From Struggle to Success: Lessons from a Business Mogul

A Humble Beginning

• Born in Communist Yugoslavia
• Moved to Canada with only $20 and a suitcase
• First job in sales, teaching him customer management and self-confidence

Building Empires

• Founded BRAK Systems, sold for $30 million
• Built The Herjavec Group into a cybersecurity powerhouse

Lessons from Herjavec's Success

1. Believe in Yourself

   • Self-confidence shapes presentation, negotiation, and handling setbacks
   • Convincing a company to hire him without pay showcased his determination

2. Create Saleable Ideas

   • Test ideas with the public to gauge resonance
   • Look for genuine customer connections and sustained demand

3. Learn How to Sell

   • Sales are the ultimate validator of success
   • Sales are about connection, not just transaction

4. Learn to Let Go

   • Delegate tasks as your business grows
   • Focus on long-term strategy and vision
   • Hire people smarter than you to scale successfully

5. Treat Failure Like Data

   • Failure is a critical learning tool
   • Don't fear failure; learn and move forward

Net Worth and Influence

• Estimated between $300 and $600 million
• Sources: cybersecurity firms, investments, speaking engagements
• Author of three bestselling books

Measuring Success

• Success isn't just about financial gain
• Qualitative metrics like happiness and personal fulfillment matter too