Paul Orfalea, the Founder of Kinko’s, was the Guest Speaker at the Rotary Club of Ventura South on April 25th. Paul Orfalea is an American businessman who founded the copy chain Kinko's in Santa Barbara in 1970 for 100 square feet and a $5,000 loan. He built the business to 1,200 locations and over $2 billion in sales and was named the best company to work for three years in a row by Fortune Magazine.
Some lessons from Paul:
“There are only 3 things you do in business 1) motivate your workers 2) understand your customers and 3) Balance your checkbook.”
“Your eyes believe what you see, your ears believe others”
“When business is doing poorly, brag. When business is doing well, complain”
“Accountants are in the past, managers in the present and leaders are in the future”
In your 20’s - try everything
In your 30’s - figure out what you are good at
In your 40’’s - make money off what you are good at
In your 50’s - do what you want to do!