World Richest
Aristotle Onassis Was One of the Worlds Richest Men – How He Recreated Himself Makes a Great Success Study
by: Geoff Ficke
Aristotle Onassis was one of the most successful, publicized and examined people in the world during the middle of the 20th century. Today, years after his death, he is principally remembered as an ultra-rich shipping magnate, touring the world on his magnificent yacht and for his romance with the diva soprano Maria Callas and marriage to Jacqueline Kennedy. Before he attained business and social heights, however, he was a very rough, uncultured, non-work of art. His effort to change a dim future is worth a look: and is instructional as a teaching aid that anyone can utilize in pursuit of success.
Onassis was born in Turkey of Greek parents. At the end of World War l he, along with millions of others, was forced into refugee status and arrived in Argentina as a penniless immigrant. His Spanish was minimal, his education limited and his skills on offer were not highly prized. Nevertheless, he examined his circumstance realistically and with deep analysis. He recognized that out of post-war chaos would come opportunity for the agile and creative entrepreneur. Being broke was just an obstacle, not a closed door to Onassis.
As Onassis learned the ways of Argentine society and business he noticed that there were specific clubs, restaurants, hotels and theatres that were almost exclusively frequented by the successful business and political class. Always a keen observer of human nature, he realized that contacts and friendships of value to an ambitious fellow like himself could only be nurtured in this rarified realm. Onassis was determined to find a way in.
He worked mundane jobs, including a stint as a telephone operator. However, he was different from co-workers and other immigrants. He immersed himself in all things Argentine and he saved every cent he earned that was not needed for basic sustenance. Most importantly, he recognized the old saying; “the rich are different from you and me” was so true. He needed to emulate the rich in order to become rich. He never looked at successful people as the enemy. He had aspirations, not jealousy in his heart.
Onassis became addicted to quality in all areas of life. While still poor, he saved every peso until he could afford a Saville Row hand cut suit. He only had one suit, but it was elegant. He also observed that the rich seemed to appear healthier, happier. They seemed to sport suntan skin as a badge of their fortunate lifestyle. Onassis developed a lifetime addiction to pursuit of the perfect suntan. His tan was internationally famous long before the actor George Hamilton gained similar fame. To this day, a suntan is an emblem of the good life for the successful class.
A Saville Row suit, quality personal furnishings and a suntan that reeked of idle leisure and success were only a start. Onassis was still a rough cob. Nevertheless, he believed in his ultimate destiny. He would have a drink every night at the bar of the Intercontinental Hotel in Buenos Aires, the cities finest. Only one drink, because that was all he could afford. He still worked as a telephone operator, but he kept his parallel lives as a blue-collar worker and social status seeker firmly differentiated.
His nightly visits to the Intercontinental Hotel bar gradually lead to his building a network of business and social contacts. The famous Argentine soprano Claudia Musa frequently visited the hotel. She was an adored opera star and a cultured beauty. Onassis was basically nobody and a poseur. And yet, he pursued the beautiful singer, and with his usual tenacity he won her heart. This drive to win would be displayed in every area of his long and exciting life.
Onassis recognized that Argentine women preferred a type of sweet Turkish tobacco that was not widely available in South America. Utilizing his newly found relationships; he brokered an import deal for an inventory of the tobacco. He assembled the capital necessary to organize a small factory and began to market several brands of Turkish cigarettes. This small, but successful deal was the basis for his later international business prominence.
Onassis recognized that World War 11 was imminent. The movement of war materiel was going to become crucial to the Allies winning the war. Shipping would be highly profitable, if he could find an inventory of ships to purchase. With customary elan, he found a small fleet of sturdy but well used freighters on the St. Lawrence Waterway and arranged a tight line of credit to purchase the motley flotilla. He was on his way to becoming the most famous shipping magnate in history.
Entrepreneurs, in order to succeed, often must change elements of their personal lifestyle. We have all heard the old adage, “success breeds success”. No one practiced this truism more fully and instructively than Aristotle Onassis. He bought one high quality suit. He squired beautiful women. He went to the finest clubs, even though he could not afford much more than one drink. He used his new environment, new contacts and network to benefit his single-minded pursuit of success. Why did Willy Sutton rob banks: because that was where the money was! Onassis also made the elemental decision to hang out where the money was.
I work with entrepreneurs from all walks of life: no two are alike. One of the most difficult aspects of the entrepreneurial process that must be overcome is the need to adjust lifestyle. Sacrifice today will pay dividends tomorrow. Venture capital usually will not be found in a pool hall. The necessity to improve one’s self-presentation and to network continually is paramount. You must be constantly closing the sale, improving your skills and totally focus on achieving your goal.
Aristotle Onassis worked blue-collar jobs, spoke Spanish as a third language, was a displaced immigrant on a strange continent and had zero personal assets. Nevertheless, he organized a personal plan to overcome his obstacles and lead a life of legendary accomplishment.
I spend a great deal of time in my marketing and funding consulting work coaching inventors and entrepreneurs to overcome self-imposed hurdles. Some easily recognize the need to change habits and to utilize pieces of the Onassis template. They often have the ability to succeed. Many more unfortunately, decide that they know best, markets will adapt to their wants and a shortcut to success can be taken. They always fail. This is an absolute observation.
