4 Entrepreneurs Whose Stories Will Inspire You

Have you been thinking about starting your own business? Is fear holding you back? It’s normal to feel that way because, let’s face it, starting your own company can feel like walking off a cliff into the unknown. You have no idea what will await you. There’s a chance it could go badly, or it may be the greatest move you make. One thing that can help is to find inspiration, something that helps to motivate you and make your path clearer.

We have just the thing, and that’s a look at some successful entrepreneurs whose stories will inspire you. While you may not connect with all of their stories, there’s bound to be one that speaks to you. So, let’s take a look. 

Oprah Winfrey

Here’s an entrepreneur who may not be the first one you think of, but she started like so many others, with a dream and the drive to make it happen. Oprah Winfrey may have come from very humble beginnings, but today she is reportedly worth a mind-boggling $2.8 billion. 

She is self-made and has worn the hats of actress, multimedia executive, news reporter, talk show host, writer, producer, and philanthropist. Is there anything that Oprah can’t do? The answer is likely no. Oprah has also won hundreds of awards throughout her career, including the National Civil Rights Museum’s Freedom Award.

Born in Kosciusko, Mississippi, in 1954, she moved to the city of Milwaukee when she was just six years old. Oprah has often spoken about her early life and living in poverty, not to mention the abuse she suffered, but she didn’t let anything hold her back. Instead, she continued to hit achievement after achievement, and today everyone knows who Oprah is!

Martin Paul Moshal

Martin Paul Moshal is another fabulous example of an entrepreneur who chased his dreams and saw them pay off in a big way. Born in 1970 in Durban, South Africa, Moshal’s father set a great example of creativity. His father was an electronics entrepreneur, and it wasn’t long before Moshal also had his eyes on tech-based products.

So, what’s Moshal’s big claim to fame? He founded Microgaming, the company that invented online progressive jackpot slot games with 1998’s Cash Splash, and developed numerous online gambling technology patents that made him a trailblazer in the industry.

Moshal went on to act as an angel investor for Monday.com and Zapper, among others, and has made a mark in terms of philanthropy.

The iGaming industry is filled with people like Moshal who had creative ideas and followed through with them. If you look closely at the tech and services offered today, like the pay by phone payment system, you’ll see that many trace back to visionaries just like Moshal.

Steve Jobs

Do you own an Apple device? If so, you have this entrepreneur to thank! Steve Jobs co-founded Apple Inc., which went on to become one of the biggest and most profitable businesses in the world. When Jobs passed away in 2011, it is estimated that his share alone was worth more than $2 billion. 

The story goes that Jobs managed to hit millionaire status in his early 20s, and was worth hundreds of millions by the time he was 25. He was described as a visionary, a creative mind, a salesman, an inventor and one of the best entrepreneurs ever.

People credit Jobs with changing the legacy of computers. Now just think about that for a few minutes. That is an entire massive industry whose trajectory changed because of one creative entrepreneur. It was in 1984 that he launched the Macintosh, which was the first mass-produced computer that had a graphical user interface (GUI). In 1985, he left Apple, but that wasn’t the end of the story. Fast-forward to 1997, when Jobs returned to Apple in the position of CEO, he continued to push the company forward and realize many other successes.

It may come as a surprise that at the time of his death, he had 450 patents! This was a man who never put down the hat of creator, inventor, and entrepreneur, always dreaming about the next big thing.

Walt Disney

With so much focus on tech entrepreneurs, we need to switch gears and look at someone different. Walt Disney was truly one of a kind. It’s astonishing what Disney has become today; between the theme parks, the movies, the television shows, and more, Disney’s magic has touched just about every person’s life at some point or another.

While Walt could not have foreseen how Disney would evolve, he was passionate about his vision and saw some of it come to fruition. When he passed in 1966, it was estimated he was worth about $1 billion (adjusted for inflation). 

Walt Disney wore the hat of animator, voice actor, and film producer, but his role as an entrepreneur is what changed the course of history. Born in 1901 in Hermosa, Illinois, Walt’s vision was bigger than anyone could have predicted. When Disneyland in California opened in 1955, this was just the beginning. It was in 1965 that he announced that Disney would be expanding, with the creation of Disney World Orlando, Florida. Unfortunately, he passed away before the theme park opened in 1971, but his family continued with his vision.

Let the Success of Others Help to Motivate You to Chase Your Dreams

It’s wonderful to have big ideas and dreams, but pursuing them can be nothing short of terrifying. Becoming an entrepreneur is no simple thing, and there isn’t exactly a rule book on how to go about it. Sometimes it comes down to being in the right place at the right time. If you’ve got big dreams about your career future, why not let the success of these entrepreneurs motivate you to keep going? There’s a chance that it could be the best career path for you.