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…
Here’s something you’d probably not expect to hear from me: Do yourself a favor and disconnect from the wired world. Yes, I’m an Internet entrepreneur. Yes, I’ve been a passionate serial entrepreneur since the age of 16 whose life has totally revolved around high tech connectivity. And yes, I have to admit that I often…
I’ve often talked about the journey to happiness as being the most important thing in life. About how becoming rich or achieving a position of power and influence are not the hallmarks of happiness that you might think. Rather, authentic happiness is more about living joyfully every day; appreciating every moment that God has given…
Father’s Day gives us all a yearly anniversary, a time when we can reflect on the influence our dads have had on our lives. It’s a day when we can formally appreciate and celebrate the roles our fathers have played in guiding us into the adult world. I owe a lot to my dad. I…
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…
A few months back, I wrote this to help motivate, inspire and remind people of our purpose. I hope these words are impactful to you as they were to me. The biggest sport. Where you get knocked down. Where you get told your not good enough. Where doubt, rejection, and fear try to take over…is…
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…
What does loyalty mean to you? I return to this subject because I’ve been thinking about it a lot lately. Throughout my journey I’ve always believed in being totally loyal to my colleagues, employees, customers and investors. I can’t imagine running any kind of business without loyalty being at its core. Morally and ethically, it…
Becoming the top brand in any market segment requires leadership qualities second-to-none. But it’s a position every seriously dedicated entrepreneur should strive to achieve. In doing so, as you travel along your journey, you will ratchet up your performance and get far-reaching results. These are the key attributes I suggest you seek to master if…
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….
As I said before, Impatience is a virtue! Company Number 4 is officially underway. And, we’re already adding talented entrepreneurs to the team daily. If you are an Adtech entrepreneur and want to join the revolution in launching the next generation Marketing Operating System, send your resume to hr@chahal.com. We’d love to hear from you and…
As a wise man once said, “I have been up against tough competition all my life. I wouldn’t know how to get along without it. I’m competitive by nature. Always have been. Always will be. It’s just part of my DNA. From as early as I can remember I’ve been blessed with a never-say-die fighting…
“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…
Human Beings are complicated personalities. We all have universal needs during our ups and downs. But, it is only during our downturns, we universally test the ones that really matter to us. The ones that define us. Whether it’s a business or personal relationship, when I first encounter someone, I always ask them one question….
“Don’t ever let someone tell you that you can’t do something. Not even me. You got a dream, you gotta protect it. When people can’t do something themselves, they’re gonna tell you that you can’t do it. You want something, go get it. Period.” In one of my favorite movies of all time, Will Smith plays Chris Gardner…
Have you stopped to reflect on your position in the universe and what you’re destined for? Most people spend their entire lives figuring out what they really want to do or more important try to understand what life means to them. We’ve all been placed on this Earth for a reason, what kind of lives…
Have you ever stopped to seriously consider who you really are and what you contribute to the world? Or do you drift from day to day, dissatisfied with your 9 to 5 routine but not doing anything to change it? It’s always good to do some self-analysis. Analyze who you are. Tell yourself a few…
Start small. Think Big. When you’re getting a business off the ground you should certainly have big dreams. No-one ever got anywhere by thinking and acting small-time. Have a clear vision and set your sights high. Thinking small, however, is equally essential when it comes to your business overhead and operating expenses. It’s entirely possible…
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…
If you ask me, I think everyone has an entrepreneur inside of them. It’s just about whether you bring it out and showcase it to the world. Thinking like an entrepreneur forces one to constantly think outside the box. When one draws outside the lines, the end result tends to spell out great things. As they…
There’s a commercial in Thailand that powerfully demonstrates how caring for someone is more meaningful than all the money in the world. This commercial beautifully portrays – simple random acts of kindness. Visually and verbally it reflects how small thoughtful deeds not only bring great joy to the recipients but also to the giver. I’ve…
Breathe. That’s what we do so naturally. But, we forget the most important reason why we’re breathing and for whom? We all have a purpose in life far greater than any pain. Don’t let your struggle, keep you from your blessings. We’ve all seen the 7 Cardinal Rules of Life. But, here’s an expanded list of…
When you ask most people, who their role models are, they immediately say Bill Gates, Steve Jobs, a celebrity, an athlete, or even a politician. Some are iconic, wealthy, defined success, changed industries, and people look up to them as if they want to be them. I look at life differently. I came from nothing….
