The Power of Execution

I carry Kate Spade handbag every day because I like the simple and clean design. I wouldn’t believe that brand was created by someone who didn’t have design backgrounds until I listened to How I Built This: Kate Spade: Kate & Andy Spade. Kate’s work experience accumulated in New York and her personal interest inspired her to start designing simple but modern handbags, which were missing in the market at that time. Listening to her story, I think execution plays a very important role in her business success. Although Kate didn’t know how to design a bag, she cut papers to make the shape of a bag. Although she didn’t have any resources in raw material purchasing, she made phone calls from the yellow book. Although she didn’t own an office to do businesses, she used her apartment to get all the work done. Although she didn’t have employees in the beginning, she packed and shipped the order by herself. Although she didn’t get good location at the trade show, she started to exposure her brand in one or two stores. All those actions may be nothing compared to the fashion giants, but it means a lot for a startup in the very beginning. Kate doesn’t have any advantages, such as sufficient initial capital, clear marketing strategy, or resources, but her brand stands out in the market because she didn’t wait or didn’t give up. Many of us may have very good ideas in our mind, but we just dream it instead of taking actions.

I like what Steve Jobs said regarding execution, “To me, ideas are worth nothing unless executed. They are just a multiplier. Execution is worth millions”. He started Apple computer from his parents’ garage. Who can image that Apple becomes of the most valuable publicly traded company in the world and he personally led the computer revolution. There are many successful entrepreneurs who started their business from nothing. Mark Zuckerberg launched Facebook from his dormitory rooms. Henry Ford was from a family of farmers. His first company failed and his second almost went bankrupt, but finally Ford Motor changed American lifestyle. We can see the power of execution from all of those successful entrepreneurs. Opportunities could go away when we use all kind of excuses to stop.

Selling flowers on Valentine's’ Day was my first experience to make money. I was in middle school and my parents encouraged me to do it after I talked to them about my ideas. I had another 3 friends who would help me to sell and get the commission. I bought flowers from a local distributor and wrapped all of them one day ahead of Valentine's. We were all shy or scared of selling on the street or don’t know how to sell at a good price. On the day when agreed to do it, only one of my friends showed up. Another two said they were shy and decided to give up. I sold more than 200 roses on Valentine's’ Day and I made money. From that experience, as a middle school student, I started to know how to find target customers, how to negotiate, how to create bettering pricing strategy or how to be creative to sell more. I could also choose not to do it, but learned beyond what I expected after I did it.

Ideas won’t create success, but execution does. Don’t just dream it, but execute it.