1.
Today, where you come from seems less and less important, as globalization is the new order. I prefer the old world.
Ronnie Apteker
2.
As all entrepreneurs will say, "surround yourself with good people". That is the hardest thing : finding good people.
Ronnie Apteker
3.
An entrepreneur needs to have values. Values that are wholesome.
Ronnie Apteker
4.
There are differences in the businesses themselves, but the fundamentals are the same: give customers a good experience, charge them a reasonable price, listen to them, and treat them with respect.
Ronnie Apteker
5.
Creating art (music, books, films, etc.) can be beautiful and liberating, but trying to sell art, well, that is the movie business. There are few winners, and lots and lots of losers.
Ronnie Apteker
6.
Entrepreneurs need to listen. They don't need to be good listeners (although it can only help) but they need to know when to listen.
Ronnie Apteker
7.
There is reason to smile and celebrate when you win, but when you struggle, that is about laughter. That is the pathos that is rooted in all comedy. And business is full of pain and hardship and with that, laughter and release.
Ronnie Apteker
8.
I love making things, like software, and films, and laughter. And working with Gus Silber, to make the Funny Business book, has been a fantastic journey.
Ronnie Apteker
9.
I am a bit of a workaholic, and I am still not sure what a "weekend" is all about. I love what I do, and I do what I love.
Ronnie Apteker
10.
Never invest in ideas, only in people!
Ronnie Apteker
11.
Hire slowly and fire fast.
Ronnie Apteker
12.
Don't take yourself too seriously - learn to laugh.
Ronnie Apteker
13.
You can't put passion and obsession into someone's employment contract - either you are or you aren't.
Ronnie Apteker
14.
Entrepreneurs need to be positive. Always. Entrepreneurs need to be brave, often. And lastly, entrepreneurs need to be obsessed.
Ronnie Apteker
15.
The movie industry is brutal. It is dangerous. It is, for most, soul destroying.
Ronnie Apteker
16.
Business, like life, is funny. We all go through difficult times, and we all have to face curve balls and challenges, each and every week. And we need to laugh when things are funny. If we take it all too seriously we will go mad.
Ronnie Apteker
17.
When things go right (and they go right a lot - you just got to keep trying) there is nothing to really laugh about.
Ronnie Apteker
18.
Business is full of pain and hardship and with that, laughter and release.
Ronnie Apteker
19.
I think most entrepreneurs would refer to themselves as "accidental". No one looks for stress and pain. You stumble on to it. Also, no one looks for pots of gold, it just happens.
Ronnie Apteker
20.
You follow a passion, a dream, a belief, a vision, and before you know it, you are an entrepreneur. Once though, when you start to understand what this means, and what the possibilities are, the accidents then stop, and you become a forever obsessed entrepreneur that doesn't rest, and never stops trying to push the envelope.
Ronnie Apteker
21.
The most obvious answer, that you can read in any leadership book is this - learn to say "no" so that you can make time for the important stuff, the stuff that is closest to your heart. And of course, as all entrepreneurs will say, "surround yourself with good people". That is the hardest thing : finding good people.
Ronnie Apteker
22.
Obsession makes my life bad and my work good.
Ronnie Apteker
23.
The movie industry is brutal. It is dangerous. It is, for most, soul destroying. Creating art (music, books, films, etc.) can be beautiful and liberating, but trying to sell art, well, that is the movie business. There are few winners, and lots and lots of losers.
Ronnie Apteker
24.
Don't take yourself too seriously - learn to laugh. Hire slowly and fire fast. And the most important thing is: you never invest in ideas, only in people!
Ronnie Apteker
25.
I battle to fall asleep at night. My mind races every other night. I have always been like this, for as long as I can reminder.
Ronnie Apteker
26.
I did apply to get a job, many times, but no one ever hired me. I think my hyperactive nature didn't score me any points, and I remember when I went for interviews, I would ask all the questions - this probably confused the people who were hiring.
Ronnie Apteker
27.
When someone stands you up for a meeting, sure, you have the right to be disappointed, and perhaps even angry. But you can't take it personally - they probably do it to everyone.
Ronnie Apteker
28.
I could actually do a lot more if I didn't have things go wrong. So, what I am trying to do now is stay light on the parasites. If you are not drained by anyone you can do way more.
Ronnie Apteker
29.
Business, like life, is funny. We all go through difficult times, and we all have to face curve balls and challenges, each and every week. And we need to laugh when things are funny.
Ronnie Apteker
30.
What is it about business that makes us laugh - when things go wrong, which they do all the time (why, I still wish I knew) then we need to laugh.
Ronnie Apteker
31.
I think most entrepreneurs would refer to themselves as "accidental". No one looks for stress and pain. You stumble on to it.
Ronnie Apteker
32.
No one looks for pots of gold, it just happens. Sure, some people are born with an incredible financial ability, and some people are natural salesmen, but creating a business, driving a venture, mobilizing an army, is not something you are born to do - it just happens, by accident.
Ronnie Apteker
33.
I am tough minded, but not hard hearted.
Ronnie Apteker