The Aristotle Onassis Model
In 1970 Aristotle Onassis was relaxing in
the bar of the London Palladium during a performance. The variety show on stage
held no interest for him, he was most likely with Jackie and some friends and he
had removed himself from the audience and was now enjoying his customary Johnnie
Walker Black Label.
At the Interval the audience started to fill the
bar and a man and woman walked in with their 8 year old son. Onassis looked at
the boy, who was wearing a suit and a tie, and smiled, walked over to the couple
and said in his gruff voice something along the lines of, 'You have the smartest
young man I have seen in a long while'. He then patted the boy on the head and
gave him a five pound note. Then, with a smile, a slight nod and a wave he
walked off to meet his party of guests. People looked at the couple with their
son and the man said to his wife, 'You know who that was don't you?'
£5
was a LOT of money in 1970. The evening out for the couple and their son had
been something the man had been saving up for for two months. The suit the boy
was wearing (a blue two tone single breasted) came from the Peter Pan Outfitters
for children in the Commercial Road in East London. The couple were my Mum and
Dad. If ONLY I had kept that five pound note Onassis gave me!
Ever since that moment I
have been interested in the life of Aristotle Onassis.
Aristotle Onassis
was one of the most successful, publicized and examined people in the world
during the middle of the 20th century. Today, 37 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 Smyrna of Greek
parents. At the end of World War I 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 learnt 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 rarefied 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 diamond. 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 a nobody and a
poser. 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 II 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 practised 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.
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 training and coaching people and corporations to
overcome 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.
At the harbour of Nidri is a statue of the man
who has inspired me and, through my work, inspires others. You can also see
Skorpios from there. There is no way I can visit his grave as he is entombed
with his two children on the private island but the statue is the nearest I can
get to 'The Great Onassis' again in
person.
Quotes:
“To be
successful, keep looking tanned, live in an elegant building (even if you're in
the cellar), be seen in smart restaurants (even if you only nurse one drink) and
if you borrow, borrow big.”
“If women didn't exist, all the money in the
world would have no meaning.”
“It is during our darkest moments that we
must focus to see the light.”
“We must free ourselves of the hope that
the sea will ever rest. We must learn to sail in high winds.”
“The
secret of business is to know something nobody else knows”
“After a
certain point, money is meaningless. It ceases to be the goal. The game is what
counts.”
“I have no friends and no enemies -- only
competitors.”
“Get a sun lamp to keep you looking as if you have just
come back from somewhere expensive”
“Find a priest who understands
English and doesn't look like Rasputin.”
“The more you own, the more you
know you don't own.”
“Always carry a notebook. Write down ideas and
information. Write down everything you know and hear about a person you meet.
That way, next time you meet them, you know how much time to give them.”
If you think I am alone in that thought then let's leave the final word to the late, great, John Lennon;
