Gurbaksh Chahal is a man of remarkable fate. One of the youngest millionaires in the digital industry, over the years he founded four companies, each of them more successful than its predecessor. However, it was not a path strewn with rose petals, and he learned some very important lessons along the way. These days Gurbaksh [...]
Success. It’s got enemies. You can be successful and have enemies or you can be unsuccessful and have friends. The system will fail you. You will realize the more successful you become, you have a target on your back. And, that back is after you. It may even make you realize the system is designed [...]
Doubt: Doubt is a killer. The more you doubt that you can accomplish your dreams and goals, the more you manifest that result. As much as people glamorize hustling, most of the work isn’t glamorous. It requires more time, more energy, and more dedication than most are willing to invest. It isn’t easy, and it [...]
"Sometimes it is the people no one imagines anything of, who do the things that no one can imagine." Pain is temporary. It may last a minute, or an hour or a day, or a year, but eventually it will subside and something else will take its place. If I quit, however, it will last [...]
It’s a sad fact of life that whenever someone accomplishes something truly great there always seem to be others who want to take it away from them. The reasons why are many and varied. Envy. Bitterness. Resentment. Rivalry. Greed. Opportunism. A whole suite of negative human emotions. I’ve always admired and respected entrepreneurs, business leaders [...]
So imagine this, you have an amazing startup. It’s got a catchy name, you have the right team in place (I hope), the product is fully functional (this is kind of important) and you’re starting to gain customers or users. But, one thing is missing. You aren’t really getting the attention you wanted…the buzz you [...]
Everything you ever wanted is on the other side of fear. "It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent that survives. It is the one that is the most adaptable to change." Darwin said it best and his quote resonates well for the way we conduct our choices in [...]
"Stay focused & keep shipping" is what Zuckerberg posted when Facebook announced it would do its IPO. While it had a bumpy first year, it is now one of the most valuable companies in the world with a market cap of over $230 billion. How does success happen? Easy. You have to embrace failure first. [...]
It's how you rise from a fall that truly defines you as a man. Basketball legend Michael Jordan knows a lot about persistence. Discussing his stellar career he once noted that he had missed more than 9,000 shots and had lost almost 300 games. On 26 occasions when he had been entrusted with the game [...]
A young student at Pace University recently asked me a great question: What would you do differently if you’d known at the age of 16, what you know now? I answered the question on the spot but it struck a chord to such an extent that I gave it even more serious thought ever since. [...]
Stay in school. Turn off the TV. Stop reading the headlines. I’m sorry, but you are not going to change the world. At least not right away. First and foremost, don’t get lost in the hype of Silicon Valley. Focus on your higher education so you can attain the necessary tools that will help you [...]
We all have our low points. Whether they are personal or professional. We hit roadblocks and obstacles all the time. At some point, we think quitting is the only option. But, let me be the first to say the day you quit, is the day you lose forever. Nobody remembers that journey and nobody wants [...]
Some people dismiss intuition out-of-hand; they scornfully regard it as a lucky guess. Others, on the other hand, regard intuition as some kind of mystical power. For me, I think of it as a great gift that cannot be ignored and I agree with the statement of one well-known writer: “Intuition is seeing with the [...]
Grow a thick skin—a very thick skin. People will question your ability to succeed, and the loudest among them might make you doubt your own talents, so you’ll need a thick skin to drown out the noise. The silence will help you focus on your objective, and you will prevail. Here are 10 ways that [...]
Confidence is a unifying trait amongst the most successful people in the world. It’s the confidence to push past the word “no” and to pursue your dream despite the looming possibility of failure. Confident people are the people who aren’t afraid to take a stance and change the world; they stretch across nearly every realm [...]
When the universe is with us, we choose to smile, even in pain. We understand during confusion. We trust during betrayal; and we continue to fight without fear. We Dream. We Create. We Motivate. We Inspire. We Change. We Innovate. We Disrupt. We Execute. We Have Purpose. We Never Give Up.
99% is execution. 1% is the idea. Nine out of ten venture-backed companies fail. Ever wonder, why? Well, there are many different things. But, we will focus on one today. One out of ten start-ups survive. From that 10%, nine out of those ten will turn into zombies; an illiquid asset. Meaning, it may print [...]
From when I began my first company at 16, to starting my second company just years later, “You just got lucky” was something I heard as if it was everyone’s duty. Truth is, there is no luck. Luck doesn’t exist. A coincidence, maybe? But, luck is just a bi-product of hard work, dedication, and discipline. [...]
What does “Davinci IITM” mean to you? It’s a method of Attraction. What does the “4” symbolize? These are the four stages of a customer journey: Awareness, Interest, Desire, and Action. Imagination is defined by how creativity allows you to connect with a purpose. Our purpose was to bring Automation, Simplicity, and Design to the marketplace. [...]
As 2015 rolls right around the corner, it’s time to start with a clean slate. Do something new, become that leader you’ve always wanted to be. One of my core philosophies has always been, “Don’t ask for permission, ask for forgiveness.” That means, jump out of your comfort zone and just do that extraordinary thing [...]
