I remember the exact moment I made the decision to become an entrepreneur. I was 18, working in the US on a Christmas
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I remember the exact moment I made the decision to become an entrepreneur. I was 18, working in the US on a Christmas
Koko the gorilla, was just a year old when her instructor taught her American Sign Language. Soon, Koko had a vocabulary of over
The average human attention span is short, and, according to a 2015 survey by Microsoft, it’s only getting shorter. In the study, 2,000
After years of grafting and sleepless nights, I finally felt ready to launch our product. We were given a great opportunity to launch
Reid Hoffman – the founder of LinkedIn – once said: “Starting a company is like jumping off a cliff and trying to assemble
There was once a farmer, whose stallion was his most prized possession. He took excellent care of the animal, until one day, the
Failure, in the past, was seen as grounds for punishment, especially for entrepreneurs. Societies from Ancient Greece and pre-modern Italy would publicly humiliate
When I first told people about my vision for 3D4Medical, they laughed at me. I was a broke outsider who disliked authority and
Before it was called Instagram, it was called Burbn. With this app, users could share photos, connect with friends, earn points and check-in
When Colonel Sanders franchised his signature fried chicken recipe, he was in his sixties. After years of selling from his roadside restaurant in
If you keep an open mind it will not only strengthen the judgements you make in business, but will make you happier as well. Empathy is vital, not just...
The world appears to be so divided. Leaders and entrepreneurs challenge their own perspectives, in business and life by looking at opposing points of view.
It only takes one person to make or break a brand. Rebel entrepreneurs understand this. They never underestimate the impact a single person can have.
Rebel entrepreneurs stand by their integrity. They are unafraid to question conventional wisdom. Crucially, they ask the question “Is there a better
To survive, businesses have to change their plans all the time. In business, adaptability is crucial. If you don't adapt you don't survive.
Anxiety can follow an entrepreneur at every stage in business. Though they can take practical steps to avoid it, anxiety can rear its head in spite
“Your salary is the bribe they give you to forget your dreams.” – Chrisjan Peters As you read this, you might be stuck
Reid Hoffman – the founder of LinkedIn – once said: “Starting a company is like jumping off a cliff and trying to assemble
Desire plays a huge role in the realisation of a rebel entrepreneur’s path. That primal, all encompassing urge to succeed feeds our initial
I remember the exact moment I made the decision to become an entrepreneur. I was 18, working in the US on a Christmas
I spent most of my adolescence in detention. From a young age – even though I was considered ‘clever’ – I was constantly
Money was my motivation in my early days as an entrepreneur. In hindsight, this was the single biggest mistake I made in my
When I first told people about my vision for 3D4Medical, they laughed at me. I was a broke outsider who disliked authority and
When 3D4Medical started off, I was operating entirely on a shoestring. We had just one employee – me – who worked from the
In 2015, researchers at Washington University in St. Louis wanted to determine which is a more effective motivator – the carrot (the promise
After years of grafting and sleepless nights, I finally felt ready to launch our product. We were given a great opportunity to launch
Before it was called Instagram, it was called Burbn. With this app, users could share photos, connect with friends, earn points and check-in
When Star Trek first debuted, it gained a cult-following who were charmed by the innovative technology that took centre stage. Many Trekkies maintain
In 2007, two broke roommates, Brian Chesky and Joe Gebbia realised that if they couldn’t raise enough money for rent on their San
Which makes for a better business – selling a product or a service? I happen to have experience in both. I was the
The average human attention span is short, and, according to a 2015 survey by Microsoft, it’s only getting shorter. In the study, 2,000
I was eating a meal recently and noticed tables of people celebrating. When the waiter brought out a cake with burning sparklers to
In New York City, there is no shortage of restaurants that serve just one meal. From mac and cheese places to peanut butter
When Colonel Sanders franchised his signature fried chicken recipe, he was in his sixties. After years of selling from his roadside restaurant in
A friend of mine was the ultimate rebel entrepreneur. On a shoestring he managed to build a multimillion dollar business in just a
When I finally got 3D4Medical off the ground, external investors and venture capitalists started showing interest. They’d get in touch with generous offers,
In Latin, the word currency means ‘to flow’. Picture a town where everybody is in debt. Each town-person owes money to someone else,
In 1952, a group of scientists conducted a behavioral study on the monkeys living on the Japanese island of Kōjima. Over the course
In 1870, Josephine Cochran enjoyed a busy social life, and would host dinner parties for her friends from her home in Illinois. One
When realtors host open viewings they invite potential buyers to imagine themselves living in the house. They get rid of clutter, brew a
The phone line went dead. Another no. I had just arrived in the US and the only job I could get was in
