We live in the age of technology, that is clear. The top 100 most valuable brands have traditionally been dominated by car brands and financial companies. Now, 2/3rds of the top 12 most valuable brands consist of tech companies. Entrepreneurs such as Steve Jobs, Bill Gates, Jeff Bezos, Jack Ma and Mark Zuckerberg control the global economy and are a source of inspiration to many through their modern, flat style of leadership. What makes these quickly emerging top entrepreneurs successful? What can we learn from the big tech entrepreneurs who shaped the modern economy?

Trust yourself and your intuition

If one thing is clear, it is that all major tech entrepreneurs have in common that they have unprecedented confidence in their own abilities and vision. Sometimes to the point of being arrogant. Whether it's Steve Jobs, Jeff Bezos or Elon Musk, they were all more or less laughed at for sticking to their vision. But he who laughs last laughs best. Don't be fooled by people who see obstacles and barriers instead of opportunities. As a leader, you can add value by setting a line that others do not see or do not want to see.

Be competitive, but not loud

We sometimes think, especially in our Western culture, that we have to shout to stand out. There is a competitive culture among all the 'cocks' and it is tempting to make yourself heard. Yet that often has the opposite effect. Take Bill Gates. His Mircosoft company did not become the largest due to a wait-and-see attitude. He is and was very competitive. But Gates never linked that to an aggressive, shouty style of leadership. He is calm, human and above all enthusiastic. This attitude is reflected in many tech entrepreneurs, who may not naturally fit the 'manager' prototype, but who have distinguished themselves in that area.

Let your passion guide you

Another important characteristic of the great and successful tech entrepreneurs of this century: passion for the profession. Almost all of them started with their 'feet in the clay' and entered the profession to pursue a passion and not to become rich in a short time. Think of Mark Zuckerberg, who has never cared much about money and still lives quite simply today. If, as a leader or manager, you are not passionate about the service or product you offer, or about your work as a leader, it is virtually impossible to become truly successful. So choose an industry, subject or company that you have a genuine interest and passion for.

Gather the right people around you and give them space

A good leader or manager has his own strengths but also limitations. Making yourself vulnerable through a healthy dose of self-knowledge is crucial. Jack Ma once said: 'hire the right people, not the best'. A leader who is able to analyze what the team needs sees the chances of success increase enormously. The right people are not necessarily the most talented people. Just look at sports teams that perform extremely well with limited resources, due to a balanced composition. Or take an example from Mark Zuckerberg, who realized early on that he was not the most suitable manager and appointed Sheryl Sandberg, who took the company to great heights.

Always go for quality

Do you go for price or quality? For most tech entrepreneurs, that is not a serious question. 'Never ever compete on price, instead compete on services and innovation' is a famous statement by Jack Ma. The best example of someone who allowed perfectionism and quality to permeate every corner of his DNA was Steve Jobs. With a perfectionism bordering on idiocy, he managed to launch a product that changed the rules of the game. And Amazon's Jeff Bezos has also always made quality and service the number 1 priority. The result was often enormous losses in the first years, but many good years followed.

Don't think in markets, but in solutions

Are you active in the automotive industry? Or in the financial sector? Or in logistics? We often think in boxes. In industries, specializations and markets. Whatever sector you are active in, you can be sure that your future competitor will come from an angle you did not expect. What to think of Google, which is active in, for example, the automotive industry. Or Facebook, which is interfering with meal delivery. All tech entrepreneurs have in common that they have entered a segment where no one saw their arrival coming or took it seriously. As a leader or manager, think mainly in terms of solutions for your target audience and not in terms of markets or segments.

Within our training and coaching programs, at Kenneth Smit we are repeatedly inspired by successful entrepreneurs with a unique approach. Learn by being inspired.