What is your dream and what is the story that you want your life to tell? Are you seeking it?
One young game changer, Cliff Worley, is passionately chasing his dream of being an entrepreneur. “I hope to break barriers and to be able to explain and inspire other people through my journey,” he told RIZZARR.
Worley has not only managed to solidify his role as the “business builder” for Reality Star and Mogul Daymond Johns at Shark Branding, but he has successfully achieved his vision of becoming an entrepreneur. Although based in Shark Branding’s office in New York, he spends much of his time on the road, developing new and innovative businesses for Daymond, who is also an investor on the ABC reality television series Shark Tank.
Worley has not only managed to solidify his role as the “business builder” for Reality Star and Mogul Daymond Johns at Shark Branding, but he has successfully achieved his vision of becoming an entrepreneur. (Photo courtesy of Cliff Worley)
“Every morning, I print out a project map of businesses and projects that are currently being developed in Shark Branding,” says Worley. “Being a mogul and a reality star, Daymond is getting pitched hundreds of ideas a day. If some of them are good, he asks me to take a closer look at them.”
Worley was first introduced to Daymond in a business school course that Daymond instructed. Worley remained in contact with Daymond during business school and pursued a career at Shark Branding upon graduation.
To get closer insight into his entrepreneurial endeavors, RIZZARR talked with him to get the inside scoop on all things Shark Tank and entrepreneurship.
RIZZARR INTERVIEW
1. What was the biggest challenge for you in taking a role with Shark Branding?
The biggest challenge was even taking the position because there was no position. But I went with my gut, and I love what I do. I think the advice for any entrepreneur is to go with your gut and take risks.
2. Why do you think that it’s scary for people, especially aspiring entrepreneurs to take risks?
Most people feel like it’s very scary to take that risk and it is very scary, but I think a lot of us aren’t confident enough in our abilities to try to monetize them through (financially) tough times.
3. Why do you recommend that aspiring entrepreneurs pursue an MBA?
It improves your ability to develop strategic solutions to problems. It’s also good for stretching the limit of your mind to think differently.
4. What are the key character traits you think entrepreneurs and business students might be lacking in right now in our society?
I think everybody is looking for the magic formula, and it’s really all about realizing that there is no magic recipe. Whatever you create is the recipe. It’s also just about trial and error, and really being able to notice what worked and what didn’t work.
5. What are actions that business students should do more while they are in school?
Take the time to figure out what it is you want to do after business school. Many students would get so lost in all of the things that were going on in business school that when it was time to determine their next career step, they would end up taking the job that they didn’t want or end up going back to the industry that they hated.
6. What books do you recommend for people to read?
The Start-up of You by Reid Hoffman and The Art of Non-Conformity: Set Your Own Rules, Live the Life You Want, and Change the World by Chris Guillebeau.
7. What are the last pieces of advice that you would give to young people who are trying to chase their dreams?
Fail and fail fast. I read a quote two weeks ago that said, “If failure is not an option then success isn’t either.” And it’s true because in order to succeed you have to fail. And most of all, don’t worry about anything. You are prepared for whatever you are going to do.
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