We thought what better way to finish this week off than with a bang; our fab The Small Business Fairy readers will be getting a double dose of entrepreneurial inspiration this week, as we share the uber inspiring story of Steven Spielberg. With a current net worth of somewhere in the region of $3.2 billion, we all want a little bit of whatever kind of luck Steven has!
It will come as no surprise to learn that being behind the camera was something that fascinated Spielberg from an early age. Steven was an entrepreneur in his early teens, shooting short 8 mm movies and would screen them in a local diner; charging 25 cent per person, while his sister served popcorn.
When Steven turned 12 he joined the local boy scouts. He was assigned a photography assignment which would earn him his photography merit, but as Spielberg’s father’s camera was broken at the time, he asked if it was possible to in stead create a short film. Spielberg submitted the film and of course, acquired his merit in photography. Just one year later at the incredibly young age of 13, Spielberg won his first filmography prize, and no less than 3 years after that, he wrote and directed his first film, Firelight, which would later go on to inspire the 1977 hit, Close Encounters. But little did he know at the time, his love of film would take him to incredible places. Although, his journey would take perseverance…….
After graduating from high school, Steven applied to the University of Southern California School of Theater, where his application was rejected. Twice. Most people would take a huge hit to their get up and go, but Spielberg persevered. Steven got into California State University where the opportunities came fast and strong. He jumped straight into a grueling 7-day-a-week internship whist attending university, but his determination and thirst for success paid off. It wasn’t long before the recognition came flooding in and Spielberg was making an entrepreneurial name for himself. He was the youngest director ever to be signed on to a long-term deal with Universal Studios.
Would it surprise you to learn that Spielberg was a drop out? He made the move and discontinued going to university in order to become a full time director in 1969, at the age of 23. It wasn’t until 8 years later that Spielberg became a household name thanks to the 1977 box office hit, Jaws, which catapulted Spielberg into stardom.
Since then, Steven’s laundry list of movies is nothing short of inspiring. We all have our favourites – Jurassic Park, E.T., Transformers, Men in Black, Twister, Schindler’s List, Back to the Future, Gremlins – and the list goes on. In fact, the list is so long what it can continue by 132 more titles, to date!………
Now a days Spielberg’s net worth is estimated at a whopping $3.2 billion. If I had told you at the beginning that Spielberg was a two-time university reject and drop out, you wouldn’t have believed me. It just goes to show that blind determination and an original and organic passion for success looks like. And it pays off. Big time……..