Contact me to discuss this article, other topics related to entrepreneurial pursuitsor a specific project. Geoff Ficke, 859-567-1609.
About the Author
Geoff Ficke has been a serial entrepreneur for almost 50 years. As a small boy, earning his spending money doing odd jobs in the neighborhood, he learned the value of selling himself, offering service and value for money.
After putting himself through the University of Kentucky (B.A. Broadcast Journalism, 1969) and serving in the United States Marine Corp, Mr. Ficke commenced a career in the cosmetic industry. After rising to National Sales Manager for Vidal Sassoon Hair Care at age 28, he then launched a number of ventures, including Rubigo Cosmetics, Parfums Pierre Wulff Paris, Le Bain Couture and Fashion Fragrance.
Geoff Ficke and his consulting firm, Duquesa Marketing, Inc. (www.duquesamarketing.com) has assisted businesses large and small, domestic and international, entrepreneurs, inventors and students in new product development, capital formation, licensing, marketing, sales and business plans and successful implementation of his customized strategies. He is a Senior Fellow at the Page Center for Entrepreneurial Studies, Business School, Miami University, Oxford, Ohio.
The World’s Richest People
|
|
The Richest Man In Babylon $8.42 All products are BRAND NEW and factory sealed. Fast shipping and 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed…. |
|
|
Outernational Sound $8.08 Getting back to their turntables after the all-original work on 2002’s The Richest Man in Babylon, Thievery Corporation dust off a collection of soulful wax for The Outernational Sound. Rob Garza and Eric Hilton have gone with an increasingly organic approach since their relatively electronic and modern Mirror Conspiracy, looking more back than forward. Happily, the duo has good taste. If that was… |
|
|
The Best of Eddy Arnold $11.98 Guaranteed to work or your money back – PLEASE NOTE ALL MONIES FROM THIS SALE GO TO A 501 (C)3 NO KILL ANIMAL SHELTER… |
|
|
The American Experience – Andrew Carnegie: The Richest Man in the World [VHS] $19.98 … |
|
|
Onassis [VHS] $44.50 … |
|
|
Wonder Woman Collector’s Edition: Richest Man In World & Date With Doomsday $6.24 ?THE RICHEST MAN IN THE WORLD Air date February 19, 1979 …. In this episode a new Missiles Systems Scrambler nicknamed MISSY is in danger of being stolen and it’s up to Wonder Woman to save the day. ?A DATE WITH DOOMSDAY Air date March 10, 1979….. A Biological “Slime” which would kill thousands if airborne is stolen. It’s creator Dr Roberts , is desperately attempting to find an antidote, but … |
|
|
Bean $2.99 … |
|
|
I Dream of Jeannie: The Complete First Season $13.51 All 30 episodes from the first season–including “The Lady in the Bottle,” “G.I. Jeannie,” “The Moving Finger,” “Too Many Tonys,” and “My Master, The Doctor”–are collected in a four-disc set. 12 1/2 hrs. total. Standard; Soundtracks: English Dolby Digital mono, Spanish Dolby Digital mono, Portuguese Dolby Digital mono; Subtitles: Spanish, Portuguese; audio commentary on pilot episode; featurette…. |
|
|
Part 1 $4.99 … |
|
|
ShiKai Lotion, Dry Skin Therapy, Borage, 8-Ounces $8.38 SKIKAI Borage Therapy Skin Care Skin Lotion 8oz. For treatment of atopic dermatitis and other dry skin disorders. Formulated to help improve the redness, flaking and moisture loss associated with aging skin. A rich lotion formula that can be used all over the body…. |
|
|
740 Park (Paperback) $11.41 At the corner of 71st Street and Park Avenue, on Manhattan`s Upper East Side, is the famed limestone apartment building that Rockefellers, Vanderbilts, Chryslers, and Ron Perelman have called home. In 740 PARK, society reporter Michael Gross chronicles… |
|
|
Chasing Aphrodite (Hardcover) $18.3 In recent years, several of America’s leading art museums have voluntarily given up their finest pieces of Classical art, more than 100 antiquities to the governments of Italy and Greece. The monetary value is  estimated at over&… |
|
|
Slim (Paperback) $11.14 Description not available. |
|
|
The Illustrated Guide to the Museum of Islamic Art in Cairo (Paperback) $19.57 A full-color guide to one of Egypt`s leading museums.The Museum of Islamic Art, established in Cairo in 1881, houses one of the world`s richest collections of artifacts from all periods of Islamic history and all parts of the Islamic world. |
|
|
The Landgrabbers (Hardcover) $17.48 The Land Grabbers is a first-of-its-kind expos that reveals the unprecedented land grab taking place around the world. Fearing future food shortages and the over-financialization of the stock market, the world`s richest countries, corporations,… |
|
|
Tropical Rain Forest Ecology, Diversity, and Conservation (Hardcover) $121.63 Rain forests represent the world`s richest repository of terrestrial biodiversity, and play a major role in regulating the global climate. They support the livelihoods of a substantial proportion of the world`s population and are the source of many int… |
|
|
Mobilizing Money (Hardcover) $95.09 Description not available. |
