enjoy the business and get to see a lot of the world, so I have no complaints.”

And so he shouldn’t. With Federal Express ranking fourth on Fortune Magazine’s 2006 list of the World’s Most Admired Companies, Smith has little to complain about. How did this one-time pilot become one of the most successful businessmen in America?

Lesson #1: Be Willing To Roll the Dice
“In retrospect it was ridiculous to try to put this system together,” says Smith, “which required so much up front money, and required changing a lot of government regulations, but I didn't know that at the time…I didn't know that I couldn't do this.”

Lesson #2: Never Stop Putting Up A Fight
“I was very committed to the people that had signed on with me and if we were going to go down, we were going to go down with a fight,” says Smith. “It wasn't going to be because I checked out and didn't finish it out.”

Lesson #3: Learn To Put People First
“First and foremost is our corporate philosophy, which we call PSP: People, Service, Profit,” says Smith. “If you're going to run a high service organization, you have to get the commitment of the people working for that organization right at the start. If you don't, you'll never be able to deliver at the levels of expectations of the customer.”

Read more about Fred Smith here.

“I still consider myself a little, fat kid from Hawaii,” says Kiyosaki. He may still be from Hawaii, but Kiyosaki’s impact on the world of personal finance has been anything but little. Today, as one of the leading authors and motivational speakers in America on strategies of achieving personal financial freedom, Kiyosaki has achieved a cult-like in the millions. How did this little, fat kid from Hawaii become a big, strong player in the extremely competitive industry?

Investing: “The values or points of view between the middle class and the rich are exactly opposite,” says Kiyosaki. The number one difference between the two? The rich focus on buying assets while the poor are consumed with their liabilities. According to Kiyosaki, people need to stop working so hard for their money, and instead learn to invest wisely so that their money can start working hard for them.

Education: “You have to be smart,” says Kiyosaki. “The easy days are over.” If you cannot even create your own financial statements of assets and liabilities, says Kiyosaki, there is no way you can be leveraging your investments to their greatest potential. It is never too early, or too late, to begin minding your own business – understanding what money is coming in, how it is going out, and what you can do to get more.

Vision: According to Kiyosaki, you could have the most lucrative opportunity staring you in the face, but unless you have trained yourself to see those potentials, it will most surely pass you by. It is only by first imagining what you want and seeking it out that those very opportunities will come your way.

“Remember to dream big, think long-term, underachieve on a daily basis, and take baby steps,” says Kiyosaki. “That is the key to long-term success.” Job security today has become something of an ox moron. By guiding millions around the world towards financial independence, Kiyosaki has created his own, and then some. With more than 26 million copies of his books sold, take it from someone who knows.

Learn more about Robert Kiyosaki’s story here.

Schwartz is 66 years old this year but has no plans of slowing down. As Chairman and CEO of one of Canada’s most successful companies, Schwartz’s goals for the future remain the same as they have for the past quarter century: “More people. More transactions. Larger amounts of capital. Identical philosophy,” he says. How did this son of an auto-parts dealer become one of the Top Ten Wealth Creators in all of Canada?

Lesson #1: A Company Is Only As Strong As The Team Behind It

“One of the hallmarks of Onex is that since I started the company in 1983, every professional who has joined the company at our Toronto head office is still here,” says Schwartz. “We’ve had no turnover.”

Lesson #2: Know When to Hold ‘Em and Know When to Fold ‘Em

Over his long career, Schwartz has come to recognize that there will always be another deal. Success, however, only comes from investing in those that he has sufficiently investigated and deemed appropriate. Because of its impressive stature, Onex is now informed about whenever any major company comes up for sale anywhere in North America. Schwartz and his team then inspect the books of each company and their respective markets to determine their futures. Schwartz is also keen on finding his own potential acquisitions, ones that have yet to be advertised and that are hiding in their larger parent companies.

Lesson #3: Create Long-Term Value For Your Shareholders

Before Schwartz ever made a decision to acquire a company or not, he would always ask himself one question: what can this company become? Schwartz was not interested in making short-term profit. Instead, his number one goal centered around creating value for his shareholders. “Every decision Onex makes is made on the basis of creating long-term value,” says Schwartz. “Our philosophy is to operate like a forever owner of an asset.”

