KEEP TRYING AND YOU WILL FIND SUCCESS

Ross Perot was a self-made billionaire. He was an American business magnate and a philanthropist. He ran for the president of the United States in the years 1992 and 1996 as a third-party candidate.

Just like the saying goes ‘Try try and try till you succeed,’ that is exactly what Ross Perot did in his life.

PEROT’S LIFE AS A YOUTH-

Ross Perot was originally from Texarkana, Texas. There he was a paper route from a very young age. His father was a cotton broker. Perot would also help his father in his business. Later he joined the Navy Academy for the US Navy.

Ross Perot was in the navy till the year 1957. After serving the US navy for so many years, he started his career at Sales. In the initial stage of his career, Ross Perot worked at International Business Machines (IBM). He joined the company in 1957. He worked in the sales department in IBM. 

Due to his hard work and dedication, Ross Perot very soon became a top employee in International Business Machines. He even fulfilled his annual sales quota of the year in just a matter of two weeks. That alone shows his dedication and passion for whatever he does.

HIS REJECTION DAYS-

Being successful and attaining the desired goal does not happen in just one try. People spend lives trying to achieve what they want to. Some become successful at the end and stop trying before the finishing line itself.

This is what happened with Ross Perot too. His company, Electronic data System did not gain success overnight as well. Ross Perot had to face many, many rejections before getting his first contract.

While he was working at IBM, Perot noticed the commotion that lack of experience in computers would cause in the company daily. Companies were starting to use computers and technology in their work, but because the employees did not have the internal resources to use them, there was a problem created. 

That was when Perot first thought of EDS. He thought of a company that would manage the computer processing for different companies. This would provide relief to those companies and EDS would gain customers. So, he pitched this idea to his seniors in IBM but was rejected. 

After he left IBM, it was not easy for him to get customers. It was hard for people then to understand Perot’s vision, which caused them to reject Perot’s proposal. Perot was rejected 77 times before he landed his first customers for EDS.

FOUNDING OF ELECTRONIC DATA SYSTEMS-

In 1962, Ross Perot founded Electronic Data Systems Corporation. He started this company at the age of 32. The initial capital for starting this company was $1000, which Ross had borrowed from his wife, Margot. 

The company’s main focus was on ideas revolving around technological services. That was a time, where technology was not that flourished. People were slowly getting used to the ideas of using technology, the internet and similar services in their businesses. So, it was not an easy task to start his business in this field. He had to work very hard for it.

By the end of the 1960s, Perot had hundreds of employees working in his company. It took a lot of patience and determination on his part to see the Electronic data System reach where it is currently. 

PEROT’S SUCCESS MOTO-

According to Ross Perot’s 1996 Memoir, he laid down three essential points to attain success in what one does.

• Don’t Make Money Your Primary Goal-

I’ve seen great people primarily motivated to make money. Almost without exception, they failed. They missed the real essence of learning to do something well, of building something better than anyone else,” Perot wrote in the book.

Perot said that the main focus in any person’s life should be to achieve knowledge and financial success will automatically follow. 

• Prioritize Family Over Business-

“Business should be a major part of your life, but not your whole life: Do not let it take priority over your family,” he wrote.

Ross Perot always tried to prioritize his family before his business. In spite of having a tight schedule, Perot would always make time for family activities.

• Take Leadership Cues From Boy Scouts-

Ross Perot said that whatever leadership advice he needed in his business and for the election, he got from the Boy Scouts. He said that the Boy Scouts teaches people the true value of honesty, trustworthiness, kindness, bravery and helpfulness. 

LEARNING-

The life story of Ross Perot teaches people a lot of things. But the one main advice anyone can pick with a single glance is to ‘Never Give Up.’ People have to face criticism and disappointments in life and in business but if they keep trying, results will show.