I’ve got a warning for big brand advertisers who fail to embrace the latest developments in technology: if you don’t learn the language of data you’re going to be left out in the cold. This week is an opportune time to reiterate and reemphasize these points as some of the world’s greatest advertising creatives and…
If you genuinely want something, don’t wait for it. Teach yourself to be impatient. This has been one of the biggest themes of the way I’ve lived my life. I’m not a patient person. I don’t view patience as a virtue. I like to talk about the virtue of impatience. When I get an idea…
It was the first day of fourth grade…an embarrassing day that was seared into my memory for life. For a boy who was naturally shy and introverted I cringed, as I became the center of attention. There I was clad head to toe in yellow: bright yellow slacks, a bright yellow shirt and a matching…
The state of my industry—online advertising—is strong. And getting stronger all the time. In fact, over the course of my 15 years in the industry, I’ve never been more bullish and optimistic about the prospects that lie ahead. I’ve seen the industry evolve from brokerage, commodity and entering a new era of automation. This year…
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,
How should Samsung exact revenge on Lebron James? That was the question being asked by anchors on CNBC after the NBA superstar’s mega-gaffe tweeting about losing all of the data on his phone. King James, who’s a high profile part of Samsung’s $14 billion marketing campaign, tweeted to his 12 million followers: “My phone just…
Every executive needs to understand the power of social media to help drive awareness for his company and his own personal brand. The dynamics of the digital world dictate that any business leader who doesn’t stay on top of the ever-changing landscape is destined to see their business erode or be deemed irrelevant. Whether you…
One thing that’s absolutely certain about life is that there are going to be innumerable setbacks along the way. It absolutely goes with the territory. Once you accept that fact and are prepared to deal with it you are setting yourself up for success. The ability to bounce back is one of the most important…
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…
On March 2nd, 2014 Matthew McConnaughey won the Oscar for Best Actor in a Motion Picture: Dallas Buyers Club. What I most liked about the Oscars was actually his speech. It was powerful and resonated with me. In his acceptance speech, he mentioned: There are three things that I need each day. One, I need something…
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…
So many entrepreneurs want to have first-mover advantage. You feel compelled to get your breakthrough product into the marketplace ahead of the competition. You want the bragging rights of being the first and, of course, you know that because you’re ahead of the pack you will easily establish a dominant position. Right? Except, it’s not…
If you ask any entrepreneur, what defines success? Some might say their product, their vision, or a cool feature they’ve developed. But, that’s actually wrong. What makes success is simpler, it’s people. It’s the DNA you inspire, you create, that magnifies into something greater than you ever imagined. It’s infectious as it can cross boundaries…
Startups stand little chance of making it. Sadly, three out of four companies are doomed to fail. But not your company. You’re going to be one of the 25 percent that succeed — If you’re willing to listen to some advice and steer clear of some fundamental and fatal mistakes that many entrepreneurs make. I’ve made…
There’s an ongoing battle that most entrepreneurs and high-flying business professionals wage within themselves. And that’s how to balance their time between their personal and professional lives. When you’re building your own business or passionately pursuing the career of your dreams it’s all too easy to throw yourself into it all hours of the day…
Today, Facebook announced the acquisition of WhatsApp, the largest acquisition of any venture backed company in history. Started in 2009, the Company only raised $8 million and today is used by 450 million users globally across their mobile devices per month. Another remarkable stat is that – it only has 50 employees and never embraced…
No-one doubts that over the course of the last century Nelson Mandela was one of the giants on the world stage. When he died in December 2013 there was a joyous celebration of his life and of his remarkable accomplishments that poured into the streets of South Africa and was instantly transmitted across the globe….
Here’s an excerpt from the book “Dumbing Down our Kids” by educator Charles Sykes. It is a list of eleven things you did not learn in school and directed at high school and college grads. While some of these are very blunt, I think our youth definitely needs to understand what they are going to…
I was lucky to be interviewed on Men’s Health March 2014 alongside Steve “Woz” Wozniak, Jim Cramer, Sir Richard Branson, and various other great personalities. We were all asked one question, outside of all the successes we may have encountered in our lives, “What was the best buck you ever spent?” Here’s a short story,…
The world is changing at a rapidly accelerating pace. What you learn today can quickly become outdated. HOW to learn, though, is a skill that lasts a lifetime. When you think about it—it makes sense for us to be taught how to learn before we are taught any specific subject matter. But rarely, if ever, does that…
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…
Want some morning Monday inspiration? Then here you go. These are the life lessons from “The Last Lecture” by the late Randy Pausch – the lecture that captivated the world and now inspires millions. Brick walls are there for a reason: they let us prove how badly we want things. Experience is what you get…
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…
How much are you worth? It’s a touchy subject for most business professionals no matter how many years experience you have under your belt. For some reason most people find establishing one’s salary with a prospective employer a difficult conversation to have. You may have negotiated multi-million-dollar deals. You may have worked with senior executives…