Most Canadians might not know who he is by name, but Schwartz’s impact on the landscape of Canadian business is almost unmatched. After founding Onex Corporation in 1983, the holding company has grown to become one of the largest in the country, with annual revenues nearing $16 billion and almost 90,000 employees around the world. Today, this motivated and perfectionist son of an auto parts dealer stands out as one of Canada’s wealthiest and most well-connected individuals. It was, however, a fate Schwartz knew he was destined for.

Read the complete Gerry Schwartz story here.

From a dyslexic high school dropout to a thriving billionaire and adventure capitalist knighted by the Queen of England, Branson carved a unique path to success using his personality as his greatest leverage. His career has spanned over thirty years and his brand has become one of the most recognized globally. How did he do it?

Lesson #1: Be A Good Leader

“Having a personality of caring about people is important,” says Branson. “You can’t be a good leader unless you generally like people. That is how you bring out the best in them.” Branson is often criticized for his management style – or lack thereof. He holds no regular board meetings, has no business headquarters, and has no idea how to operate a computer. But, with his brand name licensed to over 250 companies, Branson has had to develop the necessary leadership skills to ensure his survival.

Lesson #2: Build A Powerful Brand

In 2005, Branson said his goal was to turn Virgin into “the most respected brand in the world.” Branson is not far off from achieving his goal. Virgin was recently found to be one of the UK’s top three favourite and most respected brand names and both the brand and the man behind it are known throughout the world. “In the beginning it was just about the business – now it’s about the brand,” says Branson. “Back then we would create a company based on frustration at other people’s service and suddenly realized we had one of the most respected brands in the world.”

Lesson #3: Keep Flying High

“Business opportunities are like buses, there's always another one coming,” says Branson. Branson is no stranger to failure. Known for his often wild and dramatic ideas, Branson always knew that he would encounter letdowns along the way. But, the secret to his success has been his ability to make a strong recovery. More than perhaps any other entrepreneur in the 20th century, Branson has been able to successfully move from one venture to the next even after experiencing bitter disappointment.

“I was never, ever interested in becoming a businessman or an entrepreneur,” says Richard Branson. At 56, despite his intentions, Branson has become one of the most successful and eccentric billionaires of the 20th century. He is the man behind one of the most recognizable brands in history and is sitting on an estimated fortune of $3.2 billion.

Read the complete story here.

He never dreamed of being a banker when he was a child, but today, there is nary a student of retail banking who does not know the incredible story of this determined entrepreneur. A son of poor immigrants, Giannini helped build the first national system of banks for the ordinary person, all the while fueling California’s economic development and inspiring a new generation of entrepreneurs. What were Giannini’s secrets for success?

Lesson #1: Think Big About the Little Guy

Growing up in the produce store of his stepfather, Giannini was surrounded by farmers, merchants, and other labourers. He got to know them, their businesses, and their business needs, in what proved to be an experience he would not soon forget. In fact, the lives and stories of these workers would come back to haunt him when he first took the job with the Columbus Savings & Loan Association. For, it was during this time that Giannini began to recognize that there were entire groups of people – workers – who were readily denied access to bank loans and credit.

Lesson #2: Keeping Your Connections to Customers is Key

The faith and courage with which Giannini gave out loans became something of a legend all throughout the Pacific coast. He made loans on a handshake to anyone who was interested, and he never turned someone away. His moral integrity attracted streams of clients from all over. But, Giannini wouldn’t look at what he did as risky. After all, he was a people person. He knew not only the names and faces of all of his clients, but also all about their families and their financial situations; these people were a part of his family now.

Lesson #3: Don’t Let Anyone Keep Your Ambitions in Check

When Giannini first came onto the scene, the banking world was a very different one to that which exists today. Most banks were single, stand-alone entities, and had limited capital, which meant that they could only lend out the amount of money they had in reserves. Giannini helped to change all of that by building a large branch network in California, and with a dream of going national, but none of it happened without a fight.

Home mortgages, auto loans, installment credit – they may be taken for granted today, but before this son of Italian immigrants came along, such things didn’t exist. Amadeo Peter Giannini – A.P. to his friends – revolutionized the banking world by focusing on "the little people". Giannini passed away in 1949 at the age of 79. By that time, the bank he had founded, the Bank of America, had become the largest bank in the world, with $7 billion in assets and more than 525 branches in over 300 American cities. Today, Giannini stands out as one of TIME Magazine’s Builders and Titans of the 20th century – the only banker to make this list of the century’s most 100 important people.