If you look at some of the top entrepreneurs, they all have a few things in common. It’s what has made them who they are today. What has driven their success time and time again. Here are six traits that made them who they are. Age is just a number. This one is something I [...]
Forget Failure In school, if you perform poorly on a test, you’ve “failed.” If you couldn’t turn something on time, because you were busy working on material for another class, you’ve “failed.” The idea of failure has caused many to turn to cheating, copying, and other means of deception at a young age. Contrary to [...]
If I could go back in time, at the age of 16, I would have loved to read this list as I embarked the path of entrepreneurism. I’m sure it would have given me valuable insights into the mistakes that I could I have avoided. But, nevertheless here are some key lessons from my book, [...]
What does Davinci IITM mean to you? Davinci IITM is a method of attraction. Life is a journey. We go through four phases in life. These stages begin from the moment our life starts to the very last second. ■ Birth ■ Adolescence ■ Adulthood ■ Parenthood All of these phases bring separate emotions into our lives. Through life, [...]
Hustle sometimes has a bad name. For me it doesn't - it's working toward your ambition surrounded by discipline and purpose. There is a key difference between someone who is a hustler, and someone who will be invariably be hustled. Unfortunately, most people will continue to be hustled without the conscious attention to realize it. [...]
Overloaded? Overwhelmed? Feel like you’re juggling too many projects and struggling to get anything finished? There aren’t enough hours in the day? There’s just too much happening and it’s flat out exhausting? Perhaps it’s time to step back, assess your priorities and get focused? Go-getting entrepreneurs often have a new idea every minute, each one [...]
I've always considered rejection to be a blessing in disguise. It teaches you two things, to prepare for your next move and to realize it may not be the right time, but never give up. What do all big CEO’s have in common? They have all been rejected many times throughout their lifetime. How you [...]
It has to be the greatest comeback story in the history of the digital world. I’m talking about when Steve Jobs returned from exile to transform Apple and lead it back on its journey to be the global powerhouse that it is today. What did Jobs do when he first regained the reins back in [...]
Entrepreneurship is like a roller coaster. It has its ups and downs. It can be a crazy, manic ride with highs and lows. You hurtle along at a breakneck pace. It’s exciting. It’s exhilarating. It’s awesome. It’s mind-blowing. The ride can get scary, especially when there’s a sudden precipitous fall. But the good news is [...]
In the TV show “Suits” (just renewed for a fifth season) attorney Harvey Specter—brilliantly played by actor Gabriel Macht—is known as “the best closer in New York City.” He’s confident and speaks his mind. Quick-witted and intelligent. And he delivers great one-liners. Of course, he’s not without his flaws but he thinks outside of the [...]
Resilience. Commitment. Passion. These three words are characteristics. Characteristics of someone who isn’t willing to give up. Someone who isn’t going to accept anything but success. Someone who’s dictionary doesn’t include the words - failure or giving up. These are some of the most captivating character traits one can possess. It’s true, some may take [...]
You’ve heard the saying, “The sky’s the limit.” It’s meant to indicate that you can achieve anything; that humans can reach beyond the bounds of planet Earth and enjoy limitless success. I think it’s an antiquated term. I prefer to believe that the sky is definitely NOT the limit. Why be limited by anything? Strictly [...]
Entrepreneurs aren't born. It’s who they are. It’s in their hearts and souls. It’s in their very essence. The entire DNA of the most successful of entrepreneurs buzzes and throbs 24 hours a day with the entrepreneurial mindset and entrepreneurial attributes. There’s a switch that can’t be turned off. Do you have what it takes? [...]
Ambition. Discipline. Love. They are three essential components that define success. And, they connect you with a deeper emotion, purpose. Each one of those words gives us a reason to follow through, to create the next revolution, and to make the jump. The secret to combining all three to create success, is knowing how to [...]
After three successful endeavors I appreciate that some people might question why I’m doing it all over again. Why don’t I slow down? Why don’t I just “enjoy” coasting or be jetting around the globe? Why don’t I sit back and make the most of this so-called “good life”? My answer is simple: that’s not [...]
I've been fortunate to know a few things about successful startups. I’m blessed to have created three major endeavors that have struck gold, and I’m getting ready to launch my fourth in 36 hours. This has given me the opportunity to reflect on some of the essential attributes and components of entrepreneurs seeking to win [...]
As a wise man once said: “Age is an issue of mind over matter. If you don’t mind, it doesn’t matter.” Fast forward to 2014 and apply his thought to today’s explosion of entrepreneurialism—especially in the high-tech space—and you have to agree with him. It doesn’t matter how old you are, if you have the [...]
As a famous author once said, “We may encounter many defeats but we must not be defeated.” Defeats and failures happen often in life. Whether in your business career or your personal relationships. But you should regard them as inevitable milestones that you hit on the path to accomplishment. You can choose to wallow in [...]
The journey to become a successful entrepreneur is sometimes like jumping out of space free-falling and hoping your parachute opens. You can be sure of reaching new highs and plummeting to new lows—and then back to the top again. It’s a journey that’s crammed with excitement; a ride in which you overcome fear; a ride [...]
