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Summary of What It Takes 

4.6 . 3021 reviews

Short summary

Success in any endeavor is not something one stumbles upon by luck. Roadblocks are unavoidable on the way to greatness, but guiding principles can help you. Have you found yourself reneging on multiple occasions with your goals? Does the very first challenge you face on that entrepreneurial foray cause you to turn tail? This summary teaches persistence and similar values to help you see your goals through. We can only learn some of life’s essential lessons through experience. However, “What It Takes” eliminates the likely scars that may accompany the pitfalls encountered on the road to excellence. This summary is a memoir of one of the most successful trailblazers of the American financial ecosystem. Stephen Allen Schwarzman was born on Valentine’s Day in 1947. He is the current chairman of The Blackstone Group. As of October 2020, Schwarzman ranked 64th on the list of the World’s Billionaires. He started as a small-time businessman but is today a notable investor and philanthropist. In 2007, Times penned Schwarzman as one of the 100 Most Influential People in the world. In 2016, Bloomberg listed him as one of the top 50. “The best executives are made, not born. They absorb information, study their own experiences, learn from their mistakes, and evolve.” ~ Stephen A. Schwarzman

Table of content

  • Summary of What It Takes
  • About the author
  • What is What It Takes about?
  • Who should read What It Takes
  • Topics in What It Takes
first key point

The making of great business giants

Listen the first key point
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Stephen Schwarzman had a job that paid him quite well after college. But his thirst for greatness made it impossible for him to settle for just an attractive paycheck. Yes, he took time to learn — at Harvard Business School and on Wall Street. But he did not permit the watering down of his drive for the possible best in all endeavors.

Every notable business enterprise’s success story often has a tipping point that can cause it to have a contrary narrative. Irrespective of advantages that may have been available to successful entrepreneurs, the experiences are an indispensable price to pay. In the business world, growth leads to greatness; it’s not something that gets conferred. Every step of the way sees the calibration of a successful executive’s business insight. This understanding then propels them onto even greater heights.

People are often curious about the attributes peculiar to individuals who are conveners of such successful ventures. They want to assess the possibilities of learning or imbuing such personality traits for use with their business venture. One answer involves giving everything to each opportunity that presents not backing down in the face of challenges.
Starting small is not a problem. However, conforming and remaining in the same spot is unacceptable if you’re to attain greatness.
Everyone has career goals. So, to make headway, don’t just start lackadaisically. Give it all you’ve got, confidently and boldly analyze the situation, and make your subsequent decisions strategically. Schwarzman is passing on one prime theme to his readers: purposefully set your heart upon whatever you aim to actualize, even if it seems too big.
When people ask me how I succeed, my basic answer is always the same: I see a unique opportunity, and I go for it with everything I have. And I never give up. ~ Stephen A. Schwarzman
Many are eager to know how successful business executives attained the heights they now occupy. Glean some life-changing lessons from this summary by going through them till the end.
second key point

If you do one of several things, choose the most challenging

Growing up was not a bed of roses for Schwarzman. He made it a point to start taking initiatives from a very tender age. Schwarzman wanted to make an impact and etch his name in Abington High School’s history by using several available options. Inviting a famous band, Little Anthony, was the most challenging of them, and he went for it.
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third key point

Learning, growing, striking deals, and managing crises

fourth key point

Dreaming big, objectively

fifth key point

Exploiting high risks and still keeping safe

sixth key point

Exploring new vistas, asking for directions, and picking up the pace

seventh key point

Accustom yourself to coping in all situations, be patriotic, and always aim for greatness

eighth key point

Conclusion

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What is What It Takes about?

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Do you find yourself staring at your computer for long minutes, unaware of time slipping by? Do you enter a room and suddenly cannot remember why you stepped in the first place? Is it a herculean task for you to sit through ten pages of a book without reaching for your phone? If yes, your focus needs some work and fast.

Actually, yours is not a unique situation. Many adults like you have issues concentrating on a given task. However, in this fast-paced world of ours, you can’t afford to be not focused at all times. Thankfully, this article comes to your rescue! With the tips and tricks from Hyperfocus by Chris Bailey, you will get in the top percent of folks who have mastered the art of concentration.