Read the complete story here.

“I’m pretty happy with the way everything has worked out with UFC,” says White. “We’ve come a long way in a couple of years.” From working as a hotel bellhop to managing a multi-million dollar company, White has most certainly come a long way from where he started off. How did this boy who could barely make it through high school, become a millionaire and the envy of men across America?

Lesson #1: It Takes Passion to Win the Fight

In speaking to the new graduates, White harped on the importance of finding a job that they are passionate about. “A lot of times, kids go to college and take a major because they do what they think they’re supposed to do,” said White. “I told them I believe 90 percent of America gets up in the morning and drives to a job they hate. That could have happened to me in the hotel industry.”

Lesson #2: Do Not Waste Time Marketing Outside Your Target Audience

“If you take four street corners, and on one they are playing baseball, on another they are playing basketball and on the other, street hockey,” says White. “On the fourth corner, a fight breaks out. Where does the crowd go? They all go to the fight.”

White knew that UFC could have a fighting chance in becoming a success if only he could focus on attracting the right people. From the very first day he took over operations at UFC, White has had a clear idea about who his audience was, and what kinds of people were going to be tuning in to his events. “UFC is definitely a younger guy's sport,” says White. “Our target audience is anywhere from age 17 to 35.”

Lesson #3: Give Them an Experience They Will Never Forget

“Three guys bought UFC when it was dead,” says White. “It was over. The sport was dead and no one cared.” But, if the sport was dead, how come these three guys decided to buy the UFC? Well, says White, “We didn’t buy this to make billions of dollars. We saw something in this sport and in the fighters that we thought was incredible.”

The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) used to be nothing more than an underground fighting league, and one which was scarcely accepted in the U.S. That was, until Dana White came along. White transformed the UFC into one of the most mainstream and popular sports on the scene today. By cleaning up its image and marketing it as a legitimate sport, White was able to create a successful organization, whose events can now be seen on television in more than 35 countries around the world.

Read the complete Dana White story here.

“One of the things young people always ask me about is what is the secret to success,” says Gardner. “The secret is there is no secret. It’s the basics. Blocking and tackling.” Gardner has gone from homeless to Hollywood, rising from the depths and despair of poverty to become not only a millionaire stockbroker and successful entrepreneur and author, but also the star of a major motion picture. How did he do it?

Lesson #1: Find Something That Gets You Excited

“You have to be committed, and you have to find something that you are passionate about,” says Gardiner. “And forget about money. I’ve learned that money is the least significant aspect of wealth.”

Lesson #2: Make A Commitment To Be The Very Best

“My first ambition in life was to be Miles Davis,” recalls Gardner. “I didn’t want to be a trumpet player, an artist or a jazz musician – I literally wanted to be Miles. My mom said to me, ‘Baby, you can’t be Miles. There ain’t but one, and he got that job.’ But I made a commitment at an early age that I wanted to be world class at something.”

Lesson #3: Don’t Forget Where You Came From

“As busy as I am wherever I am, I try to get out and walk the streets,” says Gardner, “to remember how far I’ve come and appreciate every baby step of the way.”

Chris Gardner wears a $10,000 watch on each wrist. On the right hand is a Cartier set to Chicago time, and on the left is a Roger Dubuis set to South African time. “I was late once and it cost me $50,000,” explains Gardner. “I figure it was cheaper to wear two watches.” For a man who not too long ago had only two suits to his name and could not even afford to pay rent, Gardner has come a long way. From living on the streets and bathing in public restrooms to owning a successful multi-million dollar stock brokerage firm, Gardner is living out the American dream.

Read the full story on Chris Gardner here.

They turned their $5 for an ice cream making course into a successful multimillion dollar business, and they had a lot of fun in the process. But, Ben & Jerry’s isn’t just about the delicious ice cream. From taking a stand against nuclear weapons to discussing America politics and corporate social responsibility, founders Cohen and Greenfield are taking the vision for their business to the wider world. How did two anti-corporate hippies become millionaires and respected business leaders in the 21st century?

Lesson #1: Business Benefits When You Behave Responsibly

“Ben and I built Ben & Jerry’s on the idea that business has a responsibility to the community and environment,” says Greenfield. “If you open up the mind, the opportunity to address both profits and social conditions are limitless. It’s a process of innovation.”

