CASSIUS CLAY ENTREPRENEUR- Essential Life lessons from Mohammad Ali

Two days ago I informed my followers on twitter that I was going to do a piece on “The Cassius Clay Entrepreneur” But after really deliberating on the title and doing a thorough study of the man, I felt it was going to be too Narrow and could actually be applied in every facet of life.

You\’ll soon see my reason.

Muhammad Ali (born Cassius Marcellus Clay, Jr.; January 17, 1942) is an American former professional boxer. Sometimes Last week I was watching some of his classics on “ESPN classic” Notable among them were three with rival Joe Frazier, which are considered among the greatest in boxing history, and one with George Foreman, Ali was well known for his unorthodox fighting style, which he described as \”floating like a butterfly, sting[ing] like a bee\”, Ali brought beauty and grace to the most uncompromising of sports and through the wonderful excesses of skill and character, he became the most famous athlete in the world.

Cassius Marcellus Clay, Jr., was born on January 17, 1942, in Louisville, Kentucky. The older of two boys, he was named after his father, Cassius Marcellus Clay, Sr., who was named after the 19th century abolitionist and politician of the same name.

Ali would go on to become the first and only three-time lineal World Heavyweight Champion. In 1999, Ali was crowned \”Sportsman of the Century\” by Sports Illustrated and \”Sports Personality of the Century\” by the BBC.

What got him there?

1. \”Your hands can\’t hit what your eyes can\’t see.\”

A great quote he used to depict the importance of having a vision When He (Clay) beat Liston(The then reigning Champion). He was the youngest boxer (age 22) ever to take the title from a reigning heavyweight champion, a mark that stood until Mike Tyson won the title (age 20) from Trevor Berbick on November 22, 1986

2.) \”I am the greatest, I said it even before I become one\”

Learning to discover yourself and celebrate your strengths as opposed to focusing on your weaknesses is on great key to attaining greatness. Everyone of us has them (the weaknesses) but the greatest of us look more and appreciates themselves for the plus they have, not the minus. To prove his point he answered all his critics who felt he was bragging by stating that \”it is not bragging, if you could back it up\”

3.) “I hated every minute of training, but I said, \’Don\’t quit. Suffer now and live the rest of your life as a champion\’.”

The one thing about the candor in such a statement like this is to tell your everyone wants to stay in bed and do nothing yet live big. Self discipline comes next on the list of the world greatest.

4.) “Impossible is just a big word thrown around by small men who find it easier to live in the world they\’ve been given than to explore the power they have to change it. Impossible is not a fact. It\’s an opinion. Impossible is not a declaration. It\’s a dare. Impossible is potential. Impossible is temporary. Impossible is nothing.”

Learn to keep the dream consistently in front of you. form a team filled with people who possess strength in Areas of your weakness.

5.) And beyond anything else you must believe that failure is not final because as Muhammad Ali puts it, “Only a man who knows what it is like to be defeated can reach down to the bottom of his soul and come up with the extra ounce of power it takes to win when the match is even.”