Last night CBC television’s The Hour featured one of the most famous business personalities in North America. Kevin O’Leary is best known as a brutally honest, and ruthless “Dragon” on the Dragon’s Den.
I suggest any budding entrepreneur take a serious look at Mr. O’Leary in order to understand how kind and honest potential investors can be. The public treats him as the bad guy on the popular television show, which features entrepreneurs and inventors pitching a group of sophisticated investors for funding. But, in actual fact, Kevin is the biggest hero any entrepreneur could face. Why? Because he doesn’t waste the most precious and fleeting resource you possess: time.
On a larger scale, every single North American should take heed to his words on last night’s episode.
At about the 11 minute mark Kevin talks about 18-24 year olds in emerging countries who are willing to work 18 hours a day to get ahead. These countries (India, Brazil, Tunisia, China) are “going to eat our lunch… and clean our clocks”. At 12:25, he asserts that these youngsters are “willing to sacrifice in a way you can’t believe”
A recent post about the unhealthy state of North American VC’s supports Mr. O’Leary’s view.
As a leader on the front lines of the new economy, I can’t agree with these sentiments more. It’s sad, tragic, horrible, scary, and pathetic. There is no more money in North America.
But as Kevin O’Leary himself says: “Tears and business don’t mix”.
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