| Aristotle Onassis was one of the most successful, | | | | Claudia Musa frequently visited the hotel. She was an |
| publicized and examined people in the world during | | | | adored opera star and a cultured beauty. Onassis |
| the middle of the 20th century. Today, years after | | | | was basically nobody and a poseur. And yet, he |
| his death, he is principally remembered as an ultra-rich | | | | pursued the beautiful singer, and with his usual |
| shipping magnate, touring the world on his | | | | tenacity he won her heart. This drive to win would |
| magnificent yacht and for his romance with the diva | | | | be displayed in every area of his long and exciting life. |
| soprano Maria Callas and marriage to Jacqueline | | | | Onassis recognized that Argentine women preferred |
| Kennedy. Before he attained business and social | | | | a type of sweet Turkish tobacco that was not |
| heights, however, he was a very rough, uncultured, | | | | widely available in South America. Utilizing his newly |
| non-work of art. His effort to change a dim future is | | | | found relationships; he brokered an import deal for an |
| worth a look: and is instructional as a teaching aid | | | | inventory of the tobacco. He assembled the capital |
| that anyone can utilize in pursuit of success. | | | | necessary to organize a small factory and began to |
| Onassis was born in Turkey of Greek parents. At the | | | | market several brands of Turkish cigarettes. This |
| end of World War l he, along with millions of others, | | | | small, but successful deal was the basis for his later |
| was forced into refugee status and arrived in | | | | international business prominence. |
| Argentina as a penniless immigrant. His Spanish was | | | | Onassis recognized that World War 11 was imminent. |
| minimal, his education limited and his skills on offer | | | | The movement of war materiel was going to |
| were not highly prized. Nevertheless, he examined his | | | | become crucial to the Allies winning the war. Shipping |
| circumstance realistically and with deep analysis. He | | | | would be highly profitable, if he could find an |
| recognized that out of post-war chaos would come | | | | inventory of ships to purchase. With customary elan, |
| opportunity for the agile and creative entrepreneur. | | | | he found a small fleet of sturdy but well used |
| Being broke was just an obstacle, not a closed door | | | | freighters on the St. Lawrence Waterway and |
| to Onassis. | | | | arranged a tight line of credit to purchase the motley |
| As Onassis learned the ways of Argentine society | | | | flotilla. He was on his way to becoming the most |
| and business he noticed that there were specific | | | | famous shipping magnate in history. |
| clubs, restaurants, hotels and theatres that were | | | | Entrepreneurs, in order to succeed, often must |
| almost exclusively frequented by the successful | | | | change elements of their personal lifestyle. We have |
| business and political class. Always a keen observer | | | | all heard the old adage, “success breeds |
| of human nature, he realized that contacts and | | | | success”. No one practiced this truism more fully |
| friendships of value to an ambitious fellow like himself | | | | and instructively than Aristotle Onassis. He bought |
| could only be nurtured in this rarified realm. Onassis | | | | one high quality suit. He squired beautiful women. He |
| was determined to find a way in. | | | | went to the finest clubs, even though he could not |
| He worked mundane jobs, including a stint as a | | | | afford much more than one drink. He used his new |
| telephone operator. However, he was different from | | | | environment, new contacts and network to benefit |
| co-workers and other immigrants. He immersed | | | | his single-minded pursuit of success. Why did Willy |
| himself in all things Argentine and he saved every | | | | Sutton rob banks: because that was where the |
| cent he earned that was not needed for basic | | | | money was! Onassis also made the elemental decision |
| sustenance. Most importantly, he recognized the old | | | | to hang out where the money was. |
| saying; “the rich are different from you and | | | | I work with entrepreneurs from all walks of life: no |
| me” was so true. He needed to emulate the rich | | | | two are alike. One of the most difficult aspects of |
| in order to become rich. He never looked at | | | | the entrepreneurial process that must be overcome |
| successful people as the enemy. He had aspirations, | | | | is the need to adjust lifestyle. Sacrifice today will pay |
| not jealousy in his heart. | | | | dividends tomorrow. Venture capital usually will not be |
| Onassis became addicted to quality in all areas of life. | | | | found in a pool hall. The necessity to improve |
| While still poor, he saved every peso until he could | | | | one’s self-presentation and to network |
| afford a Saville Row hand cut suit. He only had one | | | | continually is paramount. You must be constantly |
| suit, but it was elegant. He also observed that the | | | | closing the sale, improving your skills and totally focus |
| rich seemed to appear healthier, happier. They | | | | on achieving your goal. |
| seemed to sport suntan skin as a badge of their | | | | Aristotle Onassis worked blue-collar jobs, spoke |
| fortunate lifestyle. Onassis developed a lifetime | | | | Spanish as a third language, was a displaced |
| addiction to pursuit of the perfect suntan. His tan | | | | immigrant on a strange continent and had zero |
| was internationally famous long before the actor | | | | personal assets. Nevertheless, he organized a |
| George Hamilton gained similar fame. To this day, a | | | | personal plan to overcome his obstacles and lead a |
| suntan is an emblem of the good life for the | | | | life of legendary accomplishment. |
| successful class. | | | | I spend a great deal of time in my marketing and |
| A Saville Row suit, quality personal furnishings and a | | | | funding consulting work coaching inventors and |
| suntan that reeked of idle leisure and success were | | | | entrepreneurs to overcome self-imposed hurdles. |
| only a start. Onassis was still a rough cob. | | | | Some easily recognize the need to change habits and |
| Nevertheless, he believed in his ultimate destiny. He | | | | to utilize pieces of the Onassis template. They often |
| would have a drink every night at the bar of the | | | | have the ability to succeed. Many more |
| Intercontinental Hotel in Buenos Aires, the cities | | | | unfortunately, decide that they know best, markets |
| finest. Only one drink, because that was all he could | | | | will adapt to their wants and a shortcut to success |
| afford. He still worked as a telephone operator, but | | | | can be taken. They always fail. This is an absolute |
| he kept his parallel lives as a blue-collar worker and | | | | observation. |
| social status seeker firmly differentiated. | | | | Contact me to discuss this article, other topics |
| His nightly visits to the Intercontinental Hotel bar | | | | related to entrepreneurial pursuitsor a specific project. |
| gradually lead to his building a network of business | | | | Geoff Ficke, 859-567-1609. |
| and social contacts. The famous Argentine soprano | | | | |