Entrepreneurship The New Wave

August 13, 2010 · by · in

The Your Money eZine Business Summit (NCB-YMeBS) was hosted at the UWI Mona Visitor’s Lodge on 28th July 2010. The contents of this article were gathered from this event.

Your Money eZine brought together two entrepreneurs from different eras to interactively discuss their views on entrepreneurship.  Though similar in many ways, including the fact they both are Jamaica College Old Boys , both Chris Williams – President and CEO of Proven and Michael Campbell – Chairman and Managing Director of Island Car Rentals had unique views and advice on entrepreneurship.

Micheal Campbell (left) and Chris Williams (right)

 

Micheal Campbell – Many Opportunities Are Disguised as Problems

Michael Campbell is the Chairman and Managing Director of Island Car Rentals, the largest and most reputable car rental company in the Caribbean. He spoke about the birth of his company in April of 1973.
Campbell was a practicing real estate agent at his recently acquired office at 17 Antigua Avenue, New Kingston, Jamaica. His firm occupied the upper level of the building, leaving the area below to a rent-a-car company operated by the building’s proprietor at that time; an establishment that was closing its doors for good. This development meant that Campbell would have to find a new locale for his already troubled Real Estate business. Instead of fleeing, Campbell daringly seized the opportunity to buy the property owner’s company. More than 700 vehicles later, Island Car Rental is now the most successful and easily recognisable car rental company on the island. The car rental giant also rents buses, light commercial vehicles, executive chauffeur service and provides island-wide tours.

Throughout his talk, Michael Campbell would occasionally peek into his folder and offer advice in the form of short quotes or phrases. Below are a few of the more memorable tips he shared:

  • Embrace technology
  • Being a celebrity or a publicly successful person attracts responsibility. You make decisions not just for yourself, but for many others.
  • Someone else’s path is not yours.
  • Delegation is important; learn to do it well.
  • If you can’t do the job, hire people who can.
  • Enjoy what you do for a living; after all, it’s what you will be doing for 2/3 of your life.

Chris Williams – Develop a Success Mantra

President and CEO of Proven, Christopher Williams amassed an impressive track record as CEO of NCB Capital Markets before launching Proven in collaboration with financial moguls Peter Bunting, Mark Golding and Gary Sinclair in 2009.
Williams spent 7 years of his professional financial career working assiduously to make NCB Capital Markets a pillar within the local finance/investment arena. One of his success mantras is to always develop himself further. Chris reached the zenith of his career at NCB Capital Markets where he was an investment professional who had guided the company to unparalleled achievement. After seeking employment in a higher position at a number of local financial firms, Williams realised the only way to move up from NCB Capital Markets would be to start his own business.
The witty investment mogul also advised aspiring entrepreneurs to keep some fundamental principles in mind:

  • Study successful people
  • Never give up an opportunity to network
  • Mentorship is important
  • The start of being a successful entrepreneur is being a successful person
  • Never stop educating yourself
  • Develop a success mantra

The NCB-YMeBS 2010 was hosted by Your Money eZine – an electronic-only
publication created and distributed by eZines Limited. eZines Limited is a new media company with its head office in Jamaica. eZines operates a paperless office and promoted this event solely by use of social media (Facebook, Twitter, etc).

Another review of the Summit is available here.

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