Go with your gut. That’s what I’ve always done. And, most of the time, it’s worked remarkably well. I’ve made major decisions in my life based on a gut feel of the right thing to do. I listened to the inner voice that pointed me in the direction marked “success.” Then, I didn’t second-guess myself. [...]
"A ship in a harbor is safe but that's not why ships are built." That is a powerful quote and it can also be used for how we live our lives in general. Do we want to play it safe or do we want to discover our purpose? In every successful entrepreneur there’s an element [...]
What makes a great entrepreneur? Who achieves the American dream of prosperity and success through the application of sheer hard work, determination and innovation? Look at the numbers and you’ll find good evidence that immigrants and others who come from nothing are the ones who make it to the top. A study by the Partnership [...]
Six years ago today, I signed my first book publishing deal to write The Dream, a memoir of my life journey of coming to America, dropping out of high school and by the age of 25 founding two companies worth $340 million. Since, then I’ve continued my love for entrepreneurship and have grown my fourth company, [...]
Show me a person with a vision, the passion to win, and the absolute will & desire to succeed. And, I’ll tell you that success is inevitable. If you don't read the entire article. Just remember one rule when it comes to business. 99% of the work is execution, 1% is only the idea. That's [...]
Entrepreneurs inevitably encounter numerous obstacles from the first day they have a business dream. It’s an arduous journey to make and just as inevitably many business people fall at the first hurdle, or the second or third. To make the transition from would-be entrepreneur to successful entrepreneur requires an abundance of positive character traits. In [...]
On February 20th, 2014 I hosted another guest lecture at Pace University. A place that holds a very special place in my heart. In 2008, I served as a keynote speaker at the 5th Annual Pace University Pitch Contest. In 2009, I served as their Entrepreneur in Residence. In 2010, I officially started the Gurbaksh [...]
When you step on the first rung of the entrepreneurial ladder your team is often a team of one—and that’s you. You wear all of the hats and work all hours of the day as you strive to realize your dream. And, if you’re like me, you do it all from the bedroom of your [...]
If you need any words of encouragement. Here’s a speech I recently came across that resonates with me on what “balance” really means in life from the former CEO of Coca-Cola, Brian Dyson. Hope it does it for you as well… Imagine life as a game in which you are juggling some five balls in [...]
Happy 60th Birthday Oprah! There aren’t many people in the world who are instantly recognizable by their first names. Oprah is one of them. She celebrated her birthday today and in the course of her remarkable life journey has scored success after success in many different aspects of human endeavor. I know that from my [...]
Success doesn’t come by accident. It comes from consistent hard work in pursuit of a dream. It comes from a passion that drives you, day and night. And it also comes from constantly and diligently employing some key habits that position you for greatness. Over the past three years my new venture, Davinci IITM, has in [...]
Joel – The first company you created “Click Agents” was founded by you at the age of 16 and not long after that, it sold for $40 million. Nine years later you sold your second company “Blue Lithium” to Yahoo for $300 Million. Making close to half a billion dollars in the space of 9 years, [...]
If you want to start a billion dollar company, there are three things you should know: The odds aren’t good At the moment, there were only 39 companies in the United States that are worth over $1 billion that started within the last 10 years. But, about 50,000 new companies get funded every year, so [...]
We're all aware how A-list actors such as George Clooney and Brad Pitt usually make about $20 million up front and then 10% of the back-end to appear in a new motion picture. But if a performer really believes in their ability to bring people into theaters, the smart ones take far less, sometimes even zero dollars for a [...]
People want others to fail because that is human nature. People will not gloat about success. They will gloat about failure. It’s just the fact of life. In the first stage of my company I had no money. I had no education. I had every reason to need to succeed, so I succeeded and I [...]
There are good addictions and there are bad addictions. Good entrepreneurs, serial entrepreneurs, become addicted to success where they want to challenge themselves from one step to the next step. A lot of the times people are only motivated by money and sometimes they have one hit and that’s it or sometimes they basically have [...]
At the age of 16 I dropped out to start my first company and I think the advantage that ended up happening at that time is when you’re young you really don’t have the concept of failure. You don’t really have the concept of fear. That’s why even when you’re younger than that you can [...]
At the age of 16 I dropped out of school to start my first company and I think the advantage that ended up happening at that time is when you’re young you really don’t have the concept of failure. You don’t really have the concept of fear. That’s why even when you’re younger than that you [...]
Fear is your worst enemy – risk is your best friend. The best thing about the unknown is the meaning itself: If success were guaranteed, the journey wouldn't be the same. And the journey is actually what inspires and shapes us to understand that success isn't supposed to be easy, it's supposed to be worth it. [...]
Gurbaksh Chahal has always known that business is the most primitive game in the world. Failure is always just around the corner, yet discipline and ambition drive us to overcome. The ladder to success isn’t as vertical as people imagine—it has the ability to reshape your life before you finally succeed. Business changes you. It [...]
