​How to Count Down to Success

We are delighted annually to be part of the U.S. Immersion Program of Nanyang University in Singapore. The program calls for students to visit businesses in Silicon Valley and the East Coast, with a trip to the Sonoma County wine country as well.

This year we hosted 120 international graduate students studying for their master’s degree in technopreneurship and innovation.

What could we give these aspiring entrepreneurs that would help them the most in their journey? How about a Countdown to Success? It’s our list of understandings necessary for a successful launch and happy landing.

FIVE: The 5 guiding principles for success (GPS)

  1. Make mistakes W-R-I-T-E(Not just right). Write down all your mistakes, and more importantly, identify all the documents that need to be created, changed or improved so there will be no repeat.
  2. Put yourself in the other guy’s shoes. In every relationship with your people, your vendors or your customers, ask what is important to them. Then, give them what they want first to get what you want.

To read the complete article, please visit The Business Journals 

Who We Are

Michael Houlihan and Bonnie Harvey co-authored the New York Times bestselling business book, The Barefoot Spirit: How Hardship, Hustle, and Heart Built America’s #1 Wine Brand. The book has been selected as recommended reading in the CEO Library for CEO Forum, the C-Suite Book Club, and numerous university classes on business and entrepreneurship. It chronicles their humble beginnings from the laundry room of a rented Sonoma County farmhouse to the board room of E&J Gallo, who ultimately acquired their brand and engaged them as brand consultants. Barefoot is now the world’s largest wine brand.

Beginning with virtually no money and no wine industry experience, they employed innovative ideas to overcome obstacles, create new markets and forge strategic alliances. They pioneered Worthy Cause Marketing and performance-based compensation. They built an internationally bestselling brand and received their industry’s “Hot Brand” award for several consecutive years.

They offer their Guiding Principles for Success (GPS) to help entrepreneurs become successful. Their book, The Entrepreneurial Culture: 23 Ways To Engage and Empower Your People, helps corporations maximize the value of their human resources.

Currently they travel the world leading workshops, trainings, & keynoting at business schools, corporations, conferences. They are regular media guests and contributors to international publications and professional journals. They are C-Suite Network Advisors & Contributing Editors. Visit their popular brand building site at www.consumerbrandbuilders.com.

To make inquiries for keynote speaking, trainings or consulting, please contact sales@thebarefootspirit.com.

Michael Houlihan & Bonnie Harvey

Starting in a laundry room with no money or industry knowledge, they built the iconic Best-Selling Barefoot Wine Brand - without advertising. In 2005, they monetized their brand equity and now offer proven business principles and real world experience. Visit our YouTube Channel →

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