8 Great Entrepreneurial Success Stories

It is astonishing how much time individuals waste searching for magical shortcuts to achieve entrepreneurial success and satisfaction, when the only true path is right in front of them: actual entrepreneurs who establish genuine businesses that employ real individuals, provide tangible products and services to actual customers.

It never ceases to amaze me how much time people waste searching endlessly for magic shortcuts to entrepreneurial success and fulfillment when the only real path is staring them right in the face: real entrepreneurs who start real businesses that employ real people who provide real products and services to real customers.

Yes, I know that's hard. It's a lot of work. What can I say, that's life. Besides, look on the bright side: You get to do what you want and you get to do it your way. There's just one catch. You've got to start somewhere. Ideas and opportunities don't just materialize out of thin air.

The only way I know to get started is by learning a marketable skill and getting to work. In my experience, that's where the ideas, opportunities, partners, and finances always seem to come from. Sure, it also takes an enormous amount of hard work, but that just comes with the territory.

If you want to do entrepreneurship right, here are eight stories you've probably never heard about companies you've most definitely heard of.

1. Pierre Omidyar

The Pierre Omidyar approach involves a computer programmer who, in 1995, began selling items on his personal website through an auction system. Although the platform, known as AuctionWeb, started as a personal project, the high volume of web traffic compelled Omidyar to upgrade to a business Internet account, which required him to charge users fees. He even hired an employee to handle payment checks. Today, the platform is known as eBay.

2. John Ferolito and Don Vultaggio

The John Ferolito and Don Vultaggio story goes back to the 1970s when two friends from Brooklyn began a beer distribution business from the back of an old VW bus. Twenty years later, after witnessing the success of Snapple, they ventured into the soft drinks market and introduced AriZona Green Tea. Today, AriZona teas are the top-selling tea in America and are distributed globally. Remarkably, the two friends still own the company.

3. Matt Maloney and Mike Evans

The Matt Maloney and Mike Evans way. Two Chicago-based software developers, who were working on lookup searches for Apartments.com, got tired of calling restaurants for takeout food and wondered why there wasn't a one-stop-shop for food delivery. This led them to start GrubHub, which went public in April and is now valued at over $3 billion.

4. Joe Coulombe

The Joe Coulombe way. Joe Coulombe, who ran a small chain of convenience stores in Southern California, had an idea that young college graduates would prefer something better than 7-11. So, he opened a tropical-themed market in Pasadena that featured good wine and spirits, employed talented individuals, and paid them generously. He expanded to other university locations, gradually adding healthy food options, and that's how Trader Joe's was born.

5. Howard Schultz

The Howard Schultz way. While on a trip to Milan, a young marketer working for a coffee bean roaster in Seattle was inspired by the upscale espresso cafes that were ubiquitous in Italy. However, his employer was not interested in owning coffee shops, but agreed to support Schultz's venture. They even sold him their brand name, Starbucks.

6. Phil Robertson

The Phil Robertson way. There was a man who loved duck hunting so much that he decided to pursue it over playing professional football for the NFL. He then created a duck call and founded a company called Duck Commander. Eventually, he handed over the reins to his son Willy, and that led to the creation of a media and merchandising empire for a family of rednecks who became known as Duck Dynasty.

7. Konosuke Matsushita

The Konosuke Matsushita way. In 1917, a 23-year-old apprentice at the Osaka Electric Light Company in Japan came up with an idea for an improved light socket, despite having no formal education. However, his boss didn't show any interest in his idea, so young Matsushita decided to make samples of the product in his basement. He later expanded his business with the production of battery-powered bicycle lamps and other electronic products. The company, which was originally known as Matsushita Electric until it changed its name to Panasonic in 2008, is now valued at $66 billion.

8. Steve Wozniak and Steve Jobs

The Steve Wozniak and Steve Jobs way. Although they had been friends since high school, these two college dropouts gained considerable exposure to the computer world while working on game software together during the night shift at Atari. The third Apple founder, Ron Wayne, was also an Atari alumnus.

As I always say, the world is full of infinite possibilities and countless opportunities, but our lives and careers are finite. This means we have limited time to find what we're searching for and make our mark on the world. This is our time and we must not waste it. We should find something we like to do and just do it. This is how real entrepreneurs always start.