“The only easy day, was yesterday” -Navy Seal Philosophy
The BC Business Top 100 Event celebrates the top companies in B.C. – both public and private by revenue, performance, and sector. Every year, BC Business brings in one highly successful and inspirational business leader to share their story behind their success. Past business leaders that made this special appearance include Jim Pattison, Joe Segal, and Frank Giustra. Each of them has their own unique story, and this year’s special guest was Francesco Aquilini and his story was nothing short of inspirational.
In this interview-styled talk, we had the opportunity to learn about Aquilini’s journey into the entrepreneurial world and how he battled through challenges side-by-side with his dad and brothers. As I heard more about Aquilini’s story, it reminded me that everyone started somewhere, and that somewhere isn’t always a great place to be. His journey follows the same structure as that of an underdog storyline. He had to fight every step of the way to get to where he is today. It wasn’t all smooth sailing, but the challenges he overcame made him a smarter and stronger entrepreneur. “Entrepreneurship isn’t for everyone” he says, the individual has to have the passion for it in order to succeed. It was clear that Aquilini had a passion for creating and building things – and that’s what drives him to do what he does every single day.
The interview included many quotes such as “tell me who you go with, and I’ll tell you who you are” and “the difference between success and failure – details”. These quotes made me reflect on my journey in discovering my own passion. The first quote I mentioned brought me to the time when I aimed to build my network in the marketing industry. I met with people, built relationships, and learned from them. The second quote forced me to think about all the little things that I should have done or should be doing moving forward. Details do matter and putting the effort into seeing the same situation in multiple perspectives, then ensuring that your plan covers those ‘what if’ situations are key. This also brings me to another quote, “if you don’t have a plan B, you don’t have a plan at all”, which is something that all entrepreneurs should take note of.
By attending this event, I had the chance to network with some of the top business leaders in B.C. and also listen to one of the most successful entrepreneurs in our province. I must say that this event really helped reinforce the fact that to be successful, you need to find your passion, fight for it, and persevere, because at the end of the day, “the only easy day, was yesterday.”
Ben is currently pursuing a BBA Honours, concentrating in Marketing and Human Resource Management at the Beedie School of Business. He has grown a passion for all-things marketing, specifically advertising; as he wants to learn the art of creating messages that make people take action. With a diverse range of leadership experiences in athletics, student organizations, event planning, and case competitions, Ben hopes to continuously develop himself and others moving forward. He strongly believes that everyone has the opportunity to better themselves and their communities if they give it a shot and show persistence, grit, and determination. Besides studying and getting involved, you can find Benwatching cool ads, playing basketball and volleyball, hanging out at coffee shops, wearing button-up shirts, and collecting the latest Beedie gear!