Lesson #2: Remember that Happy Workers are Harder Workers

In 1987, Greenfield came up with the idea for a Ben & Jerry’s Joy Gang, with a mission “to infuse joy into everything we do.” The Vermont hippies wanted fun to be an official part of their company culture. Initially, the Joy Gang’s activities were limited to providing free pizza and 15-minute massages to staff. However, as the company expanded, so too did the range of the Joy Gang’s projects.

Lesson #3: Two Heads Are Better Than One

“We thought, why don’t we get together and do something fun and be our own bosses,” recalls Greenfield, “and since we liked to eat we should do something with food.” From sharing the cost of the $5 Penn State course on ice cream-making that they took - for which they received 100s on all their tests - to deciding to go into business together, Cohen and Greenfield realized early on the advantages of working together. Not only did they have a trusting relationship and share many of the same operating principles, but they also knew how to have a lot of fun with each other.

“I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream,” proclaims Jerry Greenfield, co-founder of one of the most popular brands of ice cream in the U.S. Indeed, the success of Ben & Jerry’s since its launch almost thirty years ago seems to support his claim. From the $5 correspondence course in ice cream making Greenfield and his partner Ben Cohen took from the Pennsylvania State University in 1978, to being named “U.S. Small Business Persons of the Year” by President Reagan in 1988, the childhood friends not only achieved tremendous success, but they did so on their own terms.

Read the full story on Ben & Jerry’s here

“If you want to be successful over a long period, you have to have some idea why you were born and what life is about,” says Monaghan. “I don't know how anybody can function without thinking that through.” It may have taken him a while to realize it, but Monaghan certainly came to know what he was meant to do with his life. From dropping out of school and shredding cheese in his one-man pizza shop in Ypsilanti, Michigan, to exporting his recipe for success to over 8,000 Domino’s locations around the world, Monaghan pioneered his way - and his pizza - to the top. How did he do it?

Lesson #1: You Can Achieve Anything You Set Your Mind To

“I believe everyone on earth has a certain goal/dream in life,” says Monaghan. “I also believe anyone can achieve this if they set their minds to it.” In a self-described “Horatio Alger story”, Monaghan was able overcome the early poverty and tragedy in his life to create one of the greatest success stories in recent American history.

Lesson #2: Religion and Business Can Go Hand in Hand

“No matter what I did, I knew I had five priorities in life,” says Monaghan, “physical and mental health, as well as the social, the spiritual and the financial. But the most important thing I could be was a good Catholic. That is my No. 1 priority. There's no compromising that.”

Lesson #3: Get Your Motivation from Love, Not Money

“I was distracted by some of the rewards of success, which was hurting my business,” he says. “If you're successful in business it's because you've served other people; you've served your employees; you've served your customers. You're creating jobs. Don't just create an empire for yourself and an imperial life.”

When Tom Monaghan was a young boy, he wanted to be three things: a shortstop for the Detroit Tigers, a priest, and an architect; founder of a multi-billion dollar pizza company was not on the list. However, that is exactly what Monaghan would become. Since launching Domino’s Pizza in 1960, Monaghan has grown the company into an empire, with over 8,000 locations in more than 54 countries around the world, and sales that exceed $4.6 billion.

“Always remember that this whole thing was started with a dream and a mouse,” Disney said. He created the world’s first multimedia empire and he did it by making people smile. An entrepreneur with a natural flair for animation, Disney became one of the world’s most well-known and respected entertainers, creating a company that continues to gross over $30 billion yearly. What was the secret behind the magic?

Lesson #1: Chase Your Dreams

“Somehow I can’t believe there are any heights that can’t be scaled by a man who knows the secret of making dreams come true,” Disney said. “This special secret, it seems to me, can be summarized in four C’s. They are Curiosity, Confidence, Courage, and Constancy and the greatest of these is Confidence.”

Lesson #2: Stretch Your Brand

“It's something that will never be finished,” Disney once said of Disneyland. “Something that I can keep developing and adding to.” Disney was a management mastermind, a pioneer in the field of branding and merchandising. Constantly thinking of how far he could stretch the Disney brand, Disney set new industry standards for his ability to capitalize on his name.

