“The Greatest” is
Gone……. His Entrepreneurial Spirit Lives Forever
“Service to others is
the rent you pay for your room here on earth” …. Muhammad Ali
Muhammad Ali (born, Cassius Marcellus Clay born on January
17, 1942) the former 3-time heavyweight boxing champion of World and Sportsman
of The 20th Century died on June 3rd 2016 and was laid to
rest today on June 10th 2016.
There is no doubt his boxing, athletic, political and social activism
during the Vietnam War and Civil Rights Era made him one of the most
influential people not only in America but also, around the World during the
latter half of the 20th Century.
Ali was famous throughout the world for his “trash-talking” (sports
psychology), quick-whit, humor, commitment to his religion (Islam), the
uplifting of his people (African American Community) and commitment to World
peace; however, what about his role as an entrepreneur? Yes, you got it right! Entrepreneur and I mean that with all
seriousness because that was a title most assuredly bestowed upon the man
called the “Greatest”, because of his actions both in and out of the boxing
ring. Admittedly, the term entrepreneur and
Muhammad Ali doesn’t immediately intersect, so let’s explore how, when and why. Perhaps his history will clarify things and
create a better understanding about the man and his passion to solve problems.
So, how does Muhammad Ali, fit the description of an
entrepreneur? Well, let’s recall that an
entrepreneur is often perceived as a business leader, leader and/or innovator
that thinks outside the box and willing to assume all risks and rewards in
pursuit of achieving a specific goal through new ideas and business processes. In essence,
he or she is frequently anti-establishment because the core of entrepreneurship
centers upon creating and implementing new ideas and/or methods of solving
problems. Now, being a Blackman in the
segregated Southern United States during the turbulent 1960s consisted of extraordinary
structural challenges that restricted the personal freedoms and liberties of
millions of people of African descent and the poor. With remarkable boxing skills, commonsense, courage,
incredible oratory skills and a global platform to express his thoughts and
feelings Muhammad Ali, began the task of addressing racial, economic, social and
political injustices imposed not only upon his fellow Black Americans but,
other poor and disenfranchised people throughout the world. Needless to say, Ali’s name and reputation
brought significant influence to a problem that could be and often monetized
into a solution to a conflict. Yes, the
Ali Brand was capital or fiat currency, which is the genesis of what is today
called social entrepreneurship. Indeed,
Ali sought social change through a business approach. Trust me, Branding the name Muhammad Ali is
big business.
“we cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used
when we created them” …Albert Einstein. It’s Darwinian, you either adapt or you die. Hence, Muhammad Ali epitomized the Darwinian
Theory of Survival of The Fittest.
Now, Muhammad Ali, was an excellent marketer and
self-promoter of himself and the sport of boxing through his poetry and ring
psychology that told a story of him being the chosen one and would overcome all
barriers/challenges. In fact, Ali shared
about his promotional skills being influenced through professional wrestling’s
late icon “Gorgeous
George”. Like Gorgeous George, Ali
was a showman that could sell and put backsides into seats, while generating
massive revenue through his big-mouth and charismatic personality. Needless to say, Muhammad Ali was very
confident in his abilities or according to his many detractors was arrogant and
needed to be slapped down and put into his place. Does this sound familiar? Like all entrepreneurs Ali, encountered extreme
opposition and made the appropriate adjustments (physically, emotionally,
psychologically and religiously) to achieve, success. No Poverty Mindset existed with the Greatest
nor would he allow barriers (racism, death threats, being stripped of the world
title for refusing military induction, loss of boxing license, etc.,) to kill
his dream.
If, you compare the entrepreneur and athlete then, you
eventually, come to realize they share many of the same qualities such as the
following: disciplined, hardworking, self-confident, leadership, passionate,
long-term thinking, having to prove something and possessing a Millionaire
Mindset. Hence, you can see many of the
aforementioned qualities in Muhammad Ali, which in true entrepreneurial fashion
explains his desire to make significant social change in the world and an inspiration
to hundreds of millions of people around the globe. The parallel between Muhammad Ali and Social
Entrepreneurs such as Steve Jobs, Richard Branson and Bill Drayton, are clear
as indicated by their respective desire to solve social problems or make things
more efficient for the greater good of collective society.
One of the lasting legacies of Muhammad Ali was his push for
what is called “Ethnic Entrepreneurism” (cultural economics) within the African
American community. Ali often shared
about the need for blacks to build their own banks, schools, theatre and overall,
economic infrastructure to sustain its own community due to economic
deprivation resulting from historical barriers (Slavery, Jim Crow and Anti-Poverty
Laws) that continue to impact the black familial structure. Since, wealth is a generational game but,
your community has been systematically denied opportunity to participate and
grow due to an uneven playing field then, it’s of the utmost importance to
invest your resources with others who look like yourself. Indeed, charity begins at home or more
accurately, in your community. There is
no doubt familial instability continues to function as a primary factor of
economic instability that is better addressed through efforts of both ethnic
and social entrepreneurship.
Muhammad Ali, often spoke of the importance of the people to
develop the skills and abilities to pull themselves out poverty rather than
reliance on government that has its own political and/or ideological motives. It’s clear Ali, was about the people and
viewed their salvation would best have achieved through their own efforts which
reflects the importance of his role as an inspirational figure of hope for
millions of average individuals but also, entrepreneurs.
In closing I have included 10 inspirational quotes by the
Champ and I hope they serve you well:
1.
“The fight is won or lost far away from
witnesses—behind the lines, in the gym, and out there on the road, long before
I dance under those lights.”
2.
“I hated every minute of training, but I said,
‘Don’t quit. Suffer now and live the rest of your life as a champion.'”
3.
“It’s lack of faith that makes people afraid of
meeting challenges, and I believed in myself.”
4.
“Champions aren’t made in gyms. Champions are
made from something they have deep inside
them—a desire, a dream, a vision. They have
to have last-minute stamina, they have to be a little faster, they have to have
the skill and the will. But the will must be stronger than the skill.”
5. “If
my mind can conceive it, and my heart can believe it—then I can achieve it.”
6.
“He who is not courageous enough to take risks will accomplish nothing in
life”
7. “To be a great champion you must believe you
are the best. If you’re not, pretend you are.”
8. “You lose nothing when fighting for a cause …
In my mind the losers are those who don’t have a cause they care about.” “
9.
“The
man with no imagination has no wings.”
10. “Only a man who knows what it is like to be
defeated can reach down to the bottom of his soul and come up with the extra
ounce of power it takes to win when the match is even.”
11.
“What you're thinking is what you're becoming.”
Vaurn James
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