Mark Cuban – It’s Not How You Start Which Counts!

Born in 1958 in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, Mark Cuban is an American entrepreneur and pop culture icon, owner of the Dallas Mavericks and star of the hit television show Shark Tank. However, things weren’t always so rosy for Cuban.
 
He learned failure the hard way by failing numerous times, again and again, before he ever attained any semblance of fame.
 
Cuban was always a tinkerer with an entrepreneurial spirit in his earliest years. From selling garbage bags to running newspapers and everything in between, Cuban learned early on how the mechanics of business worked, but that didn’t mean he didn’t experience the gut-wrenching pain of failure along the way.
 
He was broke
 
In 1982, at the age of 24-years old, he moved to Dallas, Texas, on the word of some of his college friends, in a 1977 Fiat X19 that had a hole in the floorboard. Upon his arrival, he worked numerous odd jobs. He simply couldn’t find something that he was good at.
 
He failed at bartending because he couldn’t open a bottle of wine without the cork falling in. He failed at short-order cooking because he never knew when the food was ready unless he cut off a piece and tasted it.
 
And he failed as a salesman at a computer distributor when he was fired after less than a year on the job.
 
He didn’t give up, and then it all changed
 
Cuban simply couldn’t get anything right. At 25 years of age, one year after arriving in Dallas, he decided to start his own company, Micro Solutions, selling software, training, and configuring networks and computers.
 
He grew that company to $30 million in revenue, which was later acquired by CompuServe in 1990 at the age of 32.
 
That allowed him to create Broadcast.com in 1995, at 37 years old, a company that Yahoo acquired in 1999 when it was sold for $5.7 billion in stock.
 
Cuban was 41 years old, famous and wealthy beyond measure. Although he had failed numerous times and been through the wringer, he never gave up.
 
 
An inspirational story
 
Reading about people I have never heard of who have overcome multiple failures to succeed is very inspiring. It’s overcoming the pain of failure, which is always the thing that impresses me most. I guess I have great empathy with these people who have faced many adversities because I have faced many failures and challenges in my life.
 
9 years ago, I was unemployed, single, in huge debt, and living with my mum at the age of 60. Using the techniques I now share worldwide, I became a successful international speaker, author, and Mental Resilience expert. Then, at age 66 three years ago, I lost my entire business due to COVID-19 and had to rebuild again from scratch!!
 
Mental Resilience has helped me greatly over these past 9 years, together with meeting and marrying Julie, who has taught me the wisdom of good financial management as well as picking me up when I have been down.
 
One of the key attributes Mark Cuban demonstrated is Perseverance. Perseverance is a valuable quality that can bring about numerous benefits in various aspects of life. Here are some of the key advantages of perseverance:
 
Achievement of Goals: Perseverance is often the key to achieving long-term goals. It involves a commitment to working steadily toward your objectives, even in the face of challenges and setbacks. When you persevere, you increase your chances of ultimately reaching your desired outcomes.
 
Resilience: Perseverance helps build resilience, which is the ability to bounce back from adversity. When you face difficulties and keep pushing forward, you become more resilient and better equipped to handle future challenges.
 
Skill Improvement: Perseverance is essential for skill development and mastery. Whether you’re learning a musical instrument, a new language, or a sport, continuous effort and practice are required to improve. Perseverance enables you to hone your skills and become proficient in your chosen pursuits.
 
Overcoming Obstacles: Life is full of obstacles and setbacks. Perseverance empowers you to overcome these hurdles. Instead of giving up when faced with difficulties, you find ways to adapt, problem-solve, and persist until you find a solution.
 
Personal Growth: Perseverance is a catalyst for personal growth and development. It challenges you to step out of your comfort zone, face your fears, and take on new challenges. Through this process, you become a stronger and more resilient individual.
 
Building Character: Perseverance is a character-building trait. It instils qualities such as determination, discipline, patience, and grit. These qualities help you succeed in your endeavours and contribute to your overall character development.
 
Increased Confidence: Successfully persevering through challenges and setbacks boosts your self-confidence. When you realize that you can overcome difficult situations, you gain confidence in your abilities and are more likely to take on new challenges.
 
Career Success: In the professional world, perseverance is highly valued. Those who persist in the face of adversity and setbacks are more likely to advance in their careers, achieve their professional goals, and make significant contributions to their fields.
 
Inspiration to Others: Your perseverance can serve as an inspiration to others. When people see your determination and the results it brings, they may be motivated to pursue their own goals and dreams with greater dedication.
  
In summary, perseverance is a valuable trait that can lead to personal growth, achievement of goals, and increased resilience. It empowers individuals to overcome obstacles, develop important life skills, and inspire others. Cultivating perseverance can have a positive and lasting impact on various aspects of your life.

 
My life has been transformed, and I am completely debt-free and financially in a great place. This now gives me the opportunity to help people who need a lift in life. As actor Denzel Washington said, “Don’t just aspire to make a living, aspire to make a difference”. 
 
Thoughts for the week

1. How long do you keep going before giving up?
2. Do you keep trying or give up quite quickly?
3. Sometimes, just one more try can result in success, but if you give up, you will never know.
4. There are times to give up, and it’s hard to know when these times are, but overall, increasing your persistence will result in more success.
5. Persistence has taken me to great places in my life, both in basketball and business.
6. This week, reflect on your level of persistence and see if you can identify where you need more of this.

 
Warm regards

John