
The Center for Executive Education at Belmont University hosted author and former Apple “chief evangelist” Guy Kawasaki Thursday morning as the keynote speaker during its Fall Leadership Breakfast. Presented in partnership with the Nashville Chamber of Commerce and EO Nashville (Entrepreneurs’ Organization), the event occurred during Global Entrepreneurship Week and on the actual date of “EO24,” a 24-hour celebration of global entrepreneurial innovation and knowledge sharing.
Focusing on the themes of his 2004 book, The Art of the Start, Kawasaki shared 11 key points that could benefit both new entrepreneurs and business executives intent on keeping the entrepreneurial spirit alive in established companies.
His first and most critical piece of advice? “Make meaning… Entrepreneurship, intrapreneurship, it makes no difference. It all starts with the desire to change the world and make it a better place.” He noted that during his time at Apple, the company wasn’t focused on producing computers. Rather, “We were trying to increase the creativity and productivity of people.”
He also encouraged entrepreneurs to have a two-three word mantra for their business instead of a lengthy, unmemorable mission statement and advocated that it was vital to “get going” and to not be afraid to polarize culture with a product.