Lesson #3: Use Your Imagination

“I believe in being an innovator,” said Disney. “Tomorrow can be a wonderful age.” Since its inception, Disney has always been an innovative and imaginative brand. From his animations to his theme parks, Disney was always looking to the future; he was in constant search for creative ways to improve his products and thrust his business forward. It was the company behind everything from the first ‘talking’ cartoons in 1928 to the Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow (EPCOT), both of which pushed the limits of existing ideas and technology.

“The era we are living in today is a dream of coming true,” Walt Disney once said. Indeed, Disney’s life was of the stuff dreams are made.

Learn more about Walt Disney’s success factors here

Born with a silver spoon in his mouth, Hughes never knew what it was like to be anything but rich. But, it was the degree of his wealth that would drastically change over time. From inheriting $1 million to becoming North America’s first billionaire, Hughes would prove to be one of the greatest and most-talked about entrepreneurs of the 20th century. His significant feats were a result of the following factors:

Lesson #1: Never Compromise on Your Goals

“Once you consent to some concession, you can never cancel it and put things back the way they are.” When Hughes’ mother ignored his pleas and forbade young Hughes from having a motorcycle, he built his own. Assembling his own motor and adding it to a bicycle, he refused to let his mother get in the way of his dreams. Much to the frustration of others, Hughes stubbornness and determination to follow through with his ambitions would be one of his distinguishing trademarks in his later years and also one of the key factors behind his huge success.

Lesson #2: Surround Yourself With the Best

“Never make a decision,” joked Hughes. “Let someone else make it and then if it turns out to be the wrong one, you can disclaim it, and if it is the right one you can abide by it.” On Thanksgiving Day, 1925, Hughes made one decision that would forever change his life - he hired 36 year-old Noah Dietrich to be his accountant. From that point on, it would be the decisions that Dietrich made on behalf of Hughes that would help create the massive Hughes empire. Upon inheriting the Hughes Tool Co., Hughes shrewdly recognized his inability to manage the family plant and sought out someone with more extensive business experience.

Lesson #3: Think Big, Act Small

When Hughes said as a child that he wanted to be the richest man in the world, he had a clear vision about where he wanted to go, but he did not yet know how he was going to get there. That is, until, he began taking one step at a time towards achieve his dreams. Hughes recognized the importance of setting high goals and thinking about long-term possibilities, all the while taking small steps in the short-term to achieve those goals.

“I’m not a paranoid deranged millionaire. Goddamit, I’m a billionaire.” While he was perhaps known more for his eccentricities and womanizing than his good business sense, Howard Hughes was indeed one of the most successful entrepreneurs of the 20th century. He managed to turn his $1 million inheritance into a $2 billion fortune. Equivalent to $6.6 billion in today’s dollars, Howard Hughes was and still would be considered one of the richest men in the world.

Learn more about Howard Hughes.

His father might have started the company, but by all accounts, Watson Jr. was the one who gave IBM its teeth. At the time of his passing, Paris’ Le Monde wrote of Watson Jr., “He made the company into a formidable technological and especially commercial engine, and gave IBM its international dimension.” He took six years and three schools to get through high school, but this youth who was “convinced that I had something missing inside” was able to turn his life around, give up his partying ways, and help create what is now the largest information technology company in the world. How did he do it?

Lesson #1: Make Your Company a Great Place to Work

“One of the proudest claims is the fact that people say IBM is a good place to work,” said Watson Jr. “I like to think that as we continue to grow we are not only going to live up to that claim, but make IBM an even better place to work.”

Lesson #2: Don’t Try to Tame a Wild Duck

“You can make wild ducks tame, but you can never make tame ducks wild again,” said Watson Jr. “One might also add that the duck who is tamed will never go anywhere any more. We are convinced that any business needs its wild ducks. And in IBM we try not to tame them.”

Lesson #3: Customer Satisfaction Means Your Satisfaction

“Service has always been the hallmark of our company, and looking at the years ahead, I think that the margin between our success and failure will be measured more and more in terms of the service we provide,” said Watson Jr. “I am speaking not only of the service we agree to provide by contract but also of that quality of urgency expressed by people who desire to do a little more than is expected. To respond cheerfully and willingly to the needs of customers, fellow employees and everyone we meet in our business contacts.”

