So over past few weeks I have studied different theories and case studies about global businesses and their environment. I have come a long way and learned much about business and how they work in reality but when looking back and reflecting upon this knowledge that I know have I feel that there is one, fundamental question that I would like to have an answer to:
“So what steps does a business need to follow, or which rules does it have to play by, in order to make it successful globally?”
In my studies and observations of business that made it – Apple, Facebook, Toyota, Starbucks just to name a few and reading other people’s opinions I came to the conclusion that originality and vision of the future are what in the really matters when you are trying to “stick out” from the crowd and create a company that will be successful across the borders, in many places all around the world.
The founder, or simply the person in charge of the company (most probably the CEO) needs to be a person who can create a vision of where his/her company will be, in let’s say a few months and guide it towards there. Furthermore the leader needs to understand the needs of the consumers so well (like no other competitor) so that he will be able to come up with products so innovative, and so needed by the consumers, like no others.
So in the end it’s all about the person. It’s about the person who is the heart and soul of the company and who has enough talent to understand how his/her business will be relevant to consumers in the future, power and position in the company to execute this vision and ability to understand the importance of local cultures and ability to see how specialised knowledge skills in different parts of the world can be used in the best way possible when expanding the company across boarders and selling its products to people all around the world.
It has been truly vital for me as a future entrepreneur and as a business student to understand this. Of course I do agree that the world is much more complex than so and that having a strong, talented leader is far from enough if you are going to succeed globally.
But I do think it is the key. Just look at Steve Jobs (I know, I have already been going on and on about him), Larry Page, Richard Branson and other entrepreneurs who have changed whole industries, and people’s everyday lives. These leaders saw what no one else did, they saw future trends and what people needed and made sure to provide them with this.
I do not think that every person is capable of doing that. It takes talent and skills to see what will be relevant in tomorrow’s highly complex and globalised world, what people will do and want. Also one needs to know how to lead thousands of employees and how to deal with both good and bad times.
So the question is: are you that person? Are you the next Steve Jobs?
Websites used:
http://www.businessweek.com/managing/content/aug2010/ca20100823_647891.htm
http://www.forbes.com/sites/deborahljacobs/2012/09/10/how-to-be-the-next-steve-jobs/
Global Strategy in 10 weeks 