Peter Ackerman

Aside from a form of insanity, I think entrepreneurialism is the intelligence and luck to recognize when an idea has merit, the courage and tenacity to pursue it, and the grace and humility to listen, iterate and change along the way.

My theory is that everyone has something creative inside that’s burning to get out. I don’t paint or play any instruments very well; for me it came out in the form of starting a business. I’ve appreciated working for others yet at the same time I’ve never liked limits. I think what prepared me the best were some things imparted by my parents - the honesty and integrity of my father and the sensitivity of my mother. Also some good communication skills.

The motivation is to summit - to succeed against all odds. The philosophy for its attainment, in my opinion, is to do the right things for the right reasons, to do what’s best overall for the organization, to be good to people, to stay in balance, and to appreciate the journey.

We’ve let nothing stand in our way and designated the words “no” and “can’t” as the least acceptable. We’ve overcome every challenge by internalizing a belief in our success and staying focused no matter what. The most obvious example is the personal credit card mambo and mortgaging the house when resources were low, and calming those around you by acting like a duck across the pond (smooth on the surface, paddling like crazy beneath).

Replace the fear with determination and go for it while you’re still vertical and your heart’s pumping. Don’t ever drink too much of any one person’s kool-aid. Align with really smart and good humans. Have the guts to move people in and out until you hit the right combination.