When Thomas Watson Jr. stepped into his father’s shoes as president of IBM in 1952, he knew they would be hard ones to fill. Until not long before, Watson Jr.’s life had consisted in large part of drinking and partying. IBM had always been a part of his life, but only in the context of his father’s job. Was he ready to take the reins of this multinational company? Could he break out from his father’s shadow and create his own legacy? Indeed, Watson Jr. would not only create his own unique legacy as a businessman, but he would go on to become named as one of Time Magazine’s 100 most influential people of the 20th century. Under his leadership, IBM’s revenues tripled and the company experienced a rate of growth that few other companies can rival even today.

His association with ‘freaks’ and clowns has often led to him being overlooked as a businessman, but Barnum was indeed one of the most successful entrepreneurs of the 19th century. He started with nothing but determination, and used that to build a brand and an empire that continue to thrive today. How did he do it?

Lesson #1: Playing it Safe is Not Playing at All

When Barnum was just 19 years old, he started the weekly newspaper, “The Herald of Freedom.” Based in Danbury, Connecticut, the paper was meant to be controversial from the onset. Barnum wanted to use the four-page “Herald” as a platform from which to argue against religious oppression and the militant Calvinism in which he was brought up. On every issue was even printed Thomas Jefferson’s famous saying, “For I have sworn upon the Altar of God, eternal hostility against every form of tyranny over the mind of man.”

Lesson #2: Promotion is Your Company’s Best Punch

“Without promotion something terrible happens,” Barnum once said, “nothing!” A master promoter himself, Barnum understood the importance of making a splash and just how to do it. He first started his circus at a time when every Tom, Dick and Jane had their own traveling road show. Thus, he knew he had to make his just a little bit different than the rest in order to stand out. Indeed, it was by using showmanship and promoting himself to no end that Barnum succeeded where the others failed.

Lesson #3: There is a Danger in Dreaming Too Big

“Many persons are always kept poor, because they are too visionary,” Barnum said. “Every project looks to them like certain successes, and therefore they keep changing from one business to another, always in hot water, always ‘under the harrow.’” When Barnum was struggling to find his way in the work world, he did just that - struggle. His early career paths were as varied as could be. From a lottery agent to a store clerk to a newspaper editor, Barnum tried his hand at a number of different ventures. However, he learned the hard way that was a danger in spreading himself so thin. None of the schemes proved especially successful, forcing Barnum to re-examine his priorities, interests and capabilities.

The Fiji Mermaid, Siamese twins Chang and Eng Bunker, General Tom Thumb the Midget - besides being considered “freaks”, they all had in common one man, P.T. Barnum. He was a master showman whose rise to fame came in the 19th century thanks to his traveling “freak shows”. But Barnum was more than that; he was above all else an entrepreneur and a highly successful salesman. Barnum knew how to get people talking. Today, the legacy of his work lives on in the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, still billed as ‘The Greatest Show On Earth.’

He went from charging five cents per ticket to viewing parties for his homemade movies to becoming the most commercially successful director in Hollywood history. He has challenged the industry by tackling difficult subjects in his films, working hard to reach the top of his game and remaining there for over thirty years. How did this shy, socially awkward boy from Cincinnati become one of the biggest and most respected names in Hollywood today?

Overcome Your Fears
“I still have pretty much the same fears I had growing up,” he says. “I've carried them with me right through my life until now. And I'm not sure I want to give those up because I think a lot of those insecurities are fuel for the stories that I tell.” He is still deathly afraid of flying on planes and riding on an elevator, as well as being in any closed-in spaces. But, it is these kinds of fears that he uses to drive his films. “That’s just the kind of scary stuff he would put in films like Poltergeist,” his mother says.

Know Where to Draw the Line
Despite the amount of control that Spielberg likes to have over all aspects of his film, he also knows where to draw the line. When directing actors, he gives the experienced ones the room they need to manoeuvre and the freedom to do so, typically only stepping in if he is working with less proven talent. “You can’t dictate creativity to someone else, and if you do, the project fails,” says Robert Zemeckis, director of such hits as Back to the Future and Who Framed Roger Rabbit. “Steven understands that, which is why we all want to work with him.”

Follow Your Passion
“The only time I’m totally happy is when I’m watching films or making them,” says Spielberg. It was only by engaging in his interests and following his enthusiasm that Spielberg was able to become the success that he is today. “I like the smell of film,” he says. “I just like knowing there’s film going through the camera.” His passion for every aspect of filmmaking drove him to try to achieve the best he could, and indeed, he did.

