SmartBrief is partnering with Big Think to create a weekly video spotlight in SmartBrief on Leadership called “VIP Corner: Video Insights Powered by Big Think.” This week, we’re featuring Guy Kawasaki, co-founder of Alltop.com and a founding partner at Garage Technology Ventures. Previously, he was the chief evangelist of Apple.
Guy Kawasaki became well known in tech circles for his time at Apple and his other ventures, but he says it’s dangerous to feel like you’ve made it. “If you wake up one day and you say, ‘I’m a brand,’ you’re pretty much sliding down that slope towards destruction,” he said.
That point was emphasized for Kawasaki while driving his Porsche 911. He stopped at a light, and a group of girls in the car next to him motioned for him to roll down his window. Kawasaki was feeling good; even teenagers knew who he was, he thought. They must have been familiar with his books — he’s written 10. Or maybe they recognized him from his work at Apple or as a venture capitalist.
Not quite.
“So I roll down the window and this girl leans out and says to me, ‘Are you Jackie Chan?’ That was just like one of the world’s funniest moments for me,” he said. The experience gave him a new goal, Kawasaki said, that one day a group of teenagers will confuse Jackie Chan for himself.
Big Think is a forum in which top experts explore big ideas and core skills defining the 21st century. Learn more from its editors, fellows and guest speakers.
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Who cares?
A guy should feel "humbled" because he is Asian?
I feel this article is racist and offensive. It does not teach a life lesson to be humble. It only shows how racist some people can be. I see so many people called "Jackie Chan" to be mocked. Many people feel that no matter how successful you are, no matter how hard you work and where you get in life, you will always have a glass ceiling in social status if you are not white. The belief is that if you are not white, you should feel second or third class no matter what. This article just supports that.
To the 3 previous posts … seriously? That is your best user-generated content? Lesson 1: be humble because the mindset of "think you are bigger than you are" will distort your world view, (not because you are Asian). And Lesson 2: Guy resembles Jackie Chan, nothing more than that. No uber political statement. No glass ceiling (nice soapbox). Simple.
I agree!!! Great response!
Hey Guy, take it as a sign you are focusing (a good thing) on your brand essence which is in online and digital space. Jackie Chan is a movie guy–his face is visible. One of his success measures is he needs to be recognized. You on the other hand probably track how many households use/read your stuff, and while they may all know your name, few know your face. In your case, no negative business impact. But then there is just the human side of us that wants to be recognized….so, personally humbled but professionally on track!! Congratulations!
I can give you one better. I looked at your name, mixed it up with Kyosaki and wondered if you were Robert's son.
I notice you've never denied being Jackie Chan. How do we know that you aren't both persons?
Get off the racist thing. If you thought you saw Vanilla Ice the rapper and asked if that was him, and it turned out to be just another white guy would that be racist ? No just inqusitive.
By the way I recieved this e-mail from my father who knows I'm a big Robert Kiyosaki fan. Could it be he mixed up Guy with Robert. I don't think I will assume because you know what that would make me…
some of you posters here really need to get a sense of humour. Remember mountains and mole hills … smile people the world is a pretty cool place most of the time. Thanks Guy for putting a smile on my face today.
Cheers Ray
Guy, that was priceless! I laughed at your story. I don't understand the posters that are offended by this and think it racist. Guy's story just points out not to take yourself too seriously, lest you start your slide down that slope to destruction.
want to be more famous than jackie chan? but attachment to fame will cause you great misery
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Derby Cox, your high school English teacher is cringing at your last sentence! The last part of the compound sentence reads "teenagers will confuse Chan for himself." This implies that teenagers will confuse Chan for Chan, not for Kawasaki.
Guy actually does resemble Jackie Chan. I see nothing wrong with the article. All he's saying is your self-perception is not necessarily how other people perceive you. Sometimes perception can be skewed; it all depends on just what kind of scale is important to a person. Some people use Hollywood as a marker while others may use something entirely different like Silicon Valley. Your judgement is filtered through your values.
I am sorry Guy the teenagers didn’t recognize you for who you are. I guess you need to look and sing like Justin Bieber.
but my reaction to a handsome guy driving his Porsche 911, would be very different too, it would be a big flirty smile.
You should pat yourself on the back anyway. There is nothing wrong with that. Only you know how far you have come.