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Jeff Bezos, the founder of Amazon, has a straightforward yet profound piece of advice for entrepreneurs: don’t chase the hot new thing. Trying to jump on trends is like playing catch-up—by the time you realize something is “hot,” everyone already knows it, and you’re just another player in a crowded space. Instead, Bezos suggests finding something that sparks your curiosity and passion—something that makes you feel excited to get up every day and work on it.
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Missionary vs. Mercenary Mindset
When Bezos acquires companies, he asks one critical question: is the founder a missionary or a mercenary? A missionary is someone who builds a product because they love the customer and believe in the service. They’re driven by a sense of purpose. A mercenary, on the other hand, is focused on making a quick profit—building with the sole intent of flipping the company for money.
Here’s the surprising part: Bezos says that missionaries usually end up making more money than mercenaries. Their passion leads to better products and deeper customer relationships, which naturally result in long-term success.
Start With the Customer
Once you've found your passion, Bezos recommends one more key approach: start with the customer and work backward. Everything you do should be rooted in understanding the needs and desires of your customer. This strategy is how Amazon transformed from a small online bookstore to one of the largest companies in the world—it always placed the customer at the center of every decision.
Bezos' advice challenges the typical entrepreneurial playbook. It's not about rushing to catch the next big wave. Instead, it’s about finding your mission, crafting something you truly care about, and building it with the customer in mind. The combination of passion and customer focus will carry you further than any trend ever could.
Listen to Jeff Bezos:
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