He has earned four Academy Awards, is worth over $2.8 billion and ranks number six on this year’s Forbes list of Top 100 Celebrities. Steven Spielberg is a household name, and one that has become synonymous with success. There is rarely a project to which he is attached that does not either receive critical acclaim or break a new box-office record. Throughout Hollywood, Spielberg is in fact considered the most successful director of all time.

“What else could I do at my age?” Kamprad asks. “Grow tomatoes in an allotment behind the house? I don’t know how to do anything apart from sell furniture. I am your classic, specialized idiot.” From one of the most remote, poverty-stricken corners of Sweden to becoming one of the world’s richest men, Kamprad broke the rules of retail when he created IKEA. And, it worked. Just how did Kamprad do it?

Take Your Cue from the Customer
“The temples of design in places like Milan or God knows where overflow with beautiful, original furniture that costs extortionate amounts of money,” says Kamprad. “The vast majority of people don’t have six figure amounts in the bank and don’t live in enormous apartments…it is for just such people that I created Ikea. For everybody who wants a comfortable house in which to live well. A need that crosses all countries, races and religions.”

The Best Leadership is by Example
“If there is such a thing as good leadership, it is to give a good example,” says Kamprad. “I have to do so for all the Ikea employees.” Kamprad may be worth $28 billion, but to look at him you would never know it. He drives a 13-year-old Volvo 240 GL, of which he says, “It is nearly new, just 15 years old, or something like that.” When not driving his old Volvo, Kamprad can be seen taking public transportation in Switzerland, riding the bus alongside other commuters. He also continues to fly economy class and avoids luxury hotels when out of town. In a document Kamprad wrote in 1976, entitled “A Furniture Dealer’s Testament,” he suggests, “IKEA people do not drive flashy cars or stay at luxury hotels.”

Time is an Entrepreneur’s Best Asset
“Time is your most important resource,” says Kamprad. “You can do so much in ten minutes. Ten minutes, once gone, are gone for good. Ten minutes are not just one-sixth of your hourly pay,” he says. “Ten minutes are a piece of yourself. Divide your life into ten-minute units and sacrifice as few of them as possible in meaningless activity.”

Kamprad’s career has not been without its controversy. But, it is in surviving the tough times that Kamprad has distinguished himself as one of the most savvy and successful entrepreneurs of our time. He maintains an integral role in what has now become one of the largest privately held companies in the world. On the future of IKEA, Kamprad says, “I don’t think any of my sons are capable of running the company, at least not yet.” Time will tell how IKEA fares down the road, but one thing can be said for certain of its past - it had one of the most successful runs of any company in the history of the world.

From the plain and humble beginnings of his Mennonite family to becoming one of the richest men in America, Hershey’s passion for chocolate was matched by nothing except his love of children. Although he smoked between eight to ten cigars a day until his death in 1945, Hershey lived a long life, filled with both failure and success, lots of hard work and determination, and a concern for his fellow man. What was Hershey’s recipe for success?

#1: Give Back To Others

“One is only happy in proportion as he makes others feel happy. And only useful as he contributes his influences for the finer callings in life.” The wealth that Hershey had amassed throughout his career enabled him to devote much of his life to philanthropy. But, it was his sense of concern for others that made him do it. Both because it made good business sense and because he felt compelled as a fellow human being, Hershey demonstrated that giving back to others is indeed one of the hallmarks of a successful entrepreneur.

#2 Try And Try Again

When Hershey first tried his hand at entrepreneurship, it seemed he would forever take after his father, with one failed business attempt after another. Although he had determination and ambition and he had begun working towards his dreams while he was still a teenager, Hershey found himself unemployed and nearly bankrupt by the time he was 30. Through a combination of hard work, sheer willpower, and luck, Hershey was finally able to get his business off the ground. Three businesses and five cities later, Hershey had at last achieved his goals.

#3 Go On A Quest For Quality

“Give them quality,” said Hershey. “That’s the best kind of advertising in the world.” Throughout his career, Hershey remained dedicated to providing the best possible product and value for his customers. With a reputation for being a hands-on perfectionist, Hershey made it his mission to ensure that every single chocolate that went out with his name on it was up to his standards of approval - a tough measure in and of itself. But, it was his quest for quality that differentiated Hershey’s chocolates from his competitors.