In 2008, Marissa Mayer wanted to determine how colour influenced users’ engagement with Google Ads. Mayer performed extensive colour testing for Google Ads
In 1956, researchers at Swathorne College set up a simple study to determine the extent to which humans are influenced by others. In
Investment expert Alicia Syrett maintains that the average investor says no 98-99% of the time, although this figure fluctuates depending on the type
When my business partner Niall Johnston and I got up and running, we visited many investors, to demonstrate the virtues of our 3D
When it comes to fundraising it is critical to not only communicate your adaptability and the viability of your product, but to prove
When Facebook secured funding in 2004, they didn’t have a formal pitch. Instead, they had a media pack which demonstrated the platform’s reach
Investors say no to entrepreneurs for a variety of reasons, and more often than not it’s simply a case of the fit not
Failure, in the past, was seen as grounds for punishment, especially for entrepreneurs. Societies from Ancient Greece and pre-modern Italy would publicly humiliate
Artificial intelligence is transforming the world we live in every day whether you are aware of it or not. As new strides in
When web browsers were launched in the 90’s, sceptics feared that the advancements would result in mass unemployment as the internet made a
The average American makes up to 70 choices per day. Choice is a fundamental part of life. While freedom is all about having
In 2003, researchers Dholakia and Simonson used eBay to see how customers really respond to discounts. They sold the same album – Pink
Amazon have built their brand on the understanding that modern consumers are willing to pay to get what they want as fast as
To survive, businesses have to change their plans all the time. In business, adaptability is crucial. If you don't adapt you don't survive.
It only takes one person to make or break a brand. Rebel entrepreneurs understand this. They never underestimate the impact a single person can have.
Dr Seuss’ children’s book Green Eggs and Ham was brought to life following a bet between Seuss and his publisher Bennett Cerf. After
“A goal should scare you a little and excite you a lot.” – Dr Joe Vitale. If your goal is too easy, it
Michelangelo once said: “The greatest danger for most of us is not that our aim is too high and we miss it, but
In 1967, Australian psychologist Alan Richardson visited a team of college basketball players. Richardson watched the players taking free shoots at the hoop
When it comes to New Year’s Resolutions, only 72% of people continue to honour them after the first week. Six months in, that
In 1990, Daniel Kahneman and Richard Thaler set out to determine how our sense of possession is ingrained into our identity. The researchers
What is thinking? The practice of thinking is just asking and answering questions – that’s where our thoughts come from. If you are
In a 2002 study, 180 people underwent three treatment routes for their arthritis. In one group, surgeons removed the patients’ loose knee cartilage.
When George Nissen came up with the idea for the trampoline, he was 16 years-old. Nissen was watching the acrobats of a circus
In 1984, John McEnroe exceeded expectations at his final match at Wimbledon, finishing the year with a match record of 82 wins and
Before he studied the flow state, Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi had originally set out to determine what makes people happy. He was particularly interested in
When Michael Jordan was in high school, he didn’t make the basketball team. Instead of taking the rejection personally, he practiced on his
Social media is an invaluable tool in business. The platform gives entrepreneurs an opportunity to quickly reach a targeted or global audience from
For most, listening does not come easily – not because we’re unintelligent or callous – but because the mechanisms of our brain make
In the 1980s, Italian neurophysiologist Giacomo Rizzolatti was studying the brain functions of macaque monkeys when he made a discovery that drastically expanded
A study conducted by LinkedIn found that 85% of jobs are secured through networking as opposed to traditional application processes. Networking is fundamental
In 2010, Cornell researcher Matthew Brashears set out to determine how human friendships have evolved since the internet boom. Brashears surveyed over 2,000
Over 500 faces were staring up at me, waiting for me to say something. Anything. But I couldn’t even open my mouth. I
In 2008, researchers Jessica Tracy and David Matsumoto studied the body language of blind athletes at the 2004 Paralympics against their sighted counterparts.
Most people are born with a powerful instrument that is completely unique to them – their voice. When our vocal cords vibrate they
When I was in my early twenties, I worked as a salesman for a company that raised money for the Catholic Church in
Picture yourself as a sports manager, assembling the best football team that would challenge the league title. Would you take on players from
In 1964, Harvard psychologist Robert Rosenthal teamed up with school principal Lenore Jacobson in a study that would gauge the impact of teachers’
A 2013 report by Gallup found that only 30% of employees feel inspired at work. It is estimated that this lack of engagement
In a 2011 study, “Do Nice Guys – And Gals – Really Finish Last?” Notre Dame Professor Timothy Judge found that agreeable leaders
The very best ideas are developed carefully, and often, independent of others. In a study conducted at Yale in 1958, 48 students were
A staggering majority of people are unhappy at work. It’s a world-wide epidemic. In the United States, 70% of people hate their jobs.
