Success Story with Scott D. Clary Lessons - Why Passion and Grit Aren't Enough | Michael Dermer - From Wall Street Lawyer to Serial Entrepreneur
Sep 18, 2025
Michael Dermer, a former Wall Street lawyer turned serial entrepreneur, shares insights on what it truly takes to succeed in business. He argues that passion and grit alone aren’t enough; entrepreneurial thinking is essential even in large corporations. Michael offers strategies for pitching ideas within bureaucratic structures and emphasizes the importance of measured business cases. He also discusses the 'four P's'—pressure, passion, pleasure, and pain—and how mastering these can enhance decision-making for sustainable success.
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Corporations Need An Entrepreneurial Mindset
- Large companies must adopt entrepreneurial thinking to avoid being disrupted by nimble competitors.
- Training can transfer entrepreneur mindsets into corporate processes to sustain competitiveness.
Pitch With A Business Case
- Do your homework and build a business case before pitching ideas to senior leaders.
- Present how your idea delivers revenue, cost savings, or competitive differentiation to get a hearing.
Late-Night CEO Voicemails That Worked
- Michael called CEOs of top health plans at 8 PM and left voicemails explaining why a rewards program would decide the market winner.
- Seven out of ten called back because the message framed a clear win-or-lose strategic consequence.