Through The Hershey Chocolate Company, The Milton Hershey School, and the numerous other community institutions that Hershey helped to create, the legacy of Milton Hershey carries on to this day. His products are known throughout the world and his generosity continues to move thousands of people each day.

“We provide food that customers love, day after day after day,” said Kroc. “People just want more of it.” In unjustified simplicity, Kroc attempted to describe what made his business the global empire it is today. Indeed, it was not as simple as just providing tasty hamburgers and fries. Kroc was an ambitious entrepreneur who embarked on a strategic plan of expansion that would cover nearly every continent. Kroc not only created an immensely successful company, he also built a global brand and revolutionized the American cultural landscape. How did he do it?

#1: Take Your Business Seriously

“I didn’t invent the hamburger,” said Kroc. “I just took it more seriously than anyone else...We take the hamburger business more seriously than anyone else.” Time Magazine dubbed Kroc one of the world’s most influential builders and titans of industry because he did just that - he built a small business into a billion dollar enterprise and, he did it by focusing on the details and caring more about his business than anyone else.

#2: You’re Only As Good As The People You Hire

“None of us is as good as all of us,” Kroc would say. A strong proponent of teamwork, Kroc understood that his growing company could only continue its meteoric rise up if it had the support and the dedication of its workers behind it. In order to ensure staff loyalty and motivate his employees, Kroc did his best to guarantee that they were treated with respect and were able to operate on an equal playing field.

#3: Effective Marketing Makes All The Difference

“We're not in the hamburger business,” said Kroc. “We're in show business.” Kroc understood that it was all in the message; the success of McDonald’s was going to be based on how the company was perceived by the public. Thus, Kroc spent much time and effort developing an effective marketing plan.

First and foremost, Kroc decided to focus on marketing at the local level. It was by thinking big, but acting small that Kroc was able to expand the chain into a global powerhouse. In the eyes of Kroc, each McDonald’s that he helped erect was a local business and also part of a local community. Thus, each franchise had to be marketed and tailored to its unique needs and those of its surroundings.

“What I know for sure is that if you want to have success, you can’t make success your goal,” says Oprah Winfrey. “The key is not to worry about being successful, but to instead work toward being significant - and the success will naturally follow.”

What are Oprah’s secrets to success?

#1 Set High Goals

“I always knew I’d be a millionaire by age thirty-two,” said Oprah in 1987. “In fact, I am going to be the richest black woman in America.” 19 years later, with a net worth of $1.4 billion, Oprah has become not only the richest black woman in America, but also one of the richest people in the world.

This success has not come by chance. Oprah has made her fortune by setting clear and ambitious goals on both the professional and personal levels. “The big secret in life is that there is no big secret,” she says. “Whatever your goal, you can get there if you’re willing to work.”

According to Oprah, the biggest hurdle people need to overcome in order to be successful is their belief that there are limits to how much they can accomplish. Goals need to be set and set high; expectations need to be limitless; and ambition cannot be restrained. “If you believe you can only go so far, it is an obstacle.”

#2 Rise Above Your Obstacles

“Challenges are gifts that force us to search for a new center of gravity,” says Oprah. “Don't fight them. Just find a different way to stand.”

Oprah is a woman of extremes; she is extremely successful, extremely powerful and extremely passionate about what she does. But, her success has come at the end of a long road of other extremes: obstacles. From sexual molestation to drug abuse to racism, Oprah has endured an inordinate amount of both personal and professional challenges on her path to becoming one of the richest women in the world.

#3 Find Your Passion

“Passion is energy,” says Oprah Winfrey. “Feel the power that comes from focusing on what excites you.”

Since she first discovered her passion for communication while preaching Bible passages at her grandmother’s church at the young age of 3, Oprah has dedicated herself to fulfilling her passion. Overcoming numerous obstacles, Oprah focused all her abilities and activities on achieving her dream. She now regularly spends time on The Oprah Winfrey Show encouraging her audience to discover their passions and live the life of their dreams.

“What I know is, is that if you do work that you love, and work that fulfills you, the rest will come,” she says. “And, I truly believe, that the reason I’ve been able to be so financially successful is because my focus has never, ever for one minute been money.”

It’s worked. Today, Oprah’s Company, Harpo Studios, has 263 full-time employees, modest turnover (10% to 15% a year) and earns $275 million in revenues - Oprah believes she’s “just getting started.”