In a feature with NPR, Majorn Bell talks about her time with a boss who micromanaged the company. Bell had to email her
Reid Hoffman, the founder of LinkedIn, likened the figure of an entrepreneur to that of a pilot by stating “Starting a company is
A recent study by Harvard Business School has found that companies generate more success when the workplace environment is one that encourages employees
There was once a CEO who ran a hugely successful company out of a high-rise building in Manhattan. One day, a fuse blew
The world appears to be so divided. Leaders and entrepreneurs challenge their own perspectives, in business and life by looking at opposing points of view.
Happiness and control are intrinsically linked, but how does this knowledge play out in the business world? Does this mean that if your
Can money buy happiness? In a study published in Psychological Science, Kathleen Vohs found that when people are reminded of money they become
In 1920, psychologist John Watson wanted to test the extent to which humans can be conditioned to feel irrational fear. Watson had selected
Elon Musk – who identifies as an “introverted engineer” – has spoken in the past about how he had no choice but to
Sigmund Freud once said “Unexpressed emotions will never die. They are buried alive and will come forth later in uglier ways.” Freud was
When were you happiest? Maybe when you landed your dream job, or when ‘the love of your life’ finally asked you out. Maybe
“You have power over your mind, not outside events. Realize this, and you will find strength.” – Marcus Aurelius During his prison sentence,
In 2005, Jessica Witt studied athletes to assess how perceptions can shape reality. After a game, Witt showed them images of softballs of
Before the 1950s, athletes and medical experts shared the consensus that running a mile in less than four minutes was a biological impossibility.
I’ve spoken in the past about how a rebel entrepreneur must be psychologically equipped to deal with the challenges presented to them on
In a 2012 interview, Malala Yousafzai speaks about the moment she stood up to the Taliban, the terrorist group who had threatened her
In the 1890s, Ivan Pavlov conducted a number of experiments on dogs in which he studied their saliva secretion. Pavlov would ring a
When it comes to getting into the sea, there are two types of people – jumpers and splashers. The splashers enter slowly. They
Acclaimed pianist Vladimir Horowitz once said that the worst thing for a musician to do was to think about the position of his
Psychologists link uncertainty to anxiety. But focusing your attention on the things within your control can be beneficial for your mental health.
Anxiety can follow an entrepreneur at every stage in business. Though they can take practical steps to avoid it, anxiety can rear its head in spite
A friend of mine found herself at a crossroad in life. She wanted to be an editor, and hoped one day to establish
According to Isaac Newton’s first law of motion, an object at rest will remain at rest, while an object in motion will stay
When Formula 1 drivers realise they are heading straight for a wall, their first reaction is not to stop, but to divert their
During the 1960s, Walter Mischel carried out a series of studies on 600 boys and girls between the ages of three and five
When Bill Gates was just 17 he established his first business with his partners Paul Allen and Paul Gilbert. The company was called
In 1961, Stanley Milgram recruited 500 men to take part in what they thought was a memory test. The participants were given the
Are we predisposed to think negatively? Our first ancestors were hunter-gatherers that were conditioned to yield to negative thoughts to protect themselves from
The gut is so powerful, many call it ‘the second brain’. In 2011, Dr Premsyl Berick, an associate professor of gastroenterology at McMaster
Koko the gorilla, was just a year old when her instructor taught her American Sign Language. Soon, Koko had a vocabulary of over
Whenever we encounter a new person, opportunity or experience or even listen to a story, our brains are wired to ask the question
Albert Einstein once said “Stay away from negative people, they have a problem for every solution.” He was entirely right. Negative people can
In 1971, Philip Zimbardo recruited students to take part in a simulated prison in Stanford’s psychology building. Half were assigned the role of
David Steindl-Rast once said “It is not happiness that makes us grateful, it is gratefulness that makes us happy.” Steindl-Rast is not alone
Our brains are capable of processing the world around us incredibly fast – faster than we can consciously realize. However, sometimes this speed
There was once a farmer, whose stallion was his most prized possession. He took excellent care of the animal, until one day, the
Two days before his 88th birthday, Clint Eastwood played a round of golf with his friend Toby Keith. Eastwood was scheduled to start
When I was a teenager, I had to clean the kitchen after dinner each night. I dreaded the chore until I found a
Neuroscientist Robert Sapolsky trained a group of monkeys to know that if they pressed a button ten times they would receive a food
Benjamin Franklin once said: “For every minute spent in organizing, an hour is earned.” In any arena in life, time is a precious
From an evolutionary perspective, children are natural born risk-takers. In the past, they were exposed to more threats and had to learn to
Rebel entrepreneurs stand by their integrity. They are unafraid to question conventional wisdom. Crucially, they ask the question “Is there a better
If you keep an open mind it will not only strengthen the judgements you make in business, but will make you happier as well. Empathy is vital, not just...
