The DNA of Giants

Welcome back to our weekly series, The Successful Entrepreneur: Your Weekly Guide to Success, a program designed for ambitious entrepreneurs and people who want to turn their ideas into successful businesses. Last week, we talked about the secrets of billionaires . Today, we look at how giants like Jordan, Ma, and Cuban built their empires from scratch.

Discover how visionary leaders have mastered emotional resilience, work-life balance, personal branding, and corporate legacy. From Jordan's high school shutout to Jack Ma's empire: real stories and concrete strategies for turning obstacles into growth opportunities. A practical guide to advanced leadership and personal development, with exclusive case studies from the greatest innovators of our time.

Resilience is not an innate gift, but a skill that develops through challenges. Michael Jordan, the icon of world basketball, was not born a champion. When he was cut from his high school basketball team, what could have been a devastating defeat instead became the catalyst for his greatness. He trained every morning at 6:00 a.m., long before his teammates arrived at the gym. This daily rigor not only led him to become the greatest basketball player of all time, but forged a winning mentality that influenced every aspect of his professional life.

Jack Ma, founder of Alibaba , perfectly embodies this same resilience in the business world. Rejected by Harvard and dozens of potential employers, he has transformed every “no” into an opportunity for growth. His story teaches us that emotional resilience does not mean not feeling the pain of failure, but using it as a driving force for change.

Marc Cuban, billionaire and owner of the Dallas Mavericks , is an extraordinary example of mental resilience and focus. Before his success, Cuban lived in a shared apartment with five other guys, sleeping on the floor and eating ketchup and crackers. His ability to maintain a clear vision despite hardship, combined with an innate ability to understand and connect with people, led him to build several successful businesses. Carol Dweck's book Mindset delves into this approach scientifically, demonstrating how a growth mindset is essential to overcoming obstacles.

Balancing personal and professional life

Jeff Bezos, founder of Amazon , is known for his “regulated” approach to his professional and personal life. Despite running one of the world’s largest business empires, he maintains a habit of having breakfast with his family and doesn’t schedule meetings before 10 a.m. This routine allows him to make important decisions when he’s most alert and to spend quality time with his loved ones.

Melinda French Gates, in addition to her role at the Gates Foundation , has always emphasized the importance of establishing clear boundaries between work and personal life. Her ability to juggle multiple roles—philanthropist, business leader, and mother—demonstrates that balance is not a luxury but a strategic necessity.

Building a strong personal brand

Marc Cuban has transformed his outspoken personality and passion for innovation into an unmistakable personal brand. His presence on “Shark Tank” is not just an investment opportunity, but a platform to showcase how deep understanding of people and the market is critical in business. His golden rule? “Do your homework.” Cuban is known for reading for hours every day, studying every aspect of the business he invests in.

Sara Blakely, founder of Spanx , has built her personal brand on transparency and authenticity. Before her success, she worked selling fax machines door-to-door while developing her product in the evenings. She has never hidden her humble beginnings or her failures, instead turning them into distinctive elements of her brand.

Creating Legacy and Succession Planning

Nike co-founder Phil Knight created more than a shoe company; he built a cultural movement. In his memoir Shoe Dog, he describes how his vision went far beyond the product, aiming to inspire athletes and non-athletes around the world. His focus on succession has allowed Nike to continue to innovate and grow long after he retired.

Walt Disney, long before his passing, had already planned the future of his company in great detail. His legacy was not limited to the characters and stories he created, but included a detailed vision of how the company should evolve in the decades to come.

The path to advanced leadership requires a holistic approach. It’s not enough to excel in one area alone: ​​we must develop emotional resilience to overcome inevitable obstacles, find a sustainable balance between ambition and personal well-being, build an authentic brand that reflects our deepest values, and think about our lasting impact on the world.

As Cuban has shown, people skills and the ability to connect authentically with others are as critical as technical skills. Like Jordan, daily discipline is the foundation of greatness. Like Bezos, we need to structure our time to maximize both professional effectiveness and personal well-being.

True leadership is not measured by immediate results, but by the lasting impact we leave on the world. Every day is an opportunity to build not just a successful business, but a legacy that will continue to inspire and influence well beyond our time.

We'll stop with the column for the Christmas week. Entrepreneurs, I'll see you here on Business24 in January. Best wishes to you all!