Why do most small businesses fail?

@entrepreneur

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Why it worked

The video leverages the authority of a well-known public figure (Robert Herjavec) to deliver a high-value, contrarian insight that resonates with the target audience of aspiring founders.

Summary

Robert Herjavec explains that the most important skill for any founder is the ability to sell, rather than technical or business knowledge. He shares his personal experience in cybersecurity to illustrate how communication and sales skills are the key to overcoming business challenges.

Structure

1Identify the primary cause of business failure
2Define the essential skill for founders
3Contrast technical knowledge with sales ability
4Share a personal anecdote about competition
5

Original caption

Shark Tank star Robert Herjavec says any small business's problems can be solved by one thing: sales. And what skill makes a founder successful? The ability to sell. Missed Level Up 2025? Use the link below to hear about future Level Up events: https://ow.ly/R1IN50WPy3G #entrepreneur #levelup # advice #sales #founder

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Product placement

The video promotes the 'Level Up' event series, mentioned in the caption and linked in the description.

Call to action

Missed Level Up 2025? Use the link below to hear about future Level Up events: https://ow.ly/R1IN50WPy3G

On-screen text

WHY DO MOST SMALL BUSINESSES FAIL? LACK OF SALES EVERY PROBLEM YOU HAVE YOU CAN SELL YOUR WAY OUT OF ONE SKILL FOR A SUCCESSFUL FOUNDER IS THE ABILITY TO SELL IT'S NOT BUSINESS KNOWLEDGE IT'S NOT EVEN SUBJECT MATTER KNOWLEDGE IT'S SALES IF YOU COULD SIMPLY TEACH THAT EVERY HARVARD MBA WOULD BE A BILLIONAIRE WHEN I STARTED IN CYBERSECURITY I HAD TEN COMPETITORS ALL TEN WERE COMPUTER ENGINEERS I HAVE A DEGREE IN CLASSICAL ENGLISH LITERATURE THE ABILITY TO COMMUNICATE HAS SERVED ME WELL SALES IS THE ABILITY TO FIND OUT WHAT YOUR CLIENT'S NEEDS ARE AND COMMUNICATE YOUR VALUE PROPOSITION TO THEM

Transcript

Why do most small businesses fail? Lack of sales. Every problem you have, you can sell your way out of. The number one skill for a successful founder is the ability to sell. It's not business knowledge, it's not even subject matter knowledge, it's sales. If you could simply teach that, every Harvard MBA would be a billionaire. When I started in cybersecurity, I had ten competitors. All ten were computer engineers. I have a degree in classical English literature. The ability to communicate has served me well. Sales is the ability to find out what your client's needs are and communicate your value proposition to them.