Navy SEALs get up at 04:30 AM every morning for a gruelling physical session. As the sun rises, a SEAL will complete a
When Katharine Hepburn was a child she would take an ice bath every morning and swim regularly in the Long Island Sound. The
It is thought that the sauna was first invented by the Finns over 2,000 years ago before they travelled and brought it to
At one point in my career, it felt like stress was going to defeat me. Deadlines were mounting, I felt physically sick and
In 1957, a patient known to the media as ‘Mr Wright’ was diagnosed with cancer in a California hospital. His tumours were the
Amnesty International lists deliberate sleep deprivation as a form of torture, and those who have been subjected to it support this classification. The
Stephen King was on a flight from New York to London when he awoke from a frightening nightmare in which he was being
In 1993, Swedish psychologist Anders Ericcson set out to find what makes great performers tick. He was particularly interested in what separates top-level
When Steven Kotler was 30, he was diagnosed with Lyme disease. His symptoms were so excruciating he spent 90% of his day in
In 1964, Norman Cousins was diagnosed with ankylosing spondylitis, a debilitating condition that left him in constant pain. His doctors theorised that stress
In recent times, anxiety has become an epidemic. According to the World Health Organization, 300 million people around the world suffer from anxiety
Humans can live without food for three weeks. We can go without water for about three days. But without any air, we’ll die
In 1906, polymath and statistician Sir Francis Galton was visiting a country fair in England when he first observed a strange mathematical phenomenon.
Over the course of his career, Massaru Emoto was fascinated by the connection between water and human consciousness. Emoto encouraged over 1,900 people
The total length of the human face divided by the distance between the eyes and mouth approximates towards the number 1.618, also known
For years, many have claimed that their success is due to the power of ‘manifestation’. In The Secret, Rhonda Byrne claimed that if
After times of war, when a large percentage of the male population is killed, there follows a huge spike in the number of
In 2018, the furniture company Ikea brought two plants to a classroom in Dubai in order to raise awareness for Anti-Bullying Day. The
A friend of mine found herself at a crossroad in life. She wanted to be an editor, and hoped one day to establish
Over 500 faces were staring up at me, waiting for me to say something. Anything. But I couldn’t even open my mouth. I
Psychologists link uncertainty to anxiety. But focusing your attention on the things within your control can be beneficial for your mental health.
I’ve spoken in the past about how a rebel entrepreneur must be psychologically equipped to deal with the challenges presented to them on
In 2005, Jessica Witt studied athletes to assess how perceptions can shape reality. After a game, Witt showed them images of softballs of
What is thinking? The practice of thinking is just asking and answering questions – that’s where our thoughts come from. If you are
In 1957, a patient known to the media as ‘Mr Wright’ was diagnosed with cancer in a California hospital. His tumours were the
In New York City, there is no shortage of restaurants that serve just one meal. From mac and cheese places to peanut butter
Amnesty International lists deliberate sleep deprivation as a form of torture, and those who have been subjected to it support this classification. The
I remember the exact moment I made the decision to become an entrepreneur. I was 18, working in the US on a Christmas
When I was a teenager, I had to clean the kitchen after dinner each night. I dreaded the chore until I found a
Koko the gorilla, was just a year old when her instructor taught her American Sign Language. Soon, Koko had a vocabulary of over
Neuroscientist Robert Sapolsky trained a group of monkeys to know that if they pressed a button ten times they would receive a food
A 2013 report by Gallup found that only 30% of employees feel inspired at work. It is estimated that this lack of engagement
In 1964, Harvard psychologist Robert Rosenthal teamed up with school principal Lenore Jacobson in a study that would gauge the impact of teachers’
When Steven Kotler was 30, he was diagnosed with Lyme disease. His symptoms were so excruciating he spent 90% of his day in
Most people are born with a powerful instrument that is completely unique to them – their voice. When our vocal cords vibrate they
When Michael Jordan was in high school, he didn’t make the basketball team. Instead of taking the rejection personally, he practiced on his
Sigmund Freud once said “Unexpressed emotions will never die. They are buried alive and will come forth later in